Wild Dog Shore

Wild Dog Shore is a quiet, natural shoreline on the southern edge of Lake Wellington, reached via Seacombe Road near the tiny settlement of Seacombe in Gippsland. The single reason to make the trip is seclusion: shallow, sandy and reedy lake shore well away from crowds, with remote water and bush scenery rather than beach-town facilities.

The dog setup

Wellington Shire Council keeps foreshore areas on-lead unless signage explicitly says otherwise, so arrive prepared to keep the lead on and check what the local signs say at your access point. Whatever the lead status, dogs need to stay under effective control, waste gets packed out, and dogs stay well clear of the playground area and any shorebird nesting sites along the shore.

Facilities are limited to none: no bins, no water taps, no toilets at the shore itself. Bring your own water, a bowl and waste bags, and expect to take everything home with you.

Max: stay alert on warm days. Snakes are active through the reedy vegetation in the warmer months, so keep your dog close and out of the reeds along the shore.

Worth knowing

Lake Wellington is very shallow, which makes for safer wading, but wind can still build short, choppy waves and submerged snags and sharp reeds line the shore. Blue-green algae blooms occur on the lake, so check VicEmergency before letting your dog swim.

Getting there and parking

From Sale, allow 20 to 30 minutes: take Marathon Road, then Seacombe Road south-east towards Loch Sport. The road is unsealed, and multiple small dirt turnoffs lead to the shore between Seacombe and Plover Point on the north side as you head east. Parking is casual, on gravel and sandy tracks.

Close by with the dogs

For a proper off-lead run with facilities, The Dog Park in Sale and the Coronation Park Fenced Dog Park in Longford are the closest fenced options. Redd Catt in Sale is a dog-friendly coffee stop on the way through.

More options are on the Victoria dog beaches guide and the Seacombe destination page.