Australia’s most pet friendly suburbs
For many of us, a new home and a new suburb also has to be the perfect fit for our pets.
As pet ownership continues to grow, more than 62 per cent of Australian households own a pet, according to the RSPCA, our furry friends will continue to play even more of a role in our property purchasing decisions.
We know your pets are a part of the family (there are more than 24 million of them in Australia!) and you want to take the best care of them possible. So if you are considering a move, here are the most pet friendly suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Sydney
Rose Bay
Rose Bay Beach is doggie heaven most days, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. More than likely at that time they’ll find a mate, or 10, to play with and well and truly wear themselves out.
Dogs are allowed off-leash at all times on the Rose Bay Foreshore between Dumaresq Reserve and Percival Park, located just behind the main shopping strip on New South Head Rd.
Dogs and their owners come from all over the city to enjoy what is probably Sydney Harbour’s best dog beach.
It’s a great place to meet and chat with fellow dog lovers. There’s even a dog wash to clean up your pooch at the nearby Crystal Car Wash.
Just minutes walk away, Lyne Park is another favourite with the suburb’s pet population.
Rose Bay Dog Beach is Nirvana for dogs.! Picture: Instagram/KingZeusTheGoldenWonderdog
Manly
Sydney’s famous beach-side suburb of Manly is a favourite for Lisa Chu and her French Bulldogs Miss Olive and Lady Mabel, who boast over 80,000 followers on Instagram.
“It’s fantastic walking along The Corso and just enjoying the scene, that’s the dogs too,” Ms Chu says.
“It’s very accommodating for pets. Just about every cafe you pass is dog friendly. We love heading down and getting fish and chips at the Boathouse at Shelly Beach, sitting by the water and just enjoying the atmosphere.
“It’s the perfect way to spend any weekend and plenty of other pet lovers feel the same way!”
Balmain
Pets are revered in Balmain. The main road Darling St – the home of luxury pet store Dogue – oftens seems to have as many canines walking down it as owners. Almost every business offers a welcoming water bowl and plenty of cafes and pubs are dog-friendly There is even the odd cat on a leash too!
The peninsula has a wide selection of parks that are generally leash free between 4pm and 10am including Mort Bay Park, Elkington Park and Birchgrove Park, beside the Oval.
But the pick is the generous grounds of Bridgewater Park in Rozelle, which offers leash-free exercise 24/7. It’s on the water, next to the Iron Cove Bridge and even has a couple of little coves nearby where dogs can swim.
Melbourne
South Yarra
Miss Olive and Lady Mabel do a bit of travelling and Ms Chu says they love South Yarra whenever they head to Melbourne for its widespread appreciation of pets.
“There are always lots of dogs out the front of the cafes there,” Ms Chu says.
“It’s been a part of their lives since they were puppies, so they are not phased about it at all. They’re just hanging out too.”
South Yarra is also recommended by Ian Bradnock, one of Melbourne’s leading dog trainers and behavioural consultants.
“You can go down to the Tan (Track) and you will see a hundred dogs. It’s just a great place for them and a great place to own a dog,” he says.
Caulfield
Caulfield is representative of the new breed of dog owners, according to Mr Bradnock.
“You have a lot of your crossbreeds there, your spoodles, your cavoodles, your groodles and the like,” he said.
“The parks and cafes are full of those breeds of dogs, all of which are seen as great family pets.”
“They are handbag dogs which means you can take them with you everywhere and Caulfield certainly caters to that.”
Princes Park, for one, is a great place to exercise your pet and is the heart of a very strong and welcoming pet community.
Fitzroy
Mr Bradnock says Fitzroy and even other inner city locations such as Malvern and Richmond are also great places in which to own dogs.
“They are such a big part of those communities and a big part of the family in those communities,” he says.
“You only have to go down to the park on a Saturday and see all the dogs at kids sport to know that.
Fitzroy’s Edinburgh Gardens, where dogs are permitted off leash, is a hub for the pet-loving community in this part of the Victorian capital.
Brisbane
Paddington
This inner city suburb boasts one of the largest dog populations in Brisbane, according to Ellen Lee, the manager of Brisbane Boarding Kennels and Cattery.
“It is a very prolific area regarding pet owners, both dogs and cats,” she says.
“There are a lot of units but also some lovely old Queenslanders which allows a variety of pets to inhabit the suburb. You see a lot of Labradoodles, Pugs and Moodles there and a variety of cats too.”
The bounding hills of Paddington certainly make for some fruitful exercise while, Paddington Dog Park at Neal Macrossan Park is one of the best dog parks in the city. The fully fenced dog park allows plenty of room for dogs to play, to sniff around or just simply relax.
North Lakes
Located about 30 minutes drive north of central Brisbane, North Lakes consists mostly of newly developed housing and almost boasts as many pets as people.
“In some parts of North Lakes nearly every house has a dog, sometimes two or three,” Ms Lee says.
Did somebody say walk?! Picture: Instagram/IanTheDogTrainer
“The council has been very proactive in making it a very pet-friendly place to live.”
North Lakes offers three of the best dog parks in Brisbane in Aurora Boulevard, which features agility equipment and lights so it can be enjoyed after dark. While Woodside Playing Fields Dog Agility Park also offers an obstacle course and areas separating friendly and not-so-friendly dogs and large and small dogs.
There is also North Lakes Environment Park, where you can enjoy an extended walk with your dog in relaxing surrounds, and they can have a dip in the lakes and ponds to cool off hotter days.
“It’s become a really great place to raise a pet,” Me Lee says.
“Here more of the bigger breeds like Australian Cattle Dogs, Kelpies and Border Collies are more common.”
New Farm
Surrounded on three sides by the banks of the Brisbane River, New Farm has also become a pet’s paradise. It’s inner city location and beautiful older houses has made property in the area sought after as well.
There are plenty of dog friendly cafes in the area with a variety of dog breeds from Bull Arabs to Toy Chihuahuas.
The Powerhouse Park Off-Leash Doggy Playground, flanked by the river and cafes, is a favourite of locals and other Brisbanites who travel across town with their pooches to play there.
“For owners and their pets, New Farm has the best of both worlds,” Ms Lee says.
At Cohen Handler, we are very fond of our pets too. So, if you’re looking for the right home for you, and your pet, at the right price contact us today.