PARKS WITHIN THE CITY OF KINGSTON
UPDATED 1st April, 2024
where dogs are allowed off lead (with restrictions). If you don't see the park that you want to go to - it means that dogs are not allowed OFF lead there at all. Read on for more information. The City of Kingston offers 30 OFF LEAD parks for you and your dog
(Still a work in progress. More to come as you can see.)
See the list of Bayside City Council off lead parks here
On the website Kingston Council want the following from you, as a dog owner...
OBLIGATIONS IN OFF LEASH AREAS
Please do not let your dog off the leash until you enter the off-leash area, which will be clearly marked by signs in the reserves.
When a dog is being exercised off a leash in an off-leash area the owner must:
remain in effective voice or hand control of the dog so you can promptly place the dog on a leash, if that becomes necessary
carry a leash which you can use to bring the dog under effective control if the dog causes a nuisance to any person or animal
not allow the dog to worry or threaten any person or animal
always keep the dog in sight
bring the dog under control if it is or is likely to be within twenty metres of - the arena or ground of an organised sporting or practice event - an occupied children's playground area - an organised public meeting or event - an occupied permanent barbecue or picnic area
Remember, Council’s rangers patrol all reserves and streets and may approach anyone who is walking a dog on or off leash. Should you be walking your dog off-leash where it needs to be on a leash, you may face a fine. City Of Kingston provides 30 Off Lead Reserves for your enjoyment.
According to the Kingston City Council website, there are three FULLY ENCLOSED OFF LEAD PARKS:
These are Kevin Hayes Reserve, Reg Marlow Park and Snowdon Reserve HOWEVER, there are more than that. Iluka Reserve in Aspendale, Deering Lane Reserve in Cheltenham, Farm Rd Reserve also in Cheltenham and Roy Dore Reserve in Carrum.
Here are ALL of the parks in Kingston where dogs are allowed off lead
click the suburb to learn more about their off lead parks
ASPENDALE
BROWNS RESERVE
Browns Lane, Aspendale
This is a very large recreation area that we accessed via the football club car park down Brown's Lane. Access for all types of users from sports players to cyclists to families and also off lead dogs. There is a great, wide pathway going along Brown's Lane which is on lead for dogs as is the oval and pavilion area. Featuring a large area for dogs that also includes delicious mud puddles (the previous night we had loads of rain). Public toilets at the pavilion were locked the day we went there. There is a dog water tap off to the right of the pavilion near one of the oval lights and rubbish bins placed sporadically throughout the walk.
None of the area is enclosed.
GLEN STREET RESERVE,
10A Parkview Drive, Aspendale
Also known as Edithvale Common.
This is a football oval so is a shared off lead space with the sporting club. It's not fully enclosed as gates have been removed. There is water and shelter available at the pavilion. Water consists of a saucepan tethered by a chain as well as a free ranging silver bowl.
Also at the pavilion is a rubbish bin and poop bag station.
ILUKA RESERVE
Tarongo Lane, Aspendale
Although not listed on the Kingston Council Website as being fully enclosed, the back section of this park is and it is another wonderful space for those who require a secure off lead space.
What a lovely space. This boasts quite a few rubbish bins with dog poop bag stations and also drink stations.
There is a children's playground, picnic table but no toilets.
There is a large, fully enclosed off lead area, complete with airlock gateway and drink station inside.
Plenty of shade, a few bench seats and lots of sniffing opportunities.
ASPENDALE GARDENS
NURTEN PARADE RESERVE
25 Nurten Parade, Aspendale Gardens
This park is off lead only between the hours of 5pm and 10am and is well signed
This is a nicely looked after space. Sadly no water stations and no poop bag stations available but there is a rubbish bin at each end.
Lovely and grassy, there is plenty of shade, one concrete pathway that stretches the whole length and two bench seats.
BONBEACH
Bonbeach Sports Reserve
116 Bondi Road, Bonbeach
This is a large, open expanse bordered on two sides with mature trees. The other side is houses and the remaining is the carpark.
This offers 3 bench seats and the seat near the carpark has a large silver bucket chained to it containing water for the dogs.
There is a human/dog drinking water station opposite the reserve outside the off lead area on a walking path. There is a bin/poop bag station near the pavilion. There are cricket nets to the left and this space looks like a football oval but no goal posts. Offers good sniffing opportunities and plenty of running free space. This park is not enclosed.
