Melbournians love pets, especially dogs. Since the wake of the global pandemic in 2020, many Australians bought or adopted a pet. They quickly become a member of the family. Here are 10 off-leash places in Melbourne for our beloved companions to run free and meet other furry friends.
Altona Dog Beach and Burns Reserve Park (Altona)
Both located in the west side of Melbourne, the Altona Dog Beach and Burns Reserve Park are a perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors with your family and pets! Both areas are right next to each other.
With a blue sky and cool ocean breeze, Altona Dog Beach is perfect for both dogs and owners to visit in summer. During low tide, you can go further out on the sandbank for a long and leisure walk. Dogs can hop between soft sandbanks or jump into a nearby puddle of seawater for some splashy fun.
After dipping into the ocean, or if your dog is not a big fan of getting wet, you can take it to run wild on the huge grassy areas in the nearby Burns Reserve Park. It is a great place for our furry child to socialise with other dogs. This is one of the best off-leash places in Melbourne.
Sandown Street Beach (Brighton)
Located in an affluent suburb, Brighton Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Melbourne. Dogs can run free between Bay Street and Sandown Street. The beautiful beachfront has an array of sand which is perfect for your dog to run along the shoreline or frolic in the sand.
Albert Park Lake (Albert Park)
Just 3km from the centre of Melbourne, Albert Park Lake is easily one of the most popular places for people to walk and exercise. The lake is well protected and looked after, so many parts of the area require a leash. The track is about 4.8km long and there is a water fountain every 500 meters.
Fortunately for animal lovers, there is a large off-leash area along Aughtie Road which is behind the Albert Park Indoor Sports Centre. There is also a smaller leash-free area on the northwest side along Albert Road Drive.
The RSPCA hosts its Million Paws Walk at Albert Park every year. It has a fantastic community atmosphere for both owners and puppies.
Edinburgh Gardens (North Fitzroy)
One of the largest parks under the Yarra City Council, Edinburgh Gardens has designated almost half of its 23 hectares of land to an off-leash area for dogs. This is one of the best off-leash places in Melbourne. Dogs have so much space to run free or play fetch. The open space is also beautifully covered and surrounded by trees. Many locals often spend hours resting under the tree on a warm summer evening.
Clayton Reserve (North Melbourne)
Clayton Reserve is an inner-city area providing a large grassy off-leash area in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. Dogs have enough space to run around or play fetch. It is well designed with fencing to protect dogs from running out on the main road. The reserve has a great water fountain installed to keep your pets well hydrated.
Ruffey Lake Park (Templestowe)
Ruffey Lake Park is renowned for its size and facilities for families of all ages. The park has designated a large grassy area and many walking tracks. There are many pet-friendly drinking fountains along the walking track too.
The local council has set up areas for both on-lead and off-lead areas, while some parts are for no-dogs areas such as the children playgrounds and seating areas along the lake.
Aranga Reserve (Donvale)
Aranga Reserve is one of the best off-leash places in Melbourne. Its fully fenced off-leash park allows owners to peacefully watch their dogs in a secured environment. It also features an activity park with a large range of fun obstacles. The obstacle course includes ramps, a circular disk tunnel, an elevated platform and much more. It has an installed water station too.
Brooklyn Reserve Fenced Dog Park (Brooklyn)
Brooklyn Reserve Fenced Dog Park is considered the best-fenced dog park by many dog lovers. It even has a box of dog toys to use. The large grassy area allows your dogs to roam free, while it also features an outdoor agility course with weaving poles, tunnels, elevated platforms, rocks, and ramps.
Diamond Creek Fenced Dog Park (Diamond Creek)
Diamond Creek is known for its regional country vibe, yet it remains well connected to the Melbourne CBD. The Diamond Creek Fenced Dog Park is often rated as one of the best dog parks in Melbourne. The park has incorporated three zones for different sized dogs. No doubt many dogs have different physical and social needs.
The Runabout zone provides a large open area for running and rock features for climbing. The Training zone obstacle course is well suited to the more active ones. The Timeout zone is a quieter area suited to either younger puppies or older dogs.
Mt. Martha (Mornington Peninsula)
The Mt. Martha Community Forest has a 2.45 km walking path. Dogs can roam free and remain off-leash at all times during the year. The forest provides great entertainment with many tall trees, long dusty paths and the sound of wildlife. They can also have some water fun in the Balcombe creek in the forest.
There isn’t much in the way of a water fountain for dogs, so don’t forget to bring water for both yourself and your puppy.
April 2021
