Sunset Drive Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Sunset Drive Reserve is a quiet, unfenced off-leash area at 64 Kimberley Drive, Chirnside Park, open around the clock. It is open grass bordered by native bushland, a suburban local rather than a destination park, and a good option for a dog that finds fenced parks too chaotic.

The dog setup

Dogs can run off-leash but must stay under effective voice or hand control, and you need to carry a lead with you at all times. Within 20 metres of the playground, fitness equipment or picnic areas, dogs must be back on lead. Waste pick-up is on you; bring your own bags, as Yarra Ranges Council's off-leash rules apply here like anywhere else in the shire.

There is no water station, so bring your own bowl and water, and no public toilets on site. Shade is moderate from the nearby trees, and parking is street-side along Kimberley Drive, rarely an issue.

Max: the ground can turn muddy after heavy rain thanks to the nearby wetlands. Check the surface before letting a light-coloured dog loose.

The vibe

Late afternoons and weekends bring out the local regulars, but mid-morning on weekdays is close to empty, which suits a dog that needs its own space rather than a crowd. The bushland edge gives the reserve a calmer, more natural feel than the mowed ovals closer to Lilydale.

Getting there and parking

The reserve is about a five-minute drive from Chirnside Park Shopping Centre. Nearest bus stops sit along Kimberley Drive or Maroondah Highway, a short walk from the reserve entrance.

Close by with the dogs

The Kimberley Drive Reserve Off Leash Dog Park is in the same suburb, and the big off-leash areas around Lillydale Lake are worth the short drive for a longer walk. If you want a fenced alternative, the Eastfield Fenced Dog Park in Croydon is nearby. For a dog-friendly lunch in the Yarra Valley, Helen's Hill Estate welcomes dogs on its lawns, or grab coffee at the Lilydale General.

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