Throsby Creek Foreshore to Newcastle Beach

This walk runs 4.7 km from the marina at Wickham along Throsby Creek and out through Honeysuckle towards Newcastle Beach, flat and paved almost the whole way. The useful fact is what sits just off it: the shared path is on-lead, but Carrington Foreshore and Islington Park nearby are designated off-leash, so the walk and the run can be the same outing.

The walk. Rated easy, about 4.7 km, an hour or so at a dog's pace. Mostly concrete with gravel sections through Carrington, plus a mangrove boardwalk along the creek. The Throsby Creek loop on its own is a little over three kilometres, and the extra distance comes from following the Honeysuckle waterfront east towards the harbour entrance.

The rules. City of Newcastle manages the foreshore. Dogs are on-lead along the shared pathways and the boardwalk. The designated off-leash alternatives close by are Carrington Foreshore, on the grassed area opposite Cowper Street, and Islington Park. Dogs are not permitted on the Newcastle Memorial Walk, or within ten metres of playgrounds.

Water. Taps with dog bowls at Horseshoe Beach, toilets at Foreshore Park, and waste bins through the Carrington Foreshore and Foreshore Park areas. Horseshoe Beach is the harbour dog beach at the eastern end, and the tide makes a real difference to how much sand is there, so low tide is worth timing for.

Hazards. Keep the lead on near the mangroves in the warm months, where snakes turn up. The path is shared with runners and cyclists and gets busy on sunny afternoons. Shade is limited along the Honeysuckle section.

Getting there. Free street parking on Hargrave Street at Carrington, near the Carrington Foreshore, and near Horseshoe Beach. The Honeysuckle light rail stop puts you on the eastern half of the walk and local buses cover the rest. Starting at Carrington Foreshore and crossing the Cowper Street bridge gives you the off-leash run first and the harbour at the end.

Nearby with the dogs. Ground Up Espresso and The Pavilion Kitchen are both at Carrington near the off-leash end, and Dark Horse is at the Wickham end. MoneyPenny sits at Honeysuckle on the route, QT Newcastle takes dogs, and King Edward Park Off-leash Area is a short drive on if you want more. Bathers Way to Newcastle picks up roughly where this one finishes.

When to go. Early morning or dusk. Sunny weekend afternoons put runners, cyclists and prams on the same concrete. Good for big runners, and for nervous swimmers who want harbour water instead of surf.

Sources

• Leash Free Areas - City of Newcastle · newcastle.nsw.gov.au
• Throsby Creek Foreshore to Newcastle Beach - AllTrails · www.alltrails.com
• Hunter River - Throsby Basin Tide Times, NSW · tides.willyweather.com.au

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