Quarries Park Dog Off Leash Area

Quarries Park sits on Ramsden Street in Clifton Hill, a multi-tiered open space carved out of a 19th-century basalt quarry that now doubles as one of the inner north's best off-leash areas. It runs down to Merri Creek, keeps partial city skyline views and has real gradient, which is rare this close to the CBD. Off-leash applies around the clock across most of the reserve under Yarra City Council rules.

The dog setup

This is not a fully enclosed dog park, and council deliberately kept it that way to preserve sightlines and the open character. Barrier fencing along Yambla Street and Wright Street, plus landscape mounding, defines the edges near roads; the creek and bush paths stay open. Recent upgrades added a dedicated agility area, water stations, waste bag dispensers, new paths, shelters and seating. Standard Yarra buffers apply: dogs stay on-lead within 10 metres of playgrounds, off the sports fields during booked sport or training, and always under voice control with a leash carried.

Terrain and recall

The slopes are the feature and the caution. Steep grass gives an active dog a genuine workout, but the long sightlines mean a patchy recall dog can vanish over a rise quickly, and the park runs down to Merri Creek and its trails. Work the flatter sections away from the water until your dog's return rate is reliable. Wet weather turns parts of the slope greasy, so check footing after rain.

Getting there and parking

Drive in via Ramsden Street or Field Street; there is a car park on the western Ramsden Street side plus street parking. The Route 11 tram at Stop 31 on St Georges Road is a short walk, and Clifton Hill station is 15 to 20 minutes on foot. The wooden adventure playground and skate park share the reserve, so expect kids near those zones.

Make a day of it

The Merri Creek Trail links straight into the park for an on-lead warm-up or cool-down, and Ramsden Street Reserve is the neighbourhood's other off-leash option a few minutes away. Coffee afterwards is easy: Uncle Drew Cafe in Clifton Hill and Red Door Corner Store in Northcote both take dogs at the outdoor tables.

Max: has invented a game where the top of the slope is home base and every other dog in the park is an away team.

More options are on the Victoria dog parks list, and the Clifton Hill guide covers the suburb.