Elsternwick Park, Lakeside Green, Dog Off Leash Area

Lakeside Green is the off-leash run at the southern end of Elsternwick Park in Brighton, a wide open stretch of grass beside the park lake, off-leash around the clock under Bayside City Council rules. It is popular and social, but it is not fenced, so this is a park for dogs whose recall you trust.

The dog run

The green itself is open turf with no fence, and the park backs onto busy roads, so effective voice control is the line between a good run and a dash for traffic. Bayside's rules clip back on within 20 metres of playgrounds, picnic and barbecue areas, and any organised sport on the grounds.

The fenced lake and its birdlife are strictly out of bounds for off-leash dogs, and a maximum of four dogs per handler applies. A water tap and bowl near the south-east corner of the lake cover the drinking side. Bins and toilets sit near the main playground, and bags are your responsibility under the council rules.

Worth knowing

Swans and ducks work the lake edge all day, and an open park near main roads is the wrong place to test a dog that has not quite got recall yet. Weekends and the weekday morning and late-afternoon windows are the busy periods, with midday the calm slot.

Max: open park, main road on one side, swans on the other. Great run if your dog comes back off a duck, a nervous hour if they do not.

Getting there and parking

Access is via Bent Avenue off St Kilda Street or Head Street, with on-site parking. Elsternwick and Gardenvale stations on the Sandringham line are both a short walk away, and the Route 67 tram stops nearby on Glen Huntly Road.

Close by with the dogs

If your dog needs a fence, the Decker Park Fenced Dog Park in Brighton and the M.O. Moran Reserve Fenced Dog Park in Elwood both do the enclosed job. Sandown Street Beach covers the bay-side off-leash option.

The Little Ox and Carter Lovett both seat dogs outside afterwards. More runs are on the Victoria dog parks guide and the Brighton destination page.