Do you live in Victoria and you’re looking for a change of scene from your regular park, or maybe you are just visiting and you want to find the best places to take your dog?

In the list below simply click on the local area that you’re interested in. You will be directed to the relevant council webpage with details of the dog exercise areas (please note some of the links are to PDF pages so you will need Adobe reader). Local councils are constantly updating and adding to their lists of leash free areas, and trialling new ones, so remember to check back every now and then for new places to play!

Dog parks offer great benefits for owner and dog alike:

– For dogs, they offer the freedom of running without constraint, allowing them to play, sniff, chase, roll and romp to their heart’s content. Many problems such as digging and barking arise because dogs are restless and bored. Often, these problems can be solved simply by giving dogs more exercise.

– For dog owners they offer a great chance to get some exercise, contribute to your own health and well-being, and meet other dog owners.

COUNCIL AREAS OF VICTORIA

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Alpine Shire Council
Ararat Rural City Council

B

Ballarat City Council
Banyule City Council
Bass Coast Shire Council
Baw Baw Shire Council
Bayside City Council
Benalla Rural City Council
Boroondara City Council

Brimbank City Council
Buloke Shire Council

C

Campaspe Shire Council
Cardinia Shire Council
Casey City Council
Central Goldfields Shire Council
Colac Otway Shire Council
Corangamite Shire Council

D

Darebin City Council

E

East Gippsland Shire Council

F

Frankston City Council

G

Gannawarra Shire Council
Glen Eira City Council
Glenelg Shire Council
Golden Plains Shire Council
Greater Bendigo City Council
Greater Dandenong City Council
Greater Geelong City Council
Greater Shepparton City Council

H

Hepburn Shire Council
Hindmarsh Shire Council
Hobsons Bay City Council
Horsham Rural City Council
Hume City Council

I

Indigo Shire Council

J

K

Kingston City Council
Knox City Council

L

Latrobe City Council
Loddon Shire Council

M

Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Manningham City Council
Mansfield Shire Council
Maribyrnong City Council
Maroondah City Council
City of Melbourne
Melton City Council
Mildura Rural City Council
Mitchell Shire Council
Moira Shire Council
Monash City Council
Moonee Valley City Council
Moorabool Shire Council
Moreland City Council
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Mount Alexander Shire Council
Moyne Shire Council
Murrindindi Shire Council

N

Nillumbik Shire Council
Northern Grampians Shire Council

O

P

Port Phillip City Council
Pyrenees Shire Council

Q

Borough of Queenscliffe

R

S

South Gippsland Shire Council
Southern Grampians Shire Council
Stonnington City Council
Strathbogie Shire Council
Surf Coast Shire Council
Swan Hill Rural City Council

T

Towong Shire Council

U

V

W

Wangaratta Rural City Council
Warrnambool City Council
Wellington Shire Council
West Wimmera Shire Council
Whitehorse City Council
Whittlesea City Council
Wodonga City Council
Wyndham City Council

X

Y

Yarra City Council
Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Yarriambiack Shire Council

Z

It is recognised that dogs benefit greatly from the chance to run freely, and for this reason the Companion Animals Act (NSW) makes it a duty for councils to provide “off-leash” areas for the exercise of dogs. These areas may only be available for this purpose for limited hours, but at any time there must be at least one place in each council area where dogs can be exercised without a lead.

Leash Free areas are designed to allow pet owners to exercise their dogs without a leash in an open environment where they are not likely to impact on other recreational area users. Please remember that owners are still required to be able to control their dog before releasing them for exercise and they must clean up after their animals immediately.