The Heights Dog Off Leash Area

The Heights Reserve is a leafy local park in Frankston South with a designated off-leash area on open grass ringed by mature trees. It is a smaller, quieter option than the big-name dog parks on this side of the bay, better suited to a convenient neighbourhood run than a day trip. Off-leash access runs around the clock under Frankston City Council rules.

The free-roam rules

Inside the designated area, dogs exercise off-lead under effective voice or hand control, with a leash carried at all times; if your dog will not come back when called, council expects the lead to stay on. Dogs go back on-lead within 10 metres of playgrounds, barbecues or picnic areas in use, and during organised sporting events. The reserve also works as a sports ground, so check before you unclip whether football training or a match has the oval, and confirm the off-leash boundary signage on the day. Bag it and bin it, with bins on site.

The vibe

Medium-sized open grass with plenty of trees, on-site parking, toilets, a water tap with a bowl and a table if you want to linger. Shade is patchy across the open areas, so pick your tree in summer. Weekend mornings around 9am to 11am and weekday afternoons roughly 3pm to 5pm are the busy stretches; weekday mornings and early afternoons stay calm, which matters if your dog is reactive.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits off the surrounding Frankston South streets, a short drive from central Frankston, with parking on site. Local buses service the area, and Frankston Station is the nearest train stop, a short drive or bus trip away.

More space nearby

When your dog outgrows the local green, bigger setups are close. Ballam Park in Frankston combines an off-leash area with a fenced agility park, and the John Butler Reserve Fenced Dog Park at Mount Eliza adds a fully enclosed option. In the same suburb, Delacombe Park is another Frankston South off-leash reserve.

Pepsi: Quiet reserves are where the good sniffs hide. Ask me how I know.

Find more off-leash reserves across Victoria, or see what else is on around Frankston South.