Top 10 Dog Beaches in Melbourne

Only a doggy paddle away: Melbourne’s top 10 dog beaches

What do they call a female dog again? Oh yeah… a beach!

So with the weather warming up, it’s time to take your pup to the salt, sand and surf. And you won’t need to go far.

Melbourne is home to some beautiful beaches. And many are open for furry friends of all shapes and sizes.

But if you’re looking for a strip of sand to start, we’ve narrowed down our top 10. Trust us, these beaches are off their leash!

Altona Dog Beach

Staying home on a sunny day can make your pup feel tide down. So why not head to Altona Dog Beach?

With huge bodies of sand and shallow water for your pooch to prance in, this puppy paradise is best enjoyed at a low tide.

Well protected from the road, it’s also a safe space for your pup to be off leash – unless you trot over to the nearby PA Burns Reserve marine and bird sanctuary. It can get dodgy for dogs over there! So keep your canine on a leash.

Port Melbourne Dog Beach

From Station Pier all the way to Lagoon Pier, this Port Melbourne Dog Beach is the perfect place to give your pooch a sniff of the sea.

Along the southern side of the shore, there’s no such thing as a short leash. In fact, there’s no need for a leash at all! However, the northern half of the beach is only off-leash from 1 April until 31 October.

Port Melbourne Dog Beach is just a short trot away from the Bay Street shops and cafes. So after a swim, you and your pup can treat yourself to some re-tail therapy.

Sandridge Dog Beach

Give your little rascal free rein along the 220-metre beach between the rock wall across from Cumberland Road, and the one across from Barak Road. You might be between a rock and a hard place, but your pooch will feel anything but – this beach is off-leash.

An accessible and alive area, Sandridge Dog Beach offers pretty picnic facilities, views and a re-purposed maritime playground – for the pups who want to play.

And if you’re driving, you’ll have no problem finding a place to bark the car – it’s all free!

St Kilda Dog Beaches

Good things come in threes. So we’re not surprised St Kilda has not one, not two, but three off-leash dog beaches.

If you live by a ‘west is best’ mantra – West Beach is for you. While you’re there, why not follow up your swim with a puppuccino at the fur-friendly West Beach Pavilion café?

But if your pooch is paw-sh, St Kilda Harbour is right up their kennel. Home to the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, your pup can take in the sights and the sand.

Otherwise, St Kilda Foreshore is the place to be. After your walkies along the palm-fringed promenade, you can let your pooch off their leash along the south side of the seaside.

Elwood Dog Beach

You know what the best cure for the zoomies is? A good dose of vitamin sea. And with 1300 metres of off-leash freedom to enjoy, your dog can expel any excess energy at Elwood Dog Beach.

At least, they can any time from 1 April until 31 October. And from 5.30am to 9.30am between 1 November and 31 March. But after 9.30am in that warmer weather, this place is a pup no-go zone.

And if your precious pooch isn’t a fan of getting sand between their paws, there’s still the walking path, bike track, grassed area, and coastal vegetation to explore.

You can also take a trot on the Elwood Pier that overlooks the entire bay. The perfect place for a pensive pup who needs to keep up a-pier-ances.

Sandown Street Dog Beach

Named after the street it’s set on, Sandown Street Dog Beach is padded with some of the softest sand in the land (AKA Brighton).

Completely fenced off with a quick-shutting gate, this dog beach puts pup protection at the foreshore.

And it’s ready for your six-legged crew whenever walkies call – Sandown Street Dog Beach is off-leash 24/7.

Sandringham Harbour Dog Beach

You know what they say: all roads lead to Sandringham Harbour Dog Beach. And it’s no wonder, considering the number of paths to this beach!

So whether you’re travelling by pedal or paw, you’ll be able to find a way to this off-leash beach.

When you arrive, why not dive straight into the shallows? The water levels at this beach are perfect for pups still learning to doggy paddle. And the gentle currents will carry your canine along as they wade through the water.

Mentone Dog Beach

After a long walkies along the beautiful Bay Trail, you’ll find Mentone’s off-leash dog beach – it’s a doggy’s dream come true.

A hot dog hot spot for a reason, this popular dog beach on Mentone beach’s west side is open for off-leash mischief 24 hours a day.

There’s nothing worse than being lost at sea(side). So we’re lucky this place has a short wall behind the sand, to ward off any curious canines from too much inland exploration. We’re looking at you, Sherlock Bones.

Keast Park Dog Beach

Seaford’s Keast Park Dog Beach – located within the Keast Park Reserve – is the only year-round off-leash dog beach in the Frankston surrounds.

Your pup will spend hours splashing and sprinting along this accessible 200-metre stretch of sand – complete with a playground and carpark.

Home to the award-winning Keast Park Pavilion – housing the Carrum Bowls Club, toilet facilities and Crackerjack Café – this doggy destination pleases both human and hound.

Tassels Cove Dog Beach

Safety Beach may be a bit of a trek for some people, but where there’s a will, there’s a wave.

So take the trip down south to this cosy cove for canines – there’s a wide stretch of sand and a rock wall to satisfy even the most serious sniffer.

A great place to unwind and get in touch with nature, this sheltered beach has got calm, gentle waters down to a fine art. But heads up: you won’t find a water tap. So make sure you bring along some drinking water when you visit!

Ensuring your dog's safety and style is crucial, especially if they're not ready to roam off-leash.