Nangathan Way Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Nangathan Way Reserve is a small, steep and hilly off-leash reserve in Croydon North, the kind of place locals use for a proper uphill workout rather than a flat wander. It is unfenced, so it suits dogs with solid recall more than nervous or bolt-prone ones, and the reserve boundary runs close to the road at the top of the hill.

The dog setup

Maroondah City Council designates the open grass as off-leash, with the usual conditions: dogs under effective voice or hand control, on lead within 15 metres of the playground and the picnic and barbecue area, and on lead on the shared path. Carry waste bags and use the bin on site. The climb itself is the feature; from the bottom of the hill the grass rises steeply enough that most dogs come home tired from a single session.

The reserve is compact and unfenced, so sightlines matter. At the bottom of the hill sits a small fenced playground with a picnic table under shelter and a waste bin. There is no water tap, so bring a bowl and your own water; the climb makes that more important than it sounds.

Max: this one is a hill, not a lap park. Watch the road boundary at the top, and never assume there is water on site.

Getting there and parking

The reserve is at 118 Nangathan Way, Croydon North, with limited on-street parking along the road itself. Croydon Station on the Lilydale line is the nearest rail option, though it is a fair walk; the 670 bus along Maroondah Highway and York Road gets you closer, with a walk up to the reserve from there. Driving is the practical choice for most visits.

Worth knowing

Weekday mid-morning and mid-afternoon are the quiet windows; expect more company after 4pm and on weekend mornings. Wet-weather footing on the slope is slippery in patches, so pace the fetch sessions accordingly. For a change of scene, Warrien Reserve offers another Croydon North off-leash option, and the bigger fenced runs back towards Croydon are listed on the VIC dog parks guide. The Croydon North destination page rounds up the local options.