Seth Raistrick Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Seth Raistrick Reserve Dog Off Leash Area sits on the Campbellfield-Fawkner border and is one of Hume's better-regarded off-leash spots: open, grassed fields with tree cover for shade, fenced boundaries and enough room for dogs to actually run rather than just potter.

The dog setup

Dogs must be under effective voice control at all times, even inside the off-leash boundary, and leashed up immediately outside it. Hume City Council caps it at two dogs per handler, dogs must be six months or older, children under 14 cannot supervise a dog alone, and registration tags are required. The play areas are fenced with seating for owners, well-maintained lawns and shaded spots under the trees, plus wheelchair-accessible parking.

Max: check the fencing before you let a dog with patchy recall off the lead. It is fenced but not every gap is closed, so voice control matters as much as the boundary does.

The vibe

This is a solid, no-frills off-leash reserve rather than a flagship destination. Weekday mornings and evenings between 5pm and 7pm, plus weekend mornings, draw the biggest crowds; weekday mid-morning to early afternoon is noticeably quieter. Go mid-week if your dog is reactive or you just want the space to yourselves.

Getting there and parking

The reserve is at 17 Campbell Street, reached via Sydney Road or the Hume Highway onto Camp Road. Fawkner Station on the Upfield line is nearby if you are coming by train, and on-site parking is ample.

Close by with the dogs

The suburb's other big off-leash option is the Bolinda Road Dog Off Leash Area, with its two full-size ovals. Across the border, Moomba Park sits on the Merri Creek with its own dog space, and Charles Mutton Reserve covers the southern side of Fawkner.

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