Cook Park Trail

A flat, sealed foreshore path along Botany Bay, running roughly 16 km from Kyeemagh south past Brighton-Le-Sands and Ramsgate toward Sans Souci. Almost nobody walks the whole thing in one go, and you do not need to. The deciding fact sits at the northern end: Bayside Council keeps dogs on lead along the parkland and the path, but the beach beside it has a marked off lead section, so this is a walk where the lead comes off at one specific place and nowhere else.

The walk. Sixteen and a half kilometres end to end, flat the whole way, sealed and wide enough that walkers, prams and bikes share it without much trouble. AllTrails logs three and a half to four hours for the full length. Treated as an out and back from the Kyeemagh car park it becomes whatever distance suits you, which is how most dog owners use it.

The rules. On lead on the path and through Cook Park itself. Bayside Council prohibits dogs outright in bathing areas including tidal pools, beaches and foreshores, within ten metres of playgrounds and play equipment, within ten metres of food outlets, and inside schools and shopping complexes. The exception that makes this walk worth it is the designated off lead area on Lady Robinsons Beach at Kyeemagh, between gates 60 and 61. Outside those two gates the beach ban applies again, and the strip is patrolled.

Water. The bay at the off lead beach is shallow, calm and sheltered, which makes it a gentle introduction for a dog unsure about surf. Carry drinking water regardless; the path has bins along it, but shade and taps are unreliable.

Hazards. Sun, mostly. This is open foreshore with very little tree cover, and the sealed surface heats up badly, so paw checks matter. It is a genuinely busy shared path at weekends with fast cyclists, and it sits under the flight path, so the noise is constant if your dog is sound sensitive.

Getting there. The Kyeemagh Beach car park off The Grand Parade is closest to the off lead end and is free, though it fills on sunny weekends. Smaller parking bays sit along the foreshore further south.

Nearby with the dogs. The Kyeemagh Off Leash Dog Area is that beach section itself. Further south the route effectively continues as the Brighton Le Sands Walking Path and the Sans Souci Beach Walking Path. Bona Park Off-leash Dog Area is the fenced alternative, and Billy Boy Cafe & Bistro or White Rabbit handle the coffee.

When to go. Early morning, particularly in summer, when the path is cool and the beach is quiet. Weekday mornings are best of all. Good for big runners who need distance without hills, and for nervous swimmers meeting calm water for the first time.

Sources

• Off leash areas | Bayside Council · www.bayside.nsw.gov.au
• Cook Park | Bayside Council · www.bayside.nsw.gov.au
• Beaches | Bayside Council · www.bayside.nsw.gov.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.