Best Dog Parks in Melbourne

Best dog parks near Melbourne we love

Yarra Bend Park

This park has a 6.3-kilometre trail and is a large park with the Yarra River running through it, providing a swimming spot for dogs. The park is predominantly bushland and grassy areas. It has picnic facilities.

Darebin Parklands

A 33-hectare large conservation area with some lakes that are home to birds. In the northeast, there is a designated off-leash area, as well as a swimming pool formed by a creek. During the summer, be cautious of snakes in the grassy park and bushland near the creek. There are also picnic spots and facilities.

RJ Hamer Arboretum

This is a 126-acre botanical garden perfect for observing plant forms in different seasons. In the fall, you can capture the beauty of the leaves. 

Mathias Track

Mathias Track is possibly the most iconic dog-walking area in Melbourne. This path borders the Dandenong National Park and features trees collected from all over the world within the RJ Hamer Arboretum.

Emerald-Cockatoo Trail

A 14-kilometre round trip where you can catch a glimpse of Puffing Billy. It passes through the interesting Nobelius Heritage Park and Emerald Lake Park and finally through the eucalyptus forest of Wrights Forest.

Ruffey Lake Park

Spanning 168 acres, the park offers beautiful green hills dotted with trees, several walking trails, numerous picnic areas, and three playgrounds.

Princes Park Loop Walk

The park encircles the former home of the Carlton Football Club and features a pond. There’s another off-leash area around the southern end of Crawford Oval. In the middle, you’ll find playgrounds and picnic facilities.

Jells Park Walk

A great park for family picnics, with vast open green spaces, a large artificial lake teeming with various bird species, and over 9 kilometres of trails. There’s also a café and plenty of picnic areas.

Jawbone Foreshore Walk

A leash-free area in Williamstown along the foreshore for dog walking. It follows the bay trail to the northern end of the Jawbone Marine and Conservation Reserve across the Kororoit Creek estuary. Distance: 5.3 kilometres. The route can be extended to Altona Coastal Park or Cherry Lake.

Lillydale Lak​

Featuring numerous amenities and activities, including a beautiful playground, picnic shelters, tables, barbecue facilities, restrooms, drinking fountains, outdoor fitness equipment, a fishing jetty, and three separate dog off-leash areas, one of which has a creek.

Royal Park

Royal Park is Melbourne’s largest park, encompassing three dog-walking areas, many sports fields, Melbourne Zoo, the Royal Park Public Golf Course, and the Royal Park Nature Play.

Wilson Botanic Park

The 39-hectare Wilson Botanic Park is one of Melbourne’s most beautiful and interesting parks. It features three lakes inhabited by hundreds of eastern long-necked turtles, boardwalks, and lovely gardens. The park is an off-leash area and has a visitor centre, picnic facilities, restrooms, and a playground.

Ruffey Creek Trail

This trail is primarily an off-leash area, running along Ruffey Creek from Ruffey Lake Park to Finns Reserve, a large walking area located by the Yarra River.

George Bass Coastal Walk

It’s a cliff-top trail that extends from Kilcunda to the outskirts of San Remo. Walking along it offers spectacular views of the coastline, following the epic journey of the explorer George Bass along the southern edge of the Anderson Peninsula.