Princes Park Dog Off Leash Area (North)

The northern off-leash zone of Princes Park gives Carlton North dogs a big unfenced run of open grass along the Bowen Crescent side, one of two 24-hour dog areas in this large City of Melbourne park. It is room to run rather than an enclosure, and the trade-off is that recall matters.

The dog setup

Dogs can be off-leash in the designated northern area at any hour, provided they stay under effective voice or hand control and in your sight. City of Melbourne rules require you to carry a lead of up to three metres and waste bags at all times.

Leashes go back on for the shared paths around the park, including the running track that circles the ovals, within 20 metres of playgrounds or barbecue areas, and on the ovals whenever organised sport or training is on. Registration and current vaccination are expected as with any Melbourne reserve.

Amenities are basic but adequate: waste bins around the perimeter, a water fountain with a pet bowl near the pavilion, benches and mature trees that give patchy rather than full shade. Lighting is limited, so this is a daylight park.

Max: this section is unfenced and close to traffic on Park Street, so it is not where you test a young dog's recall. Keep new or flighty dogs on a long line until they come back every time.

Getting there and parking

Access is off Royal Parade or Park Street, and street parking on Park Street and the surrounding residential streets is usually straightforward. The 19 tram along Royal Parade stops within an easy walk, and the park is walkable from Carlton North, Parkville and Brunswick.

Pair it with

When you want an enclosed option, Curtain Square Fenced Dog Park is nearby, and the southern zone of the same park has its own listing at Princes Park Dog Off Leash Area (South). The Princes Park Circular walking loop wraps the whole reserve if you want a longer walk.

Weekend mornings and weekday evenings from about 4.30pm to 6.30pm are the busiest windows; weekday mornings are quieter and the lower sections can turn muddy after heavy rain. More options are on the Victoria parks guide and the Carlton North destination page.