Newtown

Inner-west industrial-edged near Marrickville, with parks and grit close by. Practical, walkable and good for a quick lap.

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.

The very tip of the peninsula, where ferries dock and Illoura Reserve hands you front-row harbour views. Tiny, historic and built for a slow waterfront wander.

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.

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

Grand terraces, leafy streets and a quiet that belies how close Newtown sits. The inner west's calm side, made for an easy, unhurried walk.

Leafy backstreets, off-leash pockets and a cafe scene that actually wants your dog there. Crown Street's the morning-walk MVP — coffee at one end, a tie-up spot at every other.

The quiet bit of the inner west between Rozelle and Leichhardt, with the Bay Run and Easton Park close by. Leafy, low-key and made for an easy lap.

Cooks River wetlands and a big riverside reserve, with off-leash green close by. Walkable and made for a riverside run.

Wrapped around Sydney's grandest parkland — off-leash lawns, shady avenues and open green for days. The city's best backyard for a dog.