NSW South Coast Dog-Friendly Beaches: Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla

Quick answer: the NSW South Coast is one of the best regions for a beach holiday with your dog, but rules change from beach to beach. In the Shoalhaven, Shoalhaven Tourism lists 24-hour off-leash beaches at Seven Mile Beach (Shoalhaven Heads), Collers Beach and Ulladulla Harbour North Beach, and Cormorant Beach, with other beaches off-leash only at set times. Further south, Eurobodalla has many more off-leash beaches. Download each council's dog guide before you go, respect "Dog Prohibited" zones for nesting shorebirds, and remember dogs aren't allowed in national parks.

Shoalhaven (Jervis Bay to Ulladulla)

Shoalhaven City Council has more than 20 off-leash areas and publishes a Dog Off-Leash Guide with maps. Council says dogs must be on lead everywhere except designated off-leash areas, and that off-leash areas are regularly patrolled.

According to Shoalhaven Tourism, 24-hour off-leash beaches include:

Seven Mile Beach, Shoalhaven Heads: a 24-hour off-leash area on this long beach.
Collers Beach and Ulladulla Harbour North Beach, Ulladulla: 24-hour off-leash.
Cormorant Beach: 24-hour off-leash.

Other Shoalhaven beaches are off-leash only in the mornings and late afternoons. Narrawallee, for example, has a timed off-leash area with restricted access points, according to Council. Check the latest guide for times.

Shorebirds and dog-prohibited zones

Shoalhaven's beaches are nesting sites for endangered shorebirds. Council and Shoalhaven Tourism ask owners to respect "Dog Prohibited" zones and keep dogs on a lead on permitted beaches outside off-leash areas.

Jervis Bay

Much of Jervis Bay's southern shore is national park, where dogs aren't permitted. Use the Shoalhaven Dog Off-Leash Guide to find beaches nearby that allow dogs.

Eurobodalla (Batemans Bay to Narooma)

The Ulladulla Times has reported that Eurobodalla Shire had 29 beaches where off-leash dogs were permitted, plus 18 with restricted access in the warmer months. That makes it one of the most dog-friendly stretches of the NSW coast, but numbers and rules can change, so download Eurobodalla Shire Council's current dog-friendly beaches information.

Planning a South Coast holiday with your dog

Download both councils' dog guides before you leave; mobile coverage can be patchy.
Check summer restrictions: some beaches tighten rules in warmer months.
Book pet-friendly accommodation and check the yard is secure when you arrive.
Save the nearest emergency vet for each town you'll stay in.
Keep your dog on lead for the first walks until they know the area.

More in our Christmas to New Year escape plan and travelling with your dog guide.

Beach hazards on the South Coast

Washed-up pufferfish. See pufferfish poisoning in dogs.
Bluebottles after onshore winds. See bluebottle stings on dogs.
Rips on ocean beaches; calmer water in lakes and estuaries (check for algae alerts — see blue-green algae and dogs).

FAQs

Are dogs allowed on Hyams Beach?

Check the Shoalhaven Dog Off-Leash Guide for current rules. Nearby national park beaches don't allow dogs.

Which South Coast beaches are off-leash 24 hours?

In the Shoalhaven, Shoalhaven Tourism lists Seven Mile Beach at Shoalhaven Heads, Collers Beach, Ulladulla Harbour North Beach and Cormorant Beach.

Do South Coast councils fine dogs on prohibited beaches?

Shoalhaven City Council says its off-leash areas are regularly patrolled and regulations enforced. Follow the signs.

Holidays in new places are when dogs most often get lost. An AirTag in a Pawfetchers waterproof holder, rated to 1 metre for 30 minutes, can stay on for every swim (AirTag sold separately).