Thompson Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Thompson Reserve sits on the escarpment above Pipemakers Park in Maribyrnong, with open grass, views over the Maribyrnong River valley and something most suburban dog parks lack: a genuine agility course. Maribyrnong City Council designates the whole reserve as a dog off-lead area, and it has become a social hub for local owners.

The dog setup

The agility course runs alongside the main gravel walking path and the open oval grass, with weave poles, hurdles, balance beams, ramps and a tunnel to work through. There is a sheltered seating area for owners, extra unshaded seats scattered around, and a water tap for dogs. Bins are provided, and you are expected to pick up and bin all waste.

Leash status

Dogs may be off-lead across the entire reserve, but they must stay under effective voice or hand control at all times, and you must carry a lead even while your dog runs free. Leash up on the approach paths, in the surrounding streets and anywhere outside the reserve boundary. Council rules also require any dog showing aggressive or antisocial behaviour to be leashed and removed immediately.

One caution: this is an open, neighbourhood-style reserve rather than a fully enclosed, double-gated paddock. The boundary near the escarpment and roadways means dogs with patchy recall should be watched closely, and it is worth carrying treats to hold their attention near the edges.

Max: carry the lead the whole time you are in here. The boundary is open in places, and the road below the escarpment is closer than it looks from the middle of the grass.

Getting there and parking

The reserve is at the corner of Gordon Street and Aquatic Drive, listed at 32 Van Ness Avenue. Free street parking is available nearby and it is an easy drive-in option. By public transport, buses along Farnsworth Avenue and Raleigh Road stop within a short uphill walk.

Worth knowing

The reserve is open and exposed with little shade, so bring water in summer and time your visit for the cooler parts of the day. Weekday mornings, late afternoons and Saturday mornings draw the regular crowd; midday midweek is the quiet window if your dog prefers space.

While you're out there

The river valley below is made for a longer outing: the Maribyrnong River Trail and Burndap Park loop links straight into the same escarpment country. If you need a fully secure perimeter for recall training, Martin Reserve Fenced Dog Park in West Footscray is the enclosed option, and Chifley Drive Reserve is the other off-lead space in the same suburb.

More options are on the Victoria dog parks guide and the Maribyrnong destination page.