Somers Beach Dog Off Leash East Area

Somers Beach Dog Off Leash East Area is a signposted leash-free stretch at the eastern end of Somers Beach on the Mornington Peninsula, reached down the timber 100 Steps staircase from Miramar Road. Wide sand, shallow water and views across Western Port toward Phillip Island make it a quieter alternative to the peninsula's central beaches, and dolphins are spotted in the bay often enough that locals mention them.

The dog setup

The off-leash zone runs east from the bottom of the staircase, marked by Mornington Peninsula Shire signage. Dogs must stay under effective voice control, and leashes go back on for the staircase itself, the rocky sections, the cliff tops and anywhere outside the marked zone. Check the signs on the day, because the shire does adjust boundaries and hours.

Hours shift seasonally: leash-free access is generally year round, but during daylight saving from October to March the off-leash window narrows to 7pm through 9am, which pushes summer visits toward early morning and evening.

The water and terrain

This is Western Port, and the tide changes the beach more than the weather does. At low tide the flats spread wide and hard-packed, the best running ground and the quietest, while at high tide the sand narrows against the rocks. Submerged rocks near the borders become a hazard for swimming dogs as the water rises, so check the level before letting a keen swimmer loose.

Getting there

Off-street parking sits at the top of the 100 Steps on Miramar Road. Facilities are basic, limited to bins and clean-up bags, so bring your own water and waste bags. The staircase itself is the only way down, and it is steep enough that dogs and older knees should take it slowly.

Max: time the tide before you go. Low tide gives dogs a huge hard-sand playground, high tide squeezes everything against the rocks.

More walks nearby

Hann Creek Off Leash Dog Park at Balnarring is the grassy fallback when the tide is high, Flinders Dog Beach continues the coastal run further down the peninsula, and Kings Creek Vineyard pours for owners on the drive home.

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