Cooks River Short Loop

The Cooks River Short Loop is a 3.1 km flat circuit starting at Gough Whitlam Park in Tempe, following the river past parkland and mangroves and back. It is on-lead the whole way, and it shares its path with some quick cyclists.

The walk. Three point one kilometres, graded easy, thirty to sixty minutes depending on how much sniffing is allowed. The surface is sealed shared cycleway the entire distance with no climbing at all, which makes it one of the more forgiving loops in the inner west for an old dog or one coming back from injury. It links Gough Whitlam Park with Mackey Park, Kendrick Park and Tempe Reserve, so you can extend or cut it easily.

The rules. Dogs are on-lead throughout, on the shared path and through the parklands, with the policy confirmed by the City of Canterbury Bankstown. Dogs stay at least 10 metres from playgrounds and from areas where people are eating, and the riverbank birdlife means keeping your dog genuinely under control rather than nominally on a lead. Bins are provided along the path.

Water. Taps are available near the sports fields and there are toilets at Gough Whitlam Park, but the supply is not consistent around the loop, so bring your own bottle and bowl.

Hazards. The ground around the Cooks River footbridge turns boggy after rain, so stay on the sealed and elevated sections when it has been wet. Otherwise this is about as low-risk as an urban walk gets.

Getting there. Tempe Station is the easy answer, with the loop starting a short walk away. Driving, there is parking at Gough Whitlam Park on Bayview Avenue and at Kendrick Park.

Nearby with the dogs. Tempe Dog Park has separate fenced runs for small and large dogs, which is the off-lead answer at this end. Good Days Cafe handles the coffee. If you want more distance, the Cooks River Cycleway follows the same river much further, and the Wolli Creek Walking Track is the bushier alternative nearby. Hughes Park at Earlwood is another fenced option.

When to go. Mid-morning or early afternoon on a weekday. Weekend mornings and sunny afternoons are the busiest, and if you are set on a weekend, be there before 9 am. Good for seniors and dogs coming back from injury, given the flat surface and the short distance.

Sources

• City of Canterbury Bankstown · www.cbcity.nsw.gov.au
• Dog exercise areas | Inner West Council · www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au
• Cooks River Short Loop, New South Wales, Australia - AllTrails · www.alltrails.com

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