What are the best dog-friendly parks in Melbourne?
There is no shortage of great dog parks in Melbourne. If you're a dog walker, these locations are ideal. Your dog can run out some energy in a safe space while meeting some new pooch pals.
- Gasworks Park - Albert Park
- Clayton Reserve - North Melbourne
- Yarraville Gardens - Yarraville
- Fawkner Park - Prahran
- Yarra Bend Park - Fairfield
- Princes Park - Caulfield South
- Albert Park - Melbourne
- Aranga Reserve Dog Activity Centre - Donvale
- Green Gully Reserve - Keilor Downs
- Footscray Park - Footscray
1 Gasworks Park
Pickles Street and Graham Street, Albert Park
On any given day, this big southside dog park is full of well-behaved pooches. It also has plenty of secluded spaces for shy dogs to chill out. Facilities include plenty of bins, water and barbeques to make a day of it!
2 Clayton Reserve
Macaulay Road, North Melbourne
For training puppies who are learning to socialise, this dog-friendly park is a great option. The area has fencing and provides poo bags and bins. Plenty of tails to sniff and new friends to make on weekends!
3 Green Gully Reserve
Green Gully Road, Keilor Downs
This is another fun adventure zone for your dog to run, jump, crawl and sniff. It includes plenty of training equipment, secure fencing and large areas to run around and play. However, remember to stay safe in the leash-free zones that do not have fences.
4 Fawkner Park
Punt Road & Commercial Road, Prahran
This beautiful park is where local dogs and their owners go for exercise and relaxation on the grass. There is a massive off-leash field for your dog to enjoy. However, be aware that people also use this area as a sporting field on Saturdays!
5 Yarra Bend Park
Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield
A bushland environment for adventurous dogs, this huge park has several on and off-leash zones. It sits close to the city and is near many amenities and car parks. However, it feels like it's far from the rat race: with natural river-beds, fields and bushes to sniff and explore.
6 Princes Park
Bambra Rd & Dover St, Caulfield South
A southside favourite, Princes Park ticks all the boxes. It has great facilities including poo bags, bins, water and safe fenced zones for your mutt to run riot off-leash. There are lots of friendly dogs and owners here so be prepared to make some new furry and human pals.
7 Aranga Reserve Dog Activity Centre
Eastway Avenue, Donvale
A 'Dog Activity Centre' is a fun outdoor gym and adventure park for your pup. It includes fencing for peace of mind and plenty of separate spaces for dogs at different levels of training. It also features agility equipment, poo bags, bins and water. Your dog will sleep well after an afternoon here.
8 Albert Park
Aughtie Drive, Melbourne
Albert Park is vast, with several different zones. Some of these zones indicate on and off-leash, while others are completely dog-free. As such, be sure to read the signs. Head south-side near Aughtie Drive for a fun leash-free zone.
9 Footscray Park
Ballarat Road, Footscray
Located off Maribyrnong Boulevard, this peaceful old park has multiple zones for different uses. The leash-free zone lies west of Thomson Water Garden. The locals take great pride in this beautiful space, so be sure to spend some time exploring the grounds.
10 Yarraville Gardens
Whitehall Street, Yarraville
You can make an evening of it at this park, with barbeques and nearby food trucks to feed the whole family. The secure fenced-off section is perfect for your dog to have a romp with some furry friends. Why not make a night of it and enjoy dinner and some playtime?
Some final dog walking tips:
Do the right thing and always bring the poo bags, leash and best behaviour on the day. And as always in Australia, watch out in ANY outdoor park for snakes in spring and summer. Needless to say, it's also best to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Be sure to brush up on dog park manners before visiting a dog-friendly park. Here is a blog post about dog walking etiquette and dog parks in general. And if you own a cat and feel a little left out – check out our official guide to cat-walking. It's a very different sport altogether.
Visiting Melbourne, or looking for other dog-friendly activities? Check out our list of dog-friendly pubs.
Enjoy spending time with your four-legged friend! If you ever need a dog walker to take your pup on a dog park adventure, we can help. Just head to Pawshake and search for a dog walker in your local area.