CARRUM
Roy Dore Reserve
Thelma Street, Carrum
This is a FULLY ENCLOSED PARK
This FULLY FENCED off lead park has been newly refurbished according to council "This $367k development was made possible with support from the Victorian Government and is the first fenced, off-leash dog park in the southern part of Kingston." The park features 3 'airlock' gates and is well signed as to where the on and off lead sections are.
There is a path going around and loads of lovely, shady mature trees on the perimeter. Quite luscious grass for this time of the year (February) and while we were there, there was a large water truck watering the grounds - take note Bayside Council! This park features 3 rubbish bin/poop bag stations inside the park but just the one human/dog drink station. There are new plantings in the middle which will make a lovely, cool shaded area. Also has logs/rocks which council lists as "Nature play' dog activity areas including logs and boulders" Council also lists that the space has "Interactive surfaces with, including grass, gravel and mulch" which really is not interactive unless your dogs are like mine and love to eat grass. I wouldn't encourage my dogs to interact with mulch (ie dig!)
CHELSEA
Bicentennial Park
Thames Promenade & Scotch Parade, Chelsea
This very large recreational park has something for everyone. The off lead area is near the carpark at the eastern end of Argyle Avenue.
This park boasts kilometres of tracks but all are onlead. The off lead/on lead areas are very well signed so you will have no difficulty knowing where you are allowed to be with your off lead dog. This park is not enclosed. The off lead area has 'agility' apparatus which is looking a tad tired. There is a sheltered picnic table and we saw one rubbish bin/poop bag station nearby but there are other 'normal' bins throughout. The park boasts lovely undulating hills and excellent mature trees.
CHELSEA HEIGHTS
Amaroo Drive Reserve
22 Amaroo Dr, Chelsea Heights
This long, slender reserve is divided in to two sections by Amaroo Dve. Photos here are just of one side but the other looked just as good, There is a solid concrete pathway, no poop bags or rubbish bin within the off lead areas but there is a rubbish bin and human/dog drink station at the children's playground.
Lots of lovely, shady mature trees and also luscious grass. A nice space that is not enclosed.
CHELTENHAM
Derring Lane Reserve,
22 Eagland Rd, Cheltenham
Well, this one was a lovely surprise! Three entry points - one from Eagland Rd, another from Derring Lane and another from Hilda Street. We entered from Eagland Rd and immediately on the left is a rubbish bin and good off lead signage.
We followed the pathway towards Derring Lane and thats where there is one water station, another rubbish bin and dog poop bag dispenser. Then, walking towards the opposite end of Derring Lane - at the Hilda Street entrance - another rubbish bin and water station. The whole park was lovely and lush with good open areas as well as bushy and treed areas. Very well kept and there is also a picnic table in up the opposite end to Derring Lane and a bench seat half way down on the right. No public toilets. I feel like this is a FULLY ENCLOSED PARK but it is not noted on the Kingston Website as such
Farm Road Reserve,
Farm Rd, Cheltenham
This reserve is a favourite. It is a fabulous long reserve that has two entry gates on Farm Rd and one down the other end.
One rubbish bin, water station and poop bag dispenser for all of the park and that is situated at the Farm Road entrance. Lovely, lush full grown trees dot the whole reserve which provides a whole lot of lovely shade in summer.
I feel like this is a FULLY ENCLOSED PARK but it is not noted on the Kingston Website as such
Kingston Heath,
149 Farm Rd, Cheltenham
Right down at the end of Farm Rd, is the sign to Kingston Botanic Gardens, drive in to the carpark and at the very end you will see a large area with trees, a track and then open space. The open space is the off lead area and it is very well signed.
Within this open space, there are little rolling hills and a fun agility area. Be careful in the wet though as some of the equipment will be too slippery for your dog.
I spotted two rubbish bins and one water station but did not see a dog poop bag dispenser. Kingston Heath is a great recreation centre for everyone - check out the gorgeous Botanical Gardens but remember, dogs must be on lead there. Public toilets, children's playground, bbqs - you name it - they have it here!
Le Page Park,
112 Argus St, Cheltenham
This is an interesting one. It is right beside Le Page Primary School. Drive in the driveway where you can see a permanent BBQ and netball courts to the left. There is an oval on the right - this one is ON LEAD only. The oval at the end of the carpark is the designated off lead area. There is a black wire fence around it but it is not fully enclosed. The interesting part is that it is off lead only between the hours of 5pm and 10am - except when sporting activities are in progress - then they MUST BE onlead. There is PLENTY of signage to tell you this.
