Dog friendly parks
National, state and regional parks
In general, dogs are not permitted in most of Victoria's national, state and regional parks as they are designated as sanctuaries for native animals. The following parks are an exception and have some designated areas where you can bring your dog:
- Ararat Hills Regional Park - Ararat
- Bald Hills Creek Wildlife Reserve - Tarwin Lower
- Beechworth Historic Park - Beechworth
- Bemm River Scenic Reserve - Club Terrace
- Broken-Boosey State Park - Katamatite, Numurkah, Tungamah
- Cobram Regional Park - Cobram
- Creswick Regional Park - Creswick
- Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve - Stawell
- Dergholm State Park - Casterton, Edenhope, Harrow
- Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park - Golden Beach, Lakes Entrance, Loch Sport, Metung, Seaspray
- Greater Bendigo National Park - Bendigo
- Great Otway National Park - Princetown to Anglesea
- Heathcote-Graytown National Park - Heathcote, Nagambie, Rushworth
- Hepburn Regional Park - Daylesford, Hepburn Springs
- Kinglake National Park - Flowerdale, Kinglake, St Andrews, Whittlesea, Yarra Glen
- Kooyoora State Park - Inglewood, St Arnaud
- Kurth Kiln Regional Park - Gembrook, Yarra Junction
- Lake Eildon National Park - Alexandra, Eildon, Jamieson, Mansfield
- Lerderderg State Park - Bacchus Marsh, Blackwood, Gisborne, Melton
- Lower Ovens Wildlife Reserve - Rutherglen, Yarrawonga
- Macedon Regional Park - Macedon, Mt Macedon, Woodend
- Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve - Clunes
- Nyah-Vinifera Park - Nyah
- Oriental Claims Historic Area - Omeo
- Powers Lookout Scenic Reserve - Cheshunt
- Upper Yarra Reservoir Park - Reefton
- Yarrawonga Regional Park - Yarrawonga
- You Yangs Regional Park - Lara, Little River
Dog friendly parks in Melbourne
Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs have a large range of parks suitable for you and your dog to visit. While some of those parks have designated off-lead areas, some do require your dog to be on a lead at all times.
A selection of some popular parks are:
- Albert Park - 3 km south of CBD
- Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens - 45 km east of CBD
- Cardinia Reservoir Park - 45 km south-east of CBD
- Dandenong Police Paddocks Reserve - 32 km south-east of CBD
- Emerald Lake Park - 50 km east of CBD
- George Tindale Memorial Gardens - 46 km east of CBD
- Greenvale Reservoir Park - 25 km north of CBD
- Jells Park - 24 km south-east of CBD
- Karkarook Park - 19 km south-east of CBD
- Maroondah Reservoir Park - 65 km north-east of CBD
- Mullum Mullum Park - 26 km east of CBD
- Point Gellibrand Heritage Park - 15 km south-west of CBD
- RJ Hamer Arboretum - 49 km east of CBD
- Silvan Reservoir Park - 49 km east of CBD
- Wattle Park - 13 km east of CBD
- Werribee River Park - 34 km south-west of CBD
- Westerfolds Park - 20 km north-east of CBD
- Westgate Park - 6 km south-west of CBD
- Yan Yean Reservoir Park - 36 km north-east of CBD
- Yarra Bend Park - 5 km north-east of CBD
Dog etiquette in parks
Please observe the following simple rules when bringing your dog to a park for the benefit and safety of your dog, other dogs and the general public.
- Keep your dog is on a lead at all times unless you are within a designated off-leash area
- Ensure you are in effective control of your dog at all times
- Always carry a scoop and bag so that you can clean up any waste left behind by your dog
- You may need to carry a water bottle for your dog, particularly if the weather is warm and there are few taps or water sources nearby