Ricketts Point Dog Off Leash Area

Ricketts Point is the sandy, shallow dog beach on the Beaumaris foreshore in Bayside, set inside the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary with rock pools along its edges. The off-leash section runs along Beach Road frontage near the Beaumaris Yacht Club, and it is one of the most popular dog beaches in Melbourne's south east, so sunny weekends get busy.

The rules

The zone boundaries and times matter here. The stretch from the McGregor Avenue ramp to the accessible ramp at the southern end of the Beaumaris Yacht Club car park is off-leash 24 hours a day, all year round. Sections further along towards the Beaumaris Life Saving Club are time restricted in summer: from 1 November to 31 March dogs are off-leash only before 10am and after 7:30pm.

Wherever you are on the sand, dogs must stay under effective control with a leash on hand, and Bayside's general rules keep dogs on lead within 20 metres of playgrounds and sports facilities. Council signage at each access point is the final word, so check it before unclipping.

One rule is non negotiable: dogs are prohibited from the intertidal rock platforms and seagrass beds of the marine sanctuary at all times, to protect marine life and migratory birds. Carry bags and use the bins at the access points.

The water

Port Phillip Bay water here is calm and shallow, which suits paddlers and nervous swimmers better than an open ocean surf. Low to mid tide is the sweet spot, when the sand opens up and the rock pools become explorable from the waterline; at high tide the beach narrows and the crowd compresses.

What's there

Public toilets and sand rinse showers sit on the foreshore, and the Ricketts Point cafe is right on the beach with bay views and outdoor seating. Walking trails run through the scrub above the sand, and the Bay Trail passes along Beach Road for a longer on-lead loop.

Max: arrive on an early tide in summer and you get the sanctuary stretch to yourselves. The 10am curfew is strictly enforced during the warmer months.

Getting there

Drive in via Beach Road and use the paid car park near the Beaumaris Yacht Club at 390 Beach Road. It fills fast on warm days, so arrive early or be ready for nearby street parking. Bus routes along Beach Road put you within a short walk of the ramps.

Watch-outs

The rock platforms are the main hazard, both for the sanctuary rules and for slipping at low tide. Summer daytime restrictions catch visitors out, so time your trip before 10am or after 7:30pm between November and March on the restricted sections.

For a wider all day stretch, Mentone Beach Dog Off Leash Area is a few minutes south, and Half Moon Bay sits just north. In the same suburb, the Banksia Reserve Dog Off Leash Area covers the grassy run. More are on the Victoria dog beach guide and the Beaumaris destination page.