Chifley Drive Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Chifley Drive Reserve is an open, unfenced off-leash area on Chifley Drive in Maribyrnong, running alongside the Maribyrnong River trail in Melbourne's inner west. About 18,000 square metres of open grass with some shady trees, it is off-lead around the clock, which makes it one of the more flexible dog spots in the west if your schedule starts early or finishes late.

The dog setup

There is no fencing here, so the reserve suits dogs with solid recall rather than wanderers, and the layout demands attention: the grass sits between Chifley Drive on one side and the shared river trail on the other, with cyclists and joggers passing constantly. Maribyrnong City Council requires dogs to be under effective voice control at all times, on lead within five metres of the river trail, and on lead within 30 metres of the playground at the west end. Any dog showing aggressive behaviour has to be leashed and removed immediately.

Facilities are deliberately minimal: bins on site, but no water station and no seating worth the name, so bring water and a bowl. Bins are not always stocked with bags either. The upside is that picnics, tables and barbecues sit across the road, and the vegetation is only really a problem in the warmer months when the edges get overgrown.

Max: Unfenced between a road and a bike path, so I stayed glued to my human. Great grass, zero room for sloppy recall.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits on Chifley Drive in Maribyrnong, reached via Gordon Street or Raleigh Road, with street parking directly along Chifley Drive. The Maribyrnong River Trail connects straight onto the reserve, so it pairs naturally with an on-lead riverside walk in either direction. Bus routes along Raleigh Road put you within walking distance if you are coming from Footscray or Highpoint.

When to go

Weekend mornings and weekday evenings between about 5pm and 7pm draw the regulars and their dogs. Early mornings and early afternoons are quieter, which gives nervous dogs room to settle and makes the road and trail edges easier to manage.

Close by with the dogs

Continue the day on the Maribyrnong River Trail and Burndap Park, which follows the river toward Footscray. The Thompson Reserve Dog Off Leash Area in the same suburb adds an agility course, and if your dog needs an actual enclosure, the Martin Reserve Fenced Dog Park at West Footscray is the nearest fully fenced option. Afterwards, Moon Dog Wild West pours beer with dogs welcome at its outdoor tables. More options are in our Victoria dog parks guide and the Maribyrnong destination page.