Donald MacDonald Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Donald MacDonald Reserve is a flat, open sportsground off Keating Street in Beaumaris with well-kept natural turf that grips well for a game of fetch. It is a shared-use oval rather than a dedicated dog park, so the off-leash freedom comes with conditions attached.

The dog setup

Dogs can be off lead on the oval when it is free, under effective voice or hand control, and any dog that will not recall goes back on the lead. The ground is not fully fenced; Bayside City Council has removed the oval gates, so a shared sporting ground is no place for a dog that ignores the first call.

Dogs must be leashed whenever organised sport, training or a match is on, within 20 metres of the playground, skatepark, barbecues and picnic areas, and through the native scrub in the eastern section to protect wildlife. Carry bags and use the on-site dispensers and bins.

Max: check for a training session or a match before you unclip. If the teams are out, the oval is on-leash.

The vibe

This is a genuine family reserve: toilets, a pavilion and kiosk, a playground, a basketball half-court, a skatepark and sheltered picnic tables alongside the oval. Weekday late afternoons and weekends fill with community sport, so mid-morning on a weekday is when the ground is likeliest to be empty. It suits big dogs that want room to stretch out.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits off Beach Road and Balcombe Road, with street parking around Keating Street and Stawell Street. By public transport, take the Sandringham line to Sandringham Station, then a 600 or 922 bus towards Southland and alight near the Beaumaris Concourse for a short walk; the 822 and 825 buses also stop nearby.

Make a day of it

Ricketts Point Dog Off-Leash Area adds a sand and swim option a few minutes away, with time restrictions in warmer months per Bayside signage. Banksia Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is the second Beaumaris park, and Ginger Fox Cafe covers the coffee near the Concourse. More options sit on the Victoria dog friendly parks guide and the Beaumaris destination page.