trail ✓ Dogs welcome, verified with Inner West Council

Cooks River Cycleway

22.9 km, moderate walk

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The rules at a glance

On-lead welcome

Verified dog-friendly with Inner West Council

Tempe, NSW

Rules verified 26 July 2026

Dogs: Welcome
Where: Tempe, NSW
Policy checked: 2026-07-26

Pet policy

On lead on the Cooks River Cycleway and in the park, and dogs must stay 10 m clear of playgrounds.

Verified via innerwest.nsw.gov.au

Cooks River Cycleway follows the river from Tempe Station out towards Botany Bay, a 22.9 km stretch of flat, sealed path rated a moderate walk thanks to its length rather than any climbing. Most dogs walking with owners here do a section of it rather than the full distance, which takes 4.5 to 5 hours end to end.

The walk. The path is paved and mostly flat the whole way, running through suburban reserves, parks and mangrove pockets along the riverbank. It is a shared cycleway, so expect cyclists moving at pace, especially on weekends.

The rules. Inner West Council requires dogs on lead along the Cooks River Cycleway and in the adjoining parkland, and dogs must stay 10 metres clear of playgrounds. If your dog needs off-lead time, the fenced Tempe Dog Park nearby is a better option than the cycleway itself.

Water. Bubblers and water fountains turn up at various parks along the route, and public toilets are available at Kendrick Park near the Tempe Station access point.

Max's takegerman shepherd

Check the tide before you commit to the section past Tempe Station. The underpass near View Street floods at high tide and becomes impassable, so be ready to cross at the main road instead.

Hazards. Avoid the unpaved grass verges after heavy rain, they turn boggy quickly. Keep dogs to the left on the shared path so cyclists can pass safely.

Getting there. Tempe Station is the easiest access point and sits moments from the path. Street parking near Kendrick Park is free but limited and fills up on weekends.

Nearby with the dogs. Good Days Cafe is a short walk from the path for a coffee stop. If the full 22.9 km feels like too much, the Cooks River Short Loop covers the same riverbank on a smaller scale, and the Wolli Creek Walking Track connects in nearby for a change of scenery.

When to go. Early weekday mornings are quietest. Sunday afternoons draw heavy cyclist and family traffic, so aim earlier in the day if your dog is not keen on crowds.