Larpent Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Larpent Reserve is a large, flat, unfenced sportsground in Glen Waverley that doubles as a 24-hour off-leash space. There is no playground or lagoon here, just open turf with room for a genuine sprint, which is precisely why high-energy dogs end up on it.

The dog setup

Under City of Monash rules dogs run off-lead but stay under effective voice or hand control, with a lead carried at all times. This is an active sportsground first, so dogs go on-lead whenever organised sport, training or scheduled use is underway, and within 20 metres of play equipment, BBQs or picnic areas that are in use.

Pick up after your dog and read the ground conditions before letting go: the surface can hold water after rain and firm up hard in summer.

Worth knowing Cricket nets and a shelter sit at the boundary, and the flat terrain makes easy work of prams and older dogs. In summer, early morning and after sunset are the comfortable windows for both handler and dog.

The draw is space rather than facilities. There is little shade, no dog water fountains and no public toilets, so bring water and a bowl and treat this as a stop-and-run ground rather than a destination park.

Being unfenced, it suits dogs with reliable recall. Weekend mornings are busy with junior sport in season, which pushes dog time to weekday slots and evenings.

Max: 6am laps of the oval before the footballers arrive, full-speed recall work, home before the sprinklers.

Getting there and parking The Kingsway and Springvale Road corridors are the quickest approaches by car. Buses along High Street Road stop within a few minutes' walk of the field.

Being unfenced, it suits dogs with reliable recall and a handler who scans for sport schedules before unclipping.

Close by with the dogs

For a greener circuit with paths, Hinkler Reserve Dog Off Leash Area sits across the suburb, and Jells Road Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is the big-name option at Wheelers Hill. For the coffee leg, Mocha Jo's in Glen Waverley is the local standby.

More grounds are on the Victoria parks guide and the Glen Waverley destination page.