Navan Park Fenced Dog Park

Navan Park Fenced Dog Park sits off Centenary Avenue in Melton West, wrapped around a lake on Melton's western edge. The draw is the dual-enclosure layout: two separately fenced sections, so you can move to the quieter side if the main run gets crowded without leaving the park.

The dog setup

Off-leash applies inside the fenced enclosures only. The larger main section sits east of the playground, and a smaller secondary enclosure of roughly 20 by 30 metres includes its own shaded shelter. Entry is through double gates, which makes arrivals and exits much easier with an excited dog. Open sightlines across both runs mean you can usually see every dog in the enclosure from where you stand.

Melton City Council requires a responsible adult to stay inside the enclosure with the dog at all times, and waste has to be picked up immediately. Bins and bag dispensers are on site, and water taps with bowls are available near the runs. If a dog shows aggression, the owner is expected to leash up and leave straight away. The lake loop and the rest of Navan Park outside the fences are on-leash, so the circuit is a proper walk rather than a free run.

Pepsi: two sections means two shots at a good crowd. If the big side is full of boisterous dogs, try the smaller enclosure before giving up. It is often the calmer option.

The vibe

This is a neighbourhood park that pulls regulars rather than day-trippers, so weekday mornings and early afternoons tend to be the quiet windows. Weekend mornings fill up with the after-work-rush crowd. The mature trees and shade shelters help in summer, and the lake setting gives it a more open feel than most suburban fenced runs.

Getting there and parking

The park is at 80 Centenary Avenue, Melton West, with designated parking along Centenary Avenue. Local Melton bus services run through the surrounding streets, and pedestrian paths link the park to the neighbourhood. The playground and exercise equipment share the wider parkland, which is handy if you have kids in the mix.

Close by with the dogs

If Navan Park is full, Fraser Street Reserve Fenced Dog Park in Melton South and Diggers Rest Recreation Reserve Fenced Dog Park are both short drives. Boronia Drive Reserve Fenced Dog Park in Hillside is another enclosed option to the north east. For an overnight base, Sundowner Caravan Park Rockbank is about 15 minutes