Tilbury Cove Reserve

Tilbury Cove Reserve is a grassy seaside reserve off Penguins Head Road, looking over rocky coast toward Penguin Head. Its real draw is the beach next door, where dogs can run off lead during set seasonal hours.

Leads and the off-lead hours

Shoalhaven City Council requires dogs on lead in the general reserve. The beach and foreshore between Park Row and Tilbury Cove is a timed off-leash area.

From 1 October to 30 April, dogs can be off lead from 4pm to 8am. From 1 May to 30 September the window is 3pm to 10am.

Outside those hours dogs go back on lead, and some shorebird nesting zones are closed to dogs altogether, so read the signs at each access point.

The walk

Tracks mix grass, gravel and compacted dirt and sand, with some paved paths near the playground. The headland track and the sand have little shade.

Pepsi: Time it for the off-lead window and the grass reserve runs straight onto the sand for a proper beach gallop.

Getting started

There is plenty of parking beside the reserve and playground, and public toilets on site. Water for dogs along the track is sparse, so pack a bowl and a bottle.

Make a day of it

Grab a coffee from Frankies Coffee Van or a bite at Benny's Cafe Culburra Beach NSW before or after.

Early mornings and late afternoons line up with the off-lead hours all year. It suits sand-loving dogs that need room to stretch out.