Halley Park Dog Off Leash Area

Halley Park's off-leash zone is the western end of the park nearest Ethel Street in Bentleigh, a clean, spacious grassed patch that suits a run or a game of fetch without much fuss. It is an unfenced, shared reserve, so the setup is simple: know where the zone ends and keep your dog under control while it is off lead.

The dog setup

Only the western grassed end is off-leash. Everywhere else, including the playground and picnic areas, is on-lead, and Glen Eira City Council's wider rules apply: dogs stay 20 metres clear of playgrounds, barbecues and picnic spots, remain under effective voice control while off lead, and wear or carry a lead of no more than 1.5 metres elsewhere in the park. Council bag dispensers are on site when stocked, but carrying your own is the dependable habit. Wheelchair-accessible entrances make the park easy going for everyone.

Pepsi: The perimeter suits dogs that want a bit of personal space. If the middle of the paddock is busy, walk the edge and let the introductions happen on your terms.

Worth knowing

The rest of the park is genuinely good: an all-abilities playground with a flying fox and climbing frame, adult fitness equipment, a basketball ring, barbecue and picnic shelters, public toilets and plenty of bins, so families mixing kids and dogs are well served as long as the buffer zones are respected. Weekend mornings and weekday evenings after 5pm draw the biggest turnouts, while mid-week mornings and early afternoons stay quiet.

Getting there and parking

The park sits at 2 Ethel Street, Bentleigh. Street parking is available on Ethel Street and the surrounding residential streets, Patterson Station on the Frankston line is a short trip away, and local bus routes pass nearby, so a no-car visit is easy.

Close by with the dogs

The Centre Road shopping strip has a good stretch of cafes with outdoor seating for the post-park coffee, and The Ormond Provedore Cafe just north is another dog-friendly pick. More off-lead options sit close by if you want to compare: Hodgson Reserve and Victory Park in Bentleigh, or Allnutt Park at McKinnon, are all within a few minutes.

For a bigger shortlist across Melbourne and beyond, browse our guide to dog friendly parks in VIC, or see what else is nearby around Bentleigh.