H.A Smith Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

H.A. Smith Reserve sits at the corner of Camberwell Road and Weir Street in Hawthorn East, and its off-leash patch covers the open grass, available around the clock. For locals in this densely built pocket of Boroondara it is a genuinely handy quick-run spot. The catch, and it matters: the reserve is unfenced and hemmed in by busy roads and the Monash Freeway.

The dog setup

Boroondara's off-lead conditions apply: your dog stays under effective voice control, no more than two dogs per person, and dogs keep at least ten metres clear of the playground. Bins are provided but bag dispensers are not stocked, so bring your own. A water tap with a bowl, public toilets, a playground and outdoor fitness equipment sit within the reserve, though seating right at the off-leash area is limited.

Worth knowing

The traffic, not the other dogs, is the real hazard here. High-drive dogs need reliable recall to stay on the grass and away from the road edges, because there is no fence between a wayward chase and Camberwell Road.

Max: if your recall is not rock solid, keep this one for lead walks and save off-leash for a park set back from the roads.

Getting there and parking

Street parking runs along Gardiner Road, and the number 72 tram along Camberwell Road stops nearby. Freeway access is close, which explains both the convenience and the noise. It is walkable for anyone living in Hawthorn East or south Camberwell.

When to go

Weekday mornings from about seven to eight thirty, early evenings and weekends are the busy windows. Late morning or mid afternoon midweek is the quiet pocket, which also suits less confident dogs.

More walks nearby

If you would rather trade the road noise for green space, Fritsch Holzer Park in Hawthorn East and Fairview Park in Hawthorn are both dog off-leash areas with more buffer from the traffic.

More options are on the Victoria dog parks guide and the Hawthorn destination page.