Prime Ministers Walk

Prime Ministers Walk is a short, flat creek-side trail through the Bardwell Valley Parklands in Sydney's south, running alongside Bardwell Creek for roughly fifteen to twenty minutes end to end. It is a peaceful, well-defined suburban bush walk lined with history markers, and it connects straight into the Shepherd Parade off-leash area, so a leash-only stroll and a free run can be combined in one outing.

Leash status

The track itself calls for a lead at all times under Bayside Council rules, with off-leash permitted only inside the adjoining Shepherd Parade Reserve Off Leash Dog Area. That reserve is an open space rather than a fenced enclosure, so recall still matters. Keep your dog in sight and away from other walkers, and note council rules keep dogs at least ten metres from playground equipment. Bring your own pick-up bags; dispensers are not reliably stocked.

Water and terrain

The surface is a mix of dirt track and grass, easy on paws in dry weather and muddy after rain. There is natural creek access along the way, and dogs commonly wade in on warm days, but the banks get slippery when wet. No taps or water stations exist on the route, so carry a bottle and a bowl. The track links into the wider parklands network, and the creek corridor can be extended toward Wolli Creek for walkers wanting a much longer outing.

Max: the creek stretch is the best bit, plenty of sniffing and a wade on a hot day. Skip it for a day or two after heavy rain, the banks turn to porridge.

Getting there and parking

Access is via Bardwell Road in Bardwell Valley, with street parking on the surrounding residential streets. The walk is also easy on public transport: Bardwell Park and Bexley North stations are both within walking distance, which makes this one of the more transit-friendly dog walks in the area. The parklands are open around the clock.

Close by with the dogs

If your dog wants a fully fenced run instead, Kingsgrove Avenue Reserve Fenced Dog Park is a short drive away. For coffee afterwards, Liquid Art Café in Kingsgrove and Where's Wolli Cafe in Wolli Creek are both handy to the valley. More local options sit on the Bardwell Valley destination page.

Early mornings and weekday mid-mornings are quietest; weekend mornings and the after-school window bring the local crowds. This is a low-effort, high-reward walk for a dog that enjoys sniffing and a paddle rather than a climb, and the history plaques give the humans something to read along the way.