Kalorama Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Kalorama Memorial Reserve sits at the corner of Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and Grange Road, high on the Dandenong Ranges ridge with views out toward Silvan Reservoir and the Yarra Valley. The off-leash area on the western side of the reserve is a big, sloping grass paddock ringed by pines, open 24 hours, with room for a proper game of fetch rather than a shuffle around a suburban park.

The dog setup

The off-leash zone is designated by Yarra Ranges Council but is not fenced, so effective voice or hand control matters here more than at a double-gated dog park. Carry a lead the whole time, keep dogs 20 metres clear of the playground and picnic areas, and treat the eastern side of the reserve, where the oval and playground sit, as leash-only. The northern forested tracks and all other reserve areas are on-lead too. Pick up and bin waste, and dogs need a current registration tag.

The terrain

The slope is open grass and unfenced, dropping away toward the reserve boundary, which makes it a poor match for dogs with patchy recall or a tendency to wander. It suits a solid, reliable dog that wants to run. Being on an exposed hilltop, the reserve catches wind and a genuine chill outside the warmer months, so pack a jacket for the standing-around parts.

Max: Unfenced slopes with a boundary drop are a sizing-up exercise first. Walk the fence line on lead, then decide if your dog's recall earns the unclip.

Getting there and parking

The reserve is a Mt Dandenong Tourist Road drive from most directions, with free on-site parking near the off-leash zone. Public transport is thin: Lilydale or Belgrave are the nearest train stations, and PTV route 688 runs along the tourist road. Toilets and water taps sit over on the eastern side near the oval, so bring your own water for the off-leash slope itself.

While you're out there

Pair the run with a walk: Mathias Walking Track at Olinda is close by through the forest, and Old Olinda Golf Course dog off leash area is the ridge's other big off-lead space. For coffee on the way down the mountain, Saint Hugo's in Montrose sits at the bottom of the range.

For more options nearby, browse dog parks in Victoria or plan from Kalorama.