HE Parker Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

HE Parker Reserve is a big sporting reserve in Heathmont with an off-leash oval that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week whenever organised sport is not on. It sits five minutes' walk from Heathmont station and connects straight onto the Dandenong Creek Trail, which makes it both a destination and a handy start point for longer walks in Melbourne's outer east.

The dog setup

The western oval is the off-leash zone, and effective voice control is the standing expectation even out there. Back on lead for the Dandenong Creek Trail and Heathmont Rail Trail, near the playground and the tennis and netball courts, and within 15 metres of barbecues, picnic areas or any training session in progress. Greyhounds stay on lead at all times under Victorian rules. There is a tap with a dog bowl, and you are expected to carry bags, so stock up before you arrive.

Max: some users report gaps around the fencing and drainage on the western oval, so keep an eye on small dogs near the edges even though it reads as fenced.

Worth knowing

This is a popular, well-used reserve rather than a quiet corner of the suburbs. Weekday evenings from about 5pm to 7pm and weekend mornings draw the crowds, while mid-week mornings and early afternoons are calm. If the oval is booked for cricket or soccer, the adjacent grassed areas are the fallback, and the reserve is genuinely open all hours, so night runs are an option.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits on Heathmont Road, with a large on-site car park. Heathmont railway station is walking distance away, and both the Dandenong Creek Trail and the Heathmont Rail Trail feed directly into the grounds. Public toilets, barbecue shelters and a playground next door make it an easy combined outing for a household with kids and dogs.

While you're out there

Heathmont Village has a short strip of cafes a walk or drive away, including the dog-friendly Great Ryrie Cafe. If you want a fully fenced alternative, Parkwood Fenced Dog Park at Ringwood North is about ten minutes up the road, and the Riverside Gardens Dog Exercise Area at Bayswater pairs a swim with the run. More dog parks in Victoria or browse Heathmont.