Sir William Fry Reserve,
Nepean Hwy, Cheltenham
This is a very large recreation/park area. I didn't have the map with me so was totally confused as to where the off lead sections were as the signage is no where near as clear as other Kingston parks in my opinion AND there were quite a few people with their dogs off lead in the vast majority of the space. So, a lot of the photos I took - well it turns out that those areas at the back near the train line and over near the chimney stack thing - well according to the map - is not off lead so I didn't include them in this post. Basically, the off lead section is a an almost oval type shape to the left of the lake (facing the train line). There are two signs (graffitied) that I could see. This parkland boasts a lake, playground, shelter, skatepark, toilet block, tennis wall, basketball ring and more. It has two water stations that I saw, quite a few rubbish bins but I did not see any dog poop bag dispensers.
I asked quite a few people with dogs where exactly the off lead area was but most weren't sure and said it is all off lead except for around the bbq and play equipment. I think this is a great park but signage needs to be much clearer.
Snowdon Drive Reserve,
5A Snowdon Dr, Cheltenham
FULLY ENCLOSED PARK
This is one of the THREE fully enclosed parks that Kingston offers.
It's not a large park. There is one rubbish bin but no dog poop bag dispenser. One water station and a bench seat half way down the left side. There are 9 trees on the left and 2 on the right.
The day I went it looked quite unkempt but, thankfully, no stray poops left behind.
The park also looks like it gets really muddy.
CLAYTON SOUTH
BALD HILL PARK RESERVE,
Clayton South/Clarinda
HEATHERTON PARK,
1 Ireland Rd, Clayton South
NAMATJIRA RESERVE,
Springs Rd and Raleigh St, Clayton South
DINGLEY VILLAGE
CHADWICK RESERVE,
100 Howard Rd, Dingley Village (Car access via new carpark on Torquay Close)
This is a FULLY ENCLOSED PARK
This fully enclosed dog park is a newly dedicated off lead space that features both a seperate small dog fully grassed area and a general area for all dogs.
It has two entrances - both equipped with excellent airlock gates/space and a rubbish bin outside each entrance with a bag dispenser. There is ONE water station inside the general off lead area - none in the small dog area which means your little one wil have to come to through the general population to have a drink. In the general area which is quite a generous space, there are three bench seats and also a picnic table with a roof and a massive box marked Stick Library.
The general area boasts a large grassed area along with gravelly stuff (technical term of course) and agility equipment.
The agility area includes weave poles, tunnel, walkway, balance beams and a jump through window. There is also a mound of fixed rocks and logs along with new tree/shrub plantings along the fenceline. The small dog area is completely grassed and very generous in size. There is one bench seat but as mentioned, no access to the one water station. Small dogs have to access this area through the shared airlock gate. No signage as yet for any of these spaces.
SWALLOW RESERVE,
2A Wheatland Cres, Dingley Village
SPRING ROAD RESERVE,
241 Spring Rd, Dingley Village
HIGHETT
Turner Road Reserve,
35 Turner Rd, Highett Cheltenham
(Listed on City of Kingston's map as Cheltenham)
My gps kept giving me the wrong directions for this one so here is how to get in there. On Turner Rd, go in the driveway that is the 'shared club' driveway where there is an old yellow sign saying "entrance combined club rooms" and there are signs on the fence - a red and white one saying Archery and another with Highett Football Club. Drive down that driveway and there are public toilets on the leftand football ovals. Keep going down to the end where you will see the Fly Fishing Club. One of the fabulous features of this park is the fantastic signage indicating where dogs must be onlead. To the right is a shallow body of water which is a fly fishing casting practice pool. Very shallow. On to the actual off lead info. There is a rubbish bin and dog poop bag dispenser at the car park gate, Walk toward the off lead area past a large oval to your left.. You will see a bench seat and a water station. The oval is off lead as well as the area behind it and to the right of it. It is a terrific space. Good for dogs who like to sniff and explore as well as those who love to run.
MENTONE
REG MARLOW PARK,
133 Warrigal Rd, Mentone FULLY ENCLOSED PARK
This park is a small, fully enclosed space with entry points on Johnston Street as well as Warrigal Rd. It is well signed, has at least 4 bench seats, a couple of rubbish bins with poop bag dispensers and a water station.
