Thompsons Park

Thompsons Park is a grassed riverside reserve on River Road in Latrobe, running along the Mersey River a couple of minutes from the Gilbert Street shops. Its appeal for dog owners is unusually simple: it is a declared 24/7 off-leash dog exercise area, so there is no clock to watch and no morning-only window to race.

The dog setup

Off-leash is allowed around the clock under the Latrobe Council dog management zones, but the condition attached is effective control: your dog stays responsive to voice and within sight. Keep at least 10 metres clear of any children's playground equipment, pick up after your dog with the bins provided, and check the on-site signage for the current boundary on the day. The park is open and unfenced, running beside the river, so if recall is shaky keep the lead on near the water and the road until you know how your dog handles the space.

Max: an unfenced park this close to a river is a recall test, and the good dogs here passed it every morning.

Worth knowing

This is a plain riverside lawn rather than a fitted-out dog park: no fence, no dog wash, no water tap, so bring your own water on warm days. The ground is level and easy to walk, and the river path continues into town if you want to extend the outing on leash. Weekday mid-mornings are quietest, while early mornings and the after-work stretch from about 4pm to 6pm bring the local walkers, which matters if your dog is timid.

Getting there and parking

The park is on River Road, roughly a two-minute drive from Gilbert Street or a short walk along the river path from central Latrobe. Kerbside parking lines River Road, and regional buses stop in the town centre if you are coming without a car.

Close by with the dogs

For a secure alternative, the Latrobe Fenced Dog Park at Bosworth Park is a few streets away. Afterwards, Shadows Cafe on Gilbert Street has a dog-friendly courtyard, and the on-leash loops through Warrawee Conservation Area make a solid second stop for the day.