8 Best Dog Parks in Melbourne

Let the pups run free: Best dog parks in Melbourne

Dogs are widely (and wildly) accepted in parks across Melbourne. But not every open space will let pups roam sans leash.

So, here are Melbourne’s most dog-friendly destinations, where your little friend can socialise and stretch their legs.

William Street Reserve | Brighton

It’s 5pm. Where are all the doggies of Brighton? At William Street Reserve for their daily park hang, of course.

With plenty of open green space, it’s the perfect place to show off just how fast they can zoomie (to friends of the two- and four-legged variety alike).

But keep in mind: the reserve is also a popular destination for organised sport and picnics. So make sure your pooch is on a lead within 20-metres of activity.

M.O Moran Reserve Fenced Dog Park | Elwood

Is your dog a pup-about-town? Do they know all the cool new spaces to stretch their hind legs? Then they’re probably woofing on and on about M.O Moran Reserve.

This fenced, off-leash dog park where Elwood Canal meets Port Philip Bay has just opened up. And dog owners in the area have enjoyed letting their balls of energy run wild there ever since (without worrying they’ll run too far).

Doug Denyer Reserve | Mordialloc

Want to entertain the kids and get your pup moving? Why not take the whole family out for a doggy park adventure?

With a humongous, fenced, off-leash dog park and agility course, your pet is set.

And with two big playgrounds to go nuts on, your brood will eventually need… food! Lucky there are plenty of picnic areas to fill bellies big and small.

Parking’s free too, so you can stay (and play) to your heart’s content.

Footscray Park | Footscray

Does your bounding hound like to stretch their four legs in a wide-open space?

Take them to Footscray Park. Although this off-leash park sits in inner-Melbourne, it spans a whopping 37-acres. So be sure to keep an eye on your dashing doggo – if you’re not careful, they’ll be a smudge in the distance within seconds.

(Although, keeping watch may be hard – the park boasts some impressive city views.)

Clayton Reserve | North Melbourne

Although triangle-shaped, this dog park is no Bermuda. As a fully fenced frolic zone for dogs, there’s no chance you’ll lose your pup at Clayton Reserve.

Just north of the CBD, this dog park has everything a canine adventure needs: a water bowl and a bin for poop. And if your dog prefers to dig holes rather than run laps, there’s replacement sand to fill in their hard work (ready to dig up again next time!)

Gilpin Park | Brunswick West

This fenced-off play area is a doggy’s dream. Why? Because the terrain keeps the terriers guessing. There are dirt mounds to bound around, and mulch to get their sniffers into. 

And if you have an older or timid dog, you can keep them away from the puppy pandemonium by using the dedicated low-energy area. This dog park really caters for all paws and tails!

Bundoora Park | Bundoora

Is your dog building their agility and balance skills?

Then pack up the car and head to Bundoora Park. You and your pup can spend all day nailing the park’s eight-obstacle agility course.

After all that hard work, you’ll both need a break for lunch. So you’ll be yap-py to hear there are plenty of beautiful spots to perch and fill up before getting back to business!

Victoria Park | Abbotsford

Good old doggy dogs forever, they know how to play the game. Side by side they stick together, to scare all the magpies away. 

That’s how the Collingwood Football Club song goes, right? Okay maybe not. But down at Victoria Park – the club’s home ground – you're just as likely to see a dog running up the wing as a magpie.

And the gated barrier that usually keeps the black-and-white army out, does a paw-fect job of keeping off-leash doggies in.

Although the oval is no longer used for AFL games, the women in the AFLW still rip up this turf, as well as a bunch of community clubs. So make sure you check the park calendar before you let the dogs out.