Primrose Park Walking Track

Primrose Park sits on Matora Lane in Cammeray, wrapped around a harbour inlet at Folly Point, and the walk here is really two outings in one: wide unfenced ovals where dogs can run off-leash, then a leashed bushland track down to a small tidal harbour beach. For a lower north shore outing that mixes a proper run with quiet water views, it is hard to beat.

Leash status

North Sydney Council allows dogs off-leash on the ovals at all times, except when organised sport or training is on, when dogs must clear the fields entirely. The bushland and the walk down to the harbour beach, about 100 metres from the oval, are strictly on-lead.

The Folly Point bushland is a designated Wildlife Protection Area, so stay on the formal paths and keep dogs out of the playground. Bag dispensers are on site, and council publishes a dispenser map if you like to plan.

The walk

The bushland track threads through remnant urban bush with rustic steps and water views, quiet even on weekends, and connects towards Tunks Park across the bay if you want to extend. The beach at the back is small and tidal: high tide gives the better swim spot, low tide opens more sand but exposes mud.

Max: check the noticeboard and listen for whistles before you let the lead off - if a match is setting up on the oval, the off-leash run is off for the day.

Hazards and water

Bring your own drinking water, as there is no reliable tap on the track itself. The harbour beach is tidal and the bushland is home to protected wildlife, which is exactly why the leash rules are enforced, so keep recall sharp near the water edge.

Getting there and parking

By car, come in via Denos Lane or Matora Lane; there are two car parks, a lower lot near the field and a top area, plus public toilets and a playground. On transit, it is roughly a 10-minute walk down from Military Road, which carries frequent buses to the city and across the North Shore.

When to go

Early mornings and weekday middays are quietest; evenings and weekends fill, especially when sport is running. For a longer outing, the Tunks Park to Artarmon Reserve walk continues the bushland theme, and Maggio's Cafe in Cammeray does a dog-friendly coffee stop after.

More routes are on the New South Wales trails guide and the Cammeray destination page.