Lipscombe Park Dog Off Leash Area

Lipscombe Park is a Maroondah City Council reserve behind McAdam Square at 2A Sandgate Avenue in Croydon, built around a sports oval with a partial 400 metre walking trail, a pavilion, playground and public amenities. It carries a designated dog off-leash area, but set expectations for a neighbourhood run on open grass rather than a large, dedicated dog park, and the rules come with real detail attached.

The dog setup

Dogs may be off lead only in the designated area, generally the oval and grassy spaces when organised sport is not in play, and must be on lead everywhere else in the reserve. Maroondah requires dogs on lead within 15 metres of playgrounds, barbecues and organised sport, and under effective control off lead: immediate return on command, a clear line of sight, and staying within 50 metres of you. Carry a leash at all times and use the bins provided.

Max: the off-leash zone shares ground with a sports oval, so if training or a match is on, leash up and come back later rather than arguing the boundary.

Worth knowing

The council page sets the exact off-leash boundary, so check it before you rely on the layout, as the extent is defined by council order and can change. The 400 metre walking loop around the oval is a good on-lead warm-up, and mature trees provide shade around the edges. Bring your own water and bags as a backup even though bins and taps are typical of Maroondah reserves.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits behind the McAdam Square shopping area, with car parking adjacent and paved paths to the off-leash section. Croydon station on the Lilydale line is the nearest train, a walk or short bus hop away, and local bus routes run along the surrounding roads. Weekday late mornings and early afternoons are quietest; early mornings, late afternoons and weekend mornings are busier, and sport commitments on the oval take priority.

Close by with the dogs

For a properly fenced session, Eastfield Fenced Dog Park is Maroondah's dedicated fenced facility in Croydon with large and small dog yards and agility gear. The Scented Garden sits right at McAdam Square beside the park, and Queen Street cafe. covers the Croydon town side for the coffee stop.

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