Appletree Hill Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Appletree Hill Reserve is a Maroondah City Council off-leash area running along Little Bungalook Creek in Kilsyth South. It is a strip of native trees and grassland rather than a manicured park, and it suits a dog that is happy with a natural, unmanicured setting instead of a fenced enclosure.

The dog setup

The off-leash zone is the open grassy ground outside the fenced dam; dogs are not permitted inside the dam enclosure itself. Keep your dog under effective voice or hand control at all times, and leash up near any playground or during a special event. Bins sit near the entrances, so bring bags and clear up after your dog.

Max: Unfenced means your recall is the fence line. If your dog chases waterbirds, this one needs a long lead.

Worth knowing

Do not expect formal facilities here: the off-leash zone itself has no toilets, playground or picnic shelters. The fenced dam is the drawcard, with waterbirds visible from the banks, though your dog can only watch from outside the fence. The ground turns wet and boggy after rain, so pack a towel for the trip home.

It is generally one of the quietest reserves in the area. Weekday mornings before work, late afternoons and weekend mornings see the most traffic, while a weekday afternoon suits a dog that prefers a calm visit.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits off local streets near Appletree Hill, reached via Dorset Road or Mount Dandenong Road. Parking is limited to street parking on the surrounding residential roads near the entrances. Bus routes run along both main roads, but you will need to walk in from the nearest stop.

Make a day of it

For a second off-leash run in the same suburb, the W Jackson Reserve dog off leash area is nearby. Dog-friendly coffee is a short drive rather than a walk: The Scented Garden in Croydon has a plant-filled courtyard where dogs are welcomed, and Saint Hugo's works for a stop on the way back through Montrose.

Browse more dog friendly parks in VIC or our guide to Kilsyth South with the dogs.