Shelly Beach via Queenscliff Beach

The oceanfront walk from Queenscliff to Shelly Beach runs about 5 km along the sealed path above Manly's northern beaches, and the honest headline is that it is a footpath walk, not a beach one. Northern Beaches Council bans dogs from the sand at Queenscliff, Manly and Shelly beaches at all times, so the route your dog gets is the promenade, never the sand. What is left is still one of the flattest, easiest coastal walks on the Northern Beaches.

Leash status

Dogs on lead are welcome along the Marine Parade and Cabbage Tree Bay footpath that links the three beaches. There is no early morning or evening window that loosens the rule here, and rangers do patrol this stretch, so an empty beach at 6am is not permission. Council's rule for the rest of the area is the same shape: on lead from home, and off lead only inside a designated area. Treat any unsigned sand as off limits, because most ocean and harbour beaches under this council are closed to dogs.

The walk

AllTrails grades the full 5 km route easy and allows about an hour. As a footpath it is flat, sealed and pram friendly the whole way, best treated as an out and back rather than a loop. The Cabbage Tree Bay section between Manly and Shelly is the pretty part, with the aquatic reserve visible below the path. You will share it with runners, prams and cyclists at almost any hour, and in summer the promenade carries a steady crowd from mid-morning on.

Water and terrain

Your dog cannot cool off in the surf on this route, so plan around that. Bring water, because the taps along the way are spaced out and busy on weekends, and the pavement holds heat through the middle of the day. There is no real elevation anywhere on the route, which makes it a good fit for older dogs or city dogs that need distance without hills.

Where the dog can actually run

Start or finish at the lagoon instead. Manly Lagoon Dog Park at the Queenscliff end is off lead 24 hours a day, sits between Pittwater Road and the Stuart Somerville Bridge, and lets dogs into the shallow water, though it is worth checking the on-site signs for water quality after rain. LM Graham Reserve at Fairlight is the fenced option nearby if you want a secure run before the walk.

Getting there and parking

Street parking around Queenscliff fills by mid-morning on weekends and much of it is two hour limited. Buses run along Pittwater Road to the Queenscliff end, and the Manly ferry leaves you a 15 to 20 minute walk from the southern end of the route, which is a pleasant way to arrive with a dog that likes a warm-up.

Close by with the dogs

La Loca Cafe is the closest stop to the lagoon end of the walk. Around the headland in Manly, The Roast Office Cafe and Felons Brewing Co. both take dogs in their outdoor areas, and both sit within an easy stroll of the southern end.

Max: Treat every beach on this walk as closed to dogs, whatever the hour. The sand ban has no time window, and an empty beach at dawn will not save you a fine.

When to go

Early morning or after four works best, when the promenade thins out and the pavement has cooled. Weekdays beat weekends by a wide margin through summer and the school holidays. This is a good pick for dogs that want distance on the flat, and a workable plan B for anyone who turned up hoping for a beach day.

More on-lead coastal walks are collected in our NSW trails guide, and the Queenscliff destination page pulls together the rest of the local dog-friendly listing.