It is lovely and grassy.
SOUTHERN ROAD RESERVE,
11 Southern Rd, Mentone
Enter via Broome Avenue. Not enclosed.
This is a sporting oval / facility but the outside part as per the map is offlead. The map indicates a larger off lead area than the actual signage at the place indicates which is confusing. No bins, No water stations. No poop bags. Lots of mature, shade trees which my dogs love. There are cricket nets and the oval both of which were in use when we went. The cricket nets are at the Broome St end and are in the 'off lead' area but of course, dogs are meant to be on lead within 20metres of organised sport/training. We found that this off lead park was not fabulous but great if you live nearby.
MOORABBIN
GR BRICKER RESERVE,
117 Rowans Rd, Moorabbin
Park your car at the Boxing Gym entrance and walk to the right following the paths through the round garden area - this section is ALL on lead and the gardens are beautiful.
Keep following the path and you will come to the off lead area which is well signed. At the beginning of the off lead section is a rubbish bin and poop bag dispenser. Not much further up is the water station which is just inside the off lead area.
It is gorgeous and grassy with loads of lovely, mature trees. To the right is the very quaint Moorabbin Miniature Railway and the home of the Steam Locomotive Society of Victoria. There is one bench seat at the beginning of the off lead area.
MOORABBIN RESERVE,
Linton St & Horscroft Place, Moorabbin
Such a wonderful space. I call this RESEA Park as I go in and park in the RSEA parking area. Beautifully maintained. Offers everything for all dogs really: open space for the runners, bushy areas for the sniffers.
Well signed as to which is the actual off lead section; water stations throughout, poop bag dispensers with a QR code to notify council when they are empty - love that feature! Bench seats too. Not enclosed but away from busy roads. It is a favourite.
MORDIALLOC
GEORGE WOODS RESERVE,
15 Governor Rd, Mordialloc
This is a lovely open space. You can park in the boat ramp car park but also along Governor Road as well as the opposite end from the boat ramp.
With rubbish bins at both ends of the space, there are no dog poop bags and there is water and toilets at the boat ramp end.
There is a great bushy pathway that runs alongside the river for those who like to sniffle and snuffle. A lovely wide open area for the ball chasers and runners and many picnic tables at the end opposite the boat parking area. This park is well signed as to which section is on and off lead. And it is definitely not enclosed.
KEVIN HAYES RESERVE,
Crown Ave, Mordialloc
FULLY ENCLOSED PARK
This is an excellent, fully enclosed off lead space.
It has bins, poop bags and at least one water station along with a picnic table under a fixed shelter.
This park also has 'agility' equipment - nothing too exciting but workable.
Over the road, on Crown Avenue, there is also a coffee cart for those who want to wander around with a drink which is a bonus.
It's a lovely, open space perfect for all kinds of dog users from running dogs to dogs who like to rummage amongst the trees.
OAKLEIGH SOUTH
DALES PARK RESERVE,
1 Washington Dr, Oakleigh South
Don't be like me and just enter Dales Park Reserve into the GPS. If you do that, it takes you to Warrigal Rd (very limited parking) and basically no entry point from there. :) Instead, enter off Washington Dr and the Netball Centre.
This off lead area has lots of lovely, mature shady trees on the perimeter and a formed path. There are 3 bench seats (non-shaded) along this path.
One water station for humans and dogs is situated near the ON LEAD area of the exercise equipment as well as another down near the gate that also has a large rubbish bin. I couldn't locate any poop bag station so you need to byo bags. There is also a great kids playground so it is good for all of the family.
MAVIS HUTTER RESERVE,
10 Carroll Rd, Oakleigh South
This very large reserve looks very inviting and if I had looked at the MAP first I would have realised that much of it is ON lead.
The off lead section, to the right of the reserve is quite barren of vegetation except for one lone, medium sized tree.
In the photos in the gallery for this park where you see my dogs and the vegetation and they are off lead - well, they were meant to be onlead. The wide open area in the photos is the offlead section. I didn't realise until I got to the one sign that said off lead way out in the middle of no where land! Oops!
The park itself has 3 exercise stations for humans along with a nice playground. There is 1 drink station for humans and dogs (in the onlead area) and one rubbish bin that I saw. No poop bag stations so BYO bags.
PARKDALE
WALTER GALT RESERVE,
115 Warren Rd, Parkdale