Hislop Park Dog Off Leash Area

Hislop Park is an open, flat off-leash space in Balwyn North set alongside the sporting ovals off Balwyn Road, with parking access via Albury Road. It is a City of Boroondara reserve with plenty of grassed room, which makes it a straightforward pick for a high-energy dog that needs to run.

The dog setup

This is an unfenced off-leash area, so a reliable recall is the entry fee before you unclip. Boroondara's rules apply park-wide: carry a lead at all times, keep your dog in sight and under effective voice control, and a maximum of two dogs per person.

Dogs stay off the ovals during organised matches or training, are not permitted inside the playground, and must be on lead within 10 metres of the playground perimeter.

Worth knowing

The park is mostly open grass with a few scattered trees, so shade is thin in the middle of the day and it pays to go early in summer.

There are waste bins, bench seating and water taps, but bringing your own water and bowl is the safer bet on a busy day. The ovals back toward roads on some sides, which is worth respecting with a young or bolting-prone dog.

Max: treat this as a recall-testing ground rather than a free-for-all. Unfenced with roads near parts of the boundary, it rewards a dog that checks in with you unprompted.

Getting there

The reserve sits in Balwyn North with free street parking on the surrounding streets. The 285 bus runs along Belmore Road next to the park, and the 109 tram on Whitehorse Road is a 10 to 15 minute walk away.

Make a day of it

If your dog needs a fence before it earns open-field freedom, the Gordon Barnard Reserve fenced dog play area is a few minutes south, and the ovals of Macleay Park add a second unfenced option nearby.

For the coffee half of the morning, Caffe Romeo in the same suburb is the obvious pairing.

More running room across Melbourne is in the Victoria dog park guide, and the suburb's other spots are on the Balwyn North destination page.