Davy Lane Dog Off Leash Area

Davy Lane's off-leash area is a long, tree-lined strip running between Canterbury Road and the Springvale Road end in Forest Hill, roughly 530 metres of straight track where a dog can actually run rather than lap a small oval. It's open around the clock and unashamedly simple: grass, shade trees, space, and the regulars who love it for exactly that.

The dog setup

There's no fence here and the strip is open at both ends, so Whitehorse City Council's effective-control rules do the heavy lifting. Your dog must stay within 25 metres, remain in clear sight at all times, and return immediately when called. You're required to carry a leash of no more than 1.5 metres, and to keep off the adjoining sports fields and at least 2.5 metres clear of playgrounds or any organised sport in progress. Amenities are basic: no bag dispensers, no toilets, and the tap is unreliable, so bring your own bags and water bowl.

Max: half a kilometre of straight sprint track. I measure my zoomies in distances now, not laps.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking runs along Davy Lane, entered off Canterbury Road, and it's an easy walk in from the surrounding residential streets. Bus stops on both Canterbury Road and Springvale Road put the entrances within reach for anyone on public transport.

The vibe

Weekday early mornings and late afternoons belong to the regulars; weekends run busy throughout. Mid-morning or early afternoon on a weekday is the quiet window. The strip's shape is its charm: it reads like a green corridor through the suburb rather than a dog park, and the long sightline makes supervising a recall-heavy dog straightforward.

Worth knowing

The southern end toward Springvale Road sits close to a busy intersection with no fence between the strip and the traffic, so tighten your recall game as you approach that end, especially with a young dog still learning to check in. If you'd rather have a secure perimeter, Mahoneys Reserve Fenced Dog Off Leash Area on Mahoneys Road is the suburb's big fenced option, and Forest Hill Reserve Dog Off Leash Area offers a smaller fenced oval nearby.

More walks nearby

For a change of scenery after a few Davy Lane sprints, Gardiners Creek Reserve Dog Off Leash Area in Burwood pairs grass with tree-lined creek paths about ten minutes west.

Find more dog parks across Victoria or see what else is dog friendly in Forest Hill.