By ANNA USHER

Sirius Cove has been crowned Australia’s most dog-friendly beach, beating 128 others in a new national ranking.

The popular local cove, situated between Mosman Bay and Taronga Zoo, scored 79.2 out of 100 in Eureka Pet Co’s Hot Pooch Summer Index, just ahead of Melbourne’s Middle Park Beach on 79.0.

NSW claimed four places in the national Top 10, with Clontarf Reserve coming in at fifth spot.

“What’s notable about the NSW results is where the best beaches actually sit, with three of the state’s four national Top 10 entries within Sydney Harbour itself, not out on some remote stretch of coast,” Eureka Founder and CEO Tara Medina said, “it’s great news for Sydneysiders!”

Mosman Collective reported in 2025 that the suburb is home to 7,538 registered dogs.

Areas for unleashed dogs in Mosman

Dogs are prohibited from being exercised off the leash in all parks, reserves and on all footpaths and roads in Mosman except for the areas listed below:

• Rawson Park – refer to insert at bottom right-hand corner of PDF map above for exceptions
• Lawry Plunkett Reserve (top of Plunkett Rd)
• Reid Park – excepting Saturdays from 1 October to 30 March, 8:30am to 5:30pm
• Spit Reserve (West) – excepting Saturdays from 8:30am to 2:30pm
• Spit Reserve (East)

Dogs are allowed to be exercised off the leash all day Monday to Friday, and before 9am and after 4pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays in the following grassed areas:

• Clifton Gardens Reserve
• Sirius Park
• Rosherville Reserve

Unleashed dogs are permitted on the beach and in the water all day Monday to Friday, and before 9am and after 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays in the following areas:

• Sirius Cove
• Spit West and Spit East Reserves

Dogs are permitted off-leash on the beach and in the water east of the Clifton Gardens jetty at the following times:

• Before 9am and after 4pm weekdays during winter
• Before 9am and after 6pm weekdays during daylight savings summer months (Oct – Mar)

Dogs must always be under the effective control of a competent person.

Areas for leashed dogs

Dogs must be under the effective control of a competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash in the following parks:

• Hunter Park
• Countess Park
• Memory Park
• Curraghbeena Park
• Mosman Park
• Bay Street Park
• Orlando Avenue Park
• The Esplanade Reserve
• The Rawson Oval car park and the area south surrounding Rawson Oval including the road from the car park to the ‘old netball courts’

Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of playground equipment or tables in all reserves.

Faeces must be removed from reserves, parks and all footpaths and roads immediately.

Whilst off the leash the dog must always be under the effective control of a competent person. Always keep watch on your animal.

Areas for Dogs to Swim

Unleashed dogs are permitted to swim all day Monday to Friday, and before 9am and after 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays in the following areas:

• Sirius Cove
• Spit West and Spit East Reserves

Unleashed dogs are also permitted to swim at Clifton Gardens Reserve, in the area east of the Clifton Gardens jetty at the following times:

• Before 9am and after 4pm weekdays during winter
• Before 9am and after 6pm weekdays during daylight savings summer months (Oct – Mar)

While swimming dogs must always be under the effective control of a competent person.

Prohibited areas for all dogs

• Mosman Park Oval (Allan Border Oval)
• Rawson Oval
• The Drill Hall Common and adjacent netball courts
• Middle Head Oval
• Balmoral Oval
• Georges Heights Oval
• Chinamans Beach
• All public beaches and swimming enclosures, and Sydney Harbour National Park (other than areas referred to above)

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