Banksia Park Fenced Dog Park

Banksia Park Fenced Dog Park is a one-hectare, fully fenced off-leash enclosure inside Banksia Park's northern arm in Bulleen, part of the Yarra Valley Parklands. It is the drawcard for local dog owners: a secure paddock right by the Yarra River where dogs can run properly off the lead without the usual worry about traffic or bolting.

The rules. Off-leash is permitted only inside the fenced enclosure itself. Everywhere else in the surrounding parkland, including within 15 metres of picnic areas, playgrounds and barbecues, dogs must be on-leash. Even inside the fenced area, dogs need to be under effective voice or hand control and kept within about 50 metres of their owner. Drones need a permit, and there are no bins on-site, so bring your own bags and take rubbish home with you.

What's there. Inside the fence there is a dog water station with a bowl and a bench. The wider parkland has picnic tables, shaded areas and space for a BYO barbecue on the marked spots, though there is no public electric barbecue inside the dog area itself.

Getting there. Enter via the main Banksia Park entrance off Templestowe Road, Bulleen. There is a large free car park near the entrance, and bus routes along Templestowe Road get you within a short walk. Walking trails from neighbouring Birrarrung Park also connect through to the site.

Watch-outs. Snakes have been reported in the area in warmer months, so keep an eye on the grass edges in summer.

Nearby with the dogs. There's no dog-friendly cafe or stay listed in our Bulleen directory yet, but Templestowe and Doncaster both have cafe strips within a short drive if you want a coffee after the walk. Confirm outdoor seating and pet policy directly with any venue before turning up with a dog in tow.

Weekends get busy, especially Saturday and Sunday mornings when the car park fills. Early mornings before 8am or the mid-afternoon lull on weekdays are your best bet for a quiet run. Late winter into early spring is a lovely time to visit, when the cherry blossoms along the nearby loop are out. Good for dogs that need real space to sprint rather than just a footpath stroll.

Sources

• Banksia Off-lead Dog Park (Yarra Valley Parklands) · parks.vic.gov.au
• What are the top 5 dog friendly parks? - Manningham Council · manningham.vic.gov.au
• City of Manningham area - off leash parks - Dog Training · deltadogz.com.au
• Dog Off Leash areas for each Council area in Melbourne and Victoria · melbourneplaygrounds.com.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.