Canterbury Gardens Oval

Canterbury Gardens Oval is a tree-lined reserve off Mountain Highway in Bayswater North, and the main oval doubles as the off-leash area. What sets it apart from most local ovals is the 280-metre shared track looping the boundary, so you can clock up laps while your dog works the grass, plus school-hour on-leash windows that are worth knowing before you arrive.

The dog setup

Dogs are off-lead on the oval only, outside the restricted times. On school days they must be on-lead between 8am and 10am and again from 3pm to 4:30pm, which is when the school crowd moves through. Everywhere else in the reserve, leads stay on: shared paths, within 15 metres of playgrounds and BBQ or picnic facilities, and during any organised sport or training. The oval is unfenced, so it suits dogs with reliable recall; carry a lead and keep an eye on the boundaries. Maroondah's standard 15-metre buffer rule applies to the wheelchair-accessible playground and the shaded picnic tables.

Worth knowing

This is a full community parkland rather than a bare oval: outdoor fitness equipment, tennis and netball courts and a small BMX track sit alongside, so expect company on weekends. Mid-morning, mid-afternoon and weekends outside the school windows give the most open space, which nervous dogs will appreciate.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits on Mountain Highway (B360) at 42-78 Allambanan Drive, Bayswater North VIC 3153, with accessible car parking off Allambanan Drive. Bus routes along Mountain Highway stop nearby.

Close by with the dogs

The Glen Park Dog Off Leash Area and Gracedale Park Dog Off Leash Area are both in Bayswater North if the oval is occupied by sport. For coffee, Your Coffee Chick is in the same suburb and The Hatter and the Hare is the well-known stop a few minutes away in Bayswater.

More ground is listed in our Victoria parks guide, and everything nearby under Bayswater North.