Doggie Day Trip To The Sutherland Shire

There are so many pooch friendly places in the Sutherland Shire. From beautiful stretches of sandy beach, to parks, speciality shops and cafes. Here's how to spend the perfect dog-friendly day in the Shire...

8am Go for a walk along Greenhills Beach

Australian shepherds, Alaskan malamutes, cocker spaniels, American Staffordshire terriers, kelpies, cattle dogs, Labradors, spaniels and schnauzers are just some of the dogs you might find dutifully trotting beside their owners at Greenhills Beach, to the north of Wanda, where dogs are allowed to be off-leash before 10 am and after 4 pm. Trot down here of an early morning with your dog and you are likely to make some like-minded friends with dogs and humans of all shapes and sizes. Look out for Princess Pony, a cute-as-a-button cavoodle (who has 11.k followers on Instagram) and owner Tracy Peters who is one of the Shire’s most recognised dog owners and who makes everyone – even those who don’t have fur babies – feel welcome along the walk.

10am The Wanderer Café near to Wanda Surf Club

The Wanderer Café is where dog owners converge with their canines after a walk along the beach. Diedre is the dog-friendly owner of the café and she has handmade dog treats in the shape of a dog bone, dog bowls dotted around the open-air courtyard and places to tie your dog up while you compare notes about your four-legged friends over caffeine and cake. Diedre has transformed the café into doggie heaven: see if you can get your doggie on the wall of fame which features polaroid pictures of pooches striking a pose at the café. 2 Marine Esplande, Cronulla

11am Dog Wash Bathhouse & Grooming

After your wander to Wanda, take your pooch for some pampering at the Dog Wash Bathhouse & Grooming in Caringbah. The Dog Wash Bathhouse & Grooming is run by husband and wife Daniel and Brooke who are on hand to give your bearded collie a haircut, package up treats for your terrier and arrange a flea bath for your Finnish Lapphund. Stock up on high-quality Australian-made pet products such as Meals for Mutts and Prime 100 or send Fido for a Fur Indulgence, an hour-long treatment that includes a wash and dry, pawicure, ear clean, conditioning and brush down (book in advance). Those with a penchant for pampering their pets can also purchase a going-out collar and lead by local company Biggles and Bailey. 2/82 Captain Cook Drive, Caringbah.

1.30 pm Lunch at a Dog-Friendly Cafe

It’s important for dog owners to feel welcome and supported at local cafes. The shire has many restaurants and cafes that welcome fur babies. The Local Pantry in Engadine serves puppuccinos and hot dogalates, Bangor Tavern has the perfect dog friendly beer garden, The Waters Edge Café & Bar in Cronulla has a puppy-specific menu, and Shelly Park Shop and SixSmith in South Cronulla offer bowls of water on the footpath for thirsty pooches. Parade your best friend on a leash along the Cronulla Esplanade and then extend the outing to grab a coffee at Zimzala or HAM, where conversation and new friendships may form as a result.

2pm A walk along Silver Beach @ Kurnell

Every dog owner in the Shire has sniffed out Silver Beach in Kurnell, a dog-friendly beach where you can walk your pooch off the leash 24 hours a day. The camaraderie here is real: Plug into a popular podcast for pet owners such as the Top Dog Podcasts, After Bark or Puppy Training Principles so you can squeeze in a few extra animal anecdotes to share with friends who also obsess over their fur babies.

4pm Enjoy yappy hour at Cook @ Kurnell

Exchange cute puppy stories at the open-air courtyard at Cook @ Kurnell after a long walk on Silver Beach. The casual, laidback eatery with the Latino vibes rolls out the red carpet for doggies. Kick back in the communal beer garden with an Aperol Spritz and burger for you and a puppacino for your pooch. The café, run by the impossibly good looking Tozzi family, has regular happy hours -- or should we say yappy hour featuring popular live music acts such as Little Green. 306-308 Prince Charles Parade, Kurnell.

5pm A photo shoot with Lorna Van Hilst

Linger longer and book a pet portrait photography session with Lorna Van Hilst at Silver Beach, which is a beautiful spot at sunset. Lorna spent four years volunteering at the RSPCA taking portraits of dogs awaiting adoption and her love of animals is evident. Forget cheesy portraits; think images that capture the personality of your pet as they roll around in the sand. Lorna can also take a shot of your family with furry friends in tow.

For your chance to spoil your pup with a $200 voucher from The Dog Wash Caringbah, head to our Insta page @visitsutherlandshire and see our doggie post for details. Entries close at 11:59pm 15 November 2021.

For more information about all of the dog friendly beaches and parks in the Sutherland Shire click here.

Pony The Cavoodle

Carla Grossetti is an award-winning food and travel writer. Follow her epicurean adventures at @food.travel.stories on Instagram. To read more of Carla's stories, visit www.carlagrossetti.com