Shelly Beach via Queenscliff Beach

The AllTrails route called Shelly Beach via Queenscliff Beach runs 5 km along the Manly oceanfront in Queenscliff, and the part that makes it a beach walk is the part your dog cannot do. Northern Beaches Council bans dogs from the sand at Queenscliff, Manly and Shelly beaches at all times. What is left is still a good walk, just a footpath one.

The rules. Dogs are banned from the sand at Queenscliff, Manly and Shelly beaches at all times, with no early morning or evening window. They are permitted on lead on the Marine Parade and Cabbage Tree Bay footpath, the sealed promenade running south from Manly around to Shelly. Northern Beaches Council manages the lot, and its rule elsewhere is simple: on lead before you leave home, and off lead only inside a designated area. Council also closes most ocean and harbour beaches and most wildlife protection areas to dogs, so treat any unsigned sand as off limits.

The walk. AllTrails rates the full 5 km route easy and allows about an hour. Walked as a footpath it is flat, sealed and pram grade the whole way, with the Cabbage Tree Bay stretch between Manly and Shelly the prettiest section. It runs out and back rather than as a loop, and you will share it with runners, prams and cyclists at almost any hour.

Where the dog can actually run. Start at the lagoon instead. The Manly Lagoon Dog Park at Queenscliff is off lead 24 hours a day, sits between Pittwater Road and the Stuart Somerville Bridge, and lets dogs into the water. Check the on-site signs for water quality first. LM Graham Reserve at Fairlight is the fenced option nearby.

Getting there. Street parking around Queenscliff fills by mid-morning on weekends and much of it is two hour limited. Buses run along Pittwater Road to Queenscliff, and the Manly ferry puts you a 15 to 20 minute walk from the southern end.

Nearby with the dogs. La Loca Cafe is the closest stop to the lagoon end. Around the corner in Manly, The Roast Office Cafe and Felons Brewing Co. both take dogs outside.

When to go. Early morning or after four, when the promenade thins out and the pavement has cooled. Weekdays beat weekends by a wide margin through summer and the school holidays. Good for city dogs who need distance without hills, and honest work for anyone who wanted a beach day and needs a plan B.

Sources

• Dogs and Dog Off-leash Areas | Northern Beaches Council · www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
• Lagoon Park, Manly including Dog Off-leash Area | Northern Beaches Council · www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
• Shelly Beach via Queenscliff Beach - AllTrails · www.alltrails.com

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