Flockhart Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Flockhart Reserve sits at the end of Flockhart Street where Abbotsford runs down to the Yarra River, and it works differently from the bigger dog parks along this stretch of river. It is a small, bush-style reserve rather than a cleared sports ground, it is off-leash around the clock, and it opens straight onto the Main Yarra Trail if your walk needs more kilometres than the reserve itself can give.

The dog setup

Dogs are off-leash 24 hours a day, seven days a week under Yarra City Council's rules, provided you keep effective voice control. There is no fencing here at all. The reserve runs alongside the river on one side and the Main Yarra Trail shared path on the other, so a dog that chases bikes or loves water needs a solid recall before the lead comes off. Dogs go back on lead within 10 metres of playgrounds, barbecues and any public event, and council asks that they stay out of the adjacent wetlands and garden beds to protect wildlife.

The vibe

This is a sniff-and-wander park rather than a sprint park. Native tree cover gives patchy shade, the ground is mostly natural bushland and grass, and there are picnic tables and a barbecue near the entrance for anyone settling in. A drinking fountain with a low dog bowl was part of the council's upgrade work. After heavy rain the lower paths near the river turn muddy, so pack a towel. It suits calm, trail-savvy dogs far better than dogs with shaky recall, given the open water and the bike path.

Max: the shared path runs right beside the off-leash ground. If your dog fixates on cyclists, keep them close and pick a weekday morning over a sunny weekend when the trail is at full tilt.

Getting there and parking

Parking is limited to a handful of bays at the cul-de-sac end of Flockhart Street, some of them time-restricted on weekdays, so arrive early on weekends. The 109 tram on Victoria Street (Stop 22, Burnley Street) is a short walk away, and cyclists and walkers can reach the reserve directly along the Main Yarra Trail.

Close by with the dogs

If the lack of fencing is a dealbreaker, the Victoria Park fenced dog off leash area is the closest secure option, and Battersea Off Leash Dog Park sits just across the river. For a coffee afterwards, The Farm Cafe at Collingwood Children's Farm is dog friendly and an easy walk along the trail.

For more off-leash grounds across the state, see dog parks in Victoria, or browse what else is on offer in Abbotsford.