Lewisham

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

Quiet and leafy with local parks and an easy suburban pace. Down-to-earth and good for a no-fuss daily walk.

A leafy inner-west favourite of cafes, quiet lanes and light-rail ease. Walkable, friendly and reliably dog-welcoming.

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.

A harbour peninsula built for wandering: village pubs, waterfront parks and ferry views at every turn. Half of Balmain owns a dog, the other half wants to pat yours.

Live music, late eats and Enmore Road's dog-welcoming pubs, all a short stroll from Newtown. Hip, walkable and happy to pour you a schooner with the dog at your feet.

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.

Wedged between Newtown and Glebe, with Sydney Uni's leafy grounds and quiet terrace streets to wander. The inner west's calm achiever — the buzz close by, the pace nicely unhurried.

Cooks River-close and leafy, with foreshore paths and a quiet village pace. Walkable and made for a riverside lap.

Inner-west diversity at full tilt — dumplings, grocers and Ashfield Park's green at the centre. Busy, well-fed and easy for an after-dinner lap.