Centennial Park

Spice Alley, hidden bars and Central Park's green roof, all a stumble from Central. Small, arty and dense, with pockets of lawn for a quick stretch.

Racecourse, university and the green sprawl of Centennial Park on the doorstep. Leafy, lively and a short trot from Coogee sand — the east with room to move.

Clifftop coast and a sheltered beach at the city's southeast edge, with headland walks. Salty, scenic and made for a sea-air stroll.

Old rail yards turned markets and maker spaces, beside Redfern's buzz. Gritty, creative and walkable, with green pockets close by.

Chinatown's neon and night-market buzz at the city's edge, with Belmore Park close. Dense, lively and walkable for a quick lap.

A bayside pocket near La Perouse, with Botany Bay beaches and headland walks. Breezy, low-key and made for a coastal stroll.

Inner-west edge with Sydney Park's off-leash acres on one side and a craft-brewery strip on the other. Industrial bones, Newtown energy and plenty of green to burn off.

A buzzy eastern beach with the clifftop walk to Bondi and Grant Reserve's headland green. The sand's off-limits to dogs, but the coast path delivers.

A harbourside park with marina views and off-leash green, a stroll from the city. Leafy, breezy and easy with a dog.

Art deco blocks, tree-lined streets and a cafe on every corner. Embarkation Park hands you off-leash time with a harbour backdrop. Dense, glamorous and surprisingly dog-easy.