Truscott Reserve Dog Park

Truscott Reserve Dog Park is a 1.8-hectare, fully fenced off-leash area at the corner of Murdock Street and Turner Street in California Gully, near Bendigo. With a separate section for small dogs and a general area, it gives owners a practical, no-fuss spot to let their dogs stretch their legs, open around the clock.

The rules

The park is fully fenced with double-entry gates, and dogs must be under effective immediate control at all times. Greyhounds are not permitted off-lead anywhere in the City of Greater Bendigo under the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

Clean up after your dog and use the bins on site. Outside the fenced boundary, Greater Bendigo is an on-leash municipality by default, so keep the lead on until you are inside the gates.

What's there

The reserve is split into a general area and a separately fenced small-dog section, which makes introductions easier if you have a nervous or petite dog. Expect a large, flat open space suited to flat-out running and ball work, with grassy and native bushland patches, mature trees, benches and a shaded undercover area. The entrance and parking are wheelchair accessible, and gravel circuits run around the edges for walkers.

Bring water regardless: supply on site is not something to count on, especially on warm days when all that running builds up a serious thirst.

Max: keep your head on a swivel. A 1.8-hectare paddock means dogs come flying in from all angles. Stand up, move around, and stay engaged so you can step in early if play gets too rough.

Getting there

The park sits on the corner of Murdock and Turner Streets in California Gully, with on-site parking at the gate. Buses run along nearby Eaglehawk Road if you are coming from Bendigo without a car.

Close by with the dogs

There are no cafes right on the doorstep, but Eaglehawk is a short drive away, and for a proper post-walk coffee the Peggys Cafe and Bendigo Tram Cafe in the CBD are worth the extra ten minutes. The Skips Skateboard Shop cafe is the closest option in Eaglehawk itself.

When to go

This is a popular local park and it gets busy after school and on weekend mornings, when the size means dogs build up speed quickly. Keep an eye on play dynamics as the paddock fills, and aim for quieter weekday slots if your dog prefers space.

More options are on the Victoria dog parks guide and the California Gully destination page.