NOTE: Please avoid parks and areas impacted by storms and floods. See this Parks Victoria page about National Park closures before planning your walking adventures.
Looking for dog-friendly walks?
- Join the pack at our Victorian Dog Walks group on Facebook for the best tips from other dog owners about great places for walking on and off-lead in Victoria.
- Use our free Walking Maps website to search your area and tick 'Dog off-leash area' for walks featuring a free-roaming space for your pup. Tick boxes better viewed from a desk-top computer.
Great dog walks in Melbourne (click links for maps and photos):
- Maribyrnong River Loop, Aberfeldie (includes two off-leash areas)
- Jells Park walk (note: dogs not allowed in the conservation area)
- Yarra Bend Park walk
- Princes Park loop walk, Carlton North (includes two leash-free areas)
- Altona Dog beach walk (includes off-leash)
- Gloucester Reserve, Williamstown (dogs not permitted in Jawbone Marine Reserve section)
- Royal Park walk (includes numerous leash-free areas, but stay away from Nature Play playground)
- Lilydale Lake walk
- Darebin Creek from Darebin Parkland to the Yarra River (includes two off-leash areas)
- Darebin Parklands (note: has only one off-leash area and some areas where dogs not permitted)
- Wilson Botanic Park walk, Berwick (on-lead only but lovely!)
- Finns' Reserve, Yarra Bend, Templestowe (Note: dogs not permitted Wombat Bend playground)
- Mathias forest track and Olinda Golf Course dog-friendly walk (Olinda, The Dandenongs)
*Please note that dogs must be on-lead along Mathias Track as it runs adjacent to the Dandenong Ranges National Park. There is a large off-leash area at the old golf course (see map).
Great dog walks outside Melbourne (dogs must be on-lead)
- You Yangs East West walk
- Kurth Kiln walk, Gembrook
- Lake Elizabeth walk, the Otways (more info on dogs in the Otways)
- Apollo Bay (includes off-leash beach)
- Airey's inlet cliff top walk (includes an off-leash beach)
- Shallow Inlet to Sandy Point (near Wilsons Promontory)
- Traralgon Railway Reserve
- Mansfield Botanic Park
- Hustler's Reef Reserve, Bendigo (short walk includes off-leash area)
- George Bass coastal walk (Kilcunda to Punch Bowl Road near San Remo)
State Forests: Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning manages Victoria's state forests. Dogs are permitted on-lead in all state forests except for Murrindindi Scenic Reserve and Steavenson Falls Reserve Marysville (where dogs are not permitted).
Mornington Peninsula Shire (thanks to star map-maker Keeley!)
- McCrae dog-friendly beach walk (includes an off-leash beach)
- Safety Beach dog walk, Mornington Peninsula (includes an off-leash beach)
- Tassels Cove, Safety Beach (includes off-leash beach)
- Hillview Reserve, Dromana, leash-free (new map, February 2019)
- Flinders' Beach dog-friendly walk Flinders
- *Balcombe Estuary boardwalk circuit, Mount Martha (three off-leash areas!)
*This walk was closed November 2022 due to storm damage and has not yet been re-opened
See this Leader story November 2023 - Leash-free community forest walk, Mount Martha
- Mount Martha dog-lovers' beach walk
- Mornington dog-friendly walk
Do you prefer walks around your neighbourhood, or walks further afield?
You might find these sites helpful:
- Victoria Walks' dog walks Facebook group Join to get information about new dog-walking maps and to get tips from other Melbourne and Victorian dog-lovers. Use 'Search posts' for specific area information.
- Walking Maps tick 'dog off-leash' and refine by area for walks that feature an off-leash area. Note: this option only appears from desktop . Mobile phone view available here.
Etiquette
Of course, it goes without saying that you and your dog will need to share these spaces with other walkers. So please follow basic rules:
- Ensure your dog is on a lead, unless otherwise specified.
- Control your dog, especially around children and busy areas. Not everyone likes dogs!
- Pick up your dog's poop (keep an eye on them when they are off-lead).
- Local parks: Check your local council website for information about off-leash areas.
Help us map more dog friendly walks
- Fill in the form below; or
- Map a walk on Walking Maps (this video shows you how).
- Meet Keeley, a 5-star dog walks map maker!