A CBD apartment with a dog means lifts, lobbies, and a lot of walking on a lead. The City of Melbourne makes every street and park in the city on-lead by default, and none of its off-leash parks sit inside the CBD grid. The good news is that there are off-leash dog parks near Melbourne CBD on every side, a short walk or tram ride away.
Where can dogs go off-leash near Melbourne CBD?
The closest City of Melbourne off-leash areas are Kings Way and Moray Street Reserve in Southbank (fully fenced), Eades Park and Stawell Park in West Melbourne, Gosch's Paddock and Yarra Park near the MCG, and Ron Barassi Senior Park in Docklands. Wellington Park and Point Park are off-leash only at set times.
Off-leash parks around the CBD
| Park | Area | Off-leash times |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Way and Moray Street Reserve | Southbank | Any time. Fully fenced |
| Eades Park | West Melbourne | Any time |
| Stawell Park | West Melbourne | Any time |
| Gosch's Paddock | Melbourne, near the MCG | Any time, on the grass between the ovals. On a lead on the ovals |
| Yarra Park | East Melbourne | Any time |
| Wellington Park | East Melbourne | Nov to Mar: 6pm to 8am. Apr to Oct: 5pm to 9am |
| Ron Barassi Senior Park | Docklands | Any time |
| Point Park | Docklands | Nov to Mar: 6pm to 8am. Apr to Oct: 5pm to 9am |
The fenced reserve in Southbank is the safest bet for a new rescue or a dog still learning recall. Gosch's Paddock has lots of cyclists and runners, so it suits confident dogs. Docklands also has Buluk Park, an on-lead area with a puppy playground. Sources: City of Melbourne and its dog-spotters' guide.
The City of Melbourne rules
- Everywhere is on-lead unless it's a signed off-leash area.
- In off-leash areas, carry a lead of 3 metres or less and keep your dog in sight and under voice control.
- Put your dog on a lead within 5 metres of a shared path.
- Put your dog on a lead within 20 metres of play equipment, outdoor gyms, barbecue or picnic areas, organised sport, events, and any river, creek or waterbody. Along the Yarra, that means on a lead.
- Always carry a bag and pick up after your dog.
Dog-friendly spots in and around the CBD
The City of Melbourne's dog-spotters' guide lists The Boatbuilders Yard on the river, Kirk's Wine Bar, Riverland Bar and Spring Street Grocer as pet-friendly spots. Policies can change, so check before you sit down.
Then there's The Angry Dog at 435 Spencer Street, West Melbourne, a dog-friendly bar and the home of our monthly Paws & Pints.
Paws & Pints: meet CBD dog people
On the first Saturday of each month at 3pm, Pawshare Club meets at The Angry Dog. It's a short walk from Flagstaff station. Come with your dog, or come because you miss having one. The next ones are Saturday 7 November and Saturday 5 December. See the event page.
Also close to the city: the Kensington Puppy Pub Crawl on Sunday 6 December at 3pm, starting at Bonehead Brewing on Parsons Street and finishing at Hardimans Hotel, with treats for dogs and drink deals for people. From $16.99.
For everything else on in November and December, see our events guide.
City living doesn't have to be lonely
Moving into a city apartment, especially from overseas, can mean weeks without a real conversation. A dog changes that. Strangers stop you in the lift and neighbours learn your dog's name before yours. Pawshare Club helps turn those moments into friendships: people who walk together, share tips and look out for each other's animals.
If you're in the city and that sounds like your kind of place, we'd love to have you.