Clarke Reserve Off-Leash Park

Clarke Reserve is a leafy City of Port Phillip off-leash park on the corner of Head Street and Ormond Esplanade, looking out over Elwood Beach. Open grass and mature shade trees make it a handy run before or after a walk along the foreshore, and the bay is directly across the road.

The dog setup

Dogs may be off-leash provided they are under effective control: returning on command, staying in view and not interfering with other people or dogs, with a leash carried at all times. Dogs must not come within 5 metres of the playground, greyhounds stay leashed even in off-leash areas, and waste goes in the bins provided. The reserve itself is unfenced, so it rewards a dog that checks in rather than one that follows its nose to the beach path.

Facilities are simple: bench seating, dog waste bins and reliable shade from the mature trees. There are no public toilets in the park, though the beach amenities across the road cover that. On the sand itself, Port Phillip's beach rules tighten during the summer months from 1 November to 31 March, so check the signage at the beach entries if you plan to combine the run with a swim.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking surrounds the reserve, though it fills on fine days when the foreshore draws crowds. Buses run along Ormond Esplanade, and the reserve is a short walk from the bay trail, so cycling or walking the foreshore path in is easy.

Worth knowing

Busiest windows are weekend mornings from 9am to noon and weekday mornings between 7.30 and 9; a weekday afternoon or a post-5pm visit is calmer. If your dog is wary of children, stay in the open areas away from the playground corner. After the run, Little Sunflower Cafe keeps a dog-friendly rear courtyard on Ormond Road, and Plain Sailing is famously welcoming to dogs. M.O. Moran Reserve offers a fenced alternative nearby, while the bay-side options are on the VIC dog parks guide and the Elwood destination page.