Sandown Street Beach

Sandown Street Beach is the fenced dog beach on Brighton's bayside shoreline in Melbourne's south east, and the fence is the whole point: it runs off leash 24 hours a day, year round, while most of Bayside's other dog stretches work on seasonal time windows. Secure gates, calm shallow bay water and sand make it a reliable run whenever you arrive.

Leash status

Off leash applies only inside the fenced Sandown Street enclosure, which wraps three sides of the beach with the fourth side open to the water. On the paths and in the surrounding streets your dog stays on lead, and the zone is patrolled, with fines for dogs running loose outside it. The gate is a quick shutting one, so close it behind you on the way in and out; a dog that bolts through an open gate lands on an on lead foreshore path next to traffic. Effective voice control is still expected inside the fence.

Water and terrain

Port Phillip water here is shallow across the sandbar and calm, suiting paddlers and swimmers alike, with a deeper section towards the top end for stronger swimmers. The beach stays usable at any tide, though low tide opens the most room to run and high tide narrows the sand against the fence line. Bins and bag dispensers sit at both gates.

Getting there and parking

Parking sits at the end of Sandown Street and it is limited and mostly ticketed, filling fast on weekend mornings. North Brighton Station on the Sandringham line is a ten to fifteen minute walk away, and buses run along Nepean Highway if you are coming from further afield.

Worth knowing

There is little shade on the sand itself, so bring water and think about timing in summer. A kiosk and cafes sit within walking distance for the coffee afterwards. The fence and the 24 hour window make this a genuinely good training ground for a dog new to off lead beaches; come mid week when it is quiet and let them find their feet.

When to go

Weekday mornings and evenings are the quiet windows; Sundays from late morning are the busiest, and summer weekends can be packed. Social dogs will love the crowd; shy dogs will prefer an early weekday call.

While you're out there

Brighton Soul is a popular breakfast table nearby if you want a proper feed after the swim, and the Decker Park Fenced Dog Park adds a grassy enclosed alternative inland. The Brighton Beach Dog Off Leash Area continues the foreshore if you want variety. More options are on the Victoria dog beaches guide or the Brighton destination page.

Max: a fence, a gate, and water calm enough for a cowardly swimmer like me. This is the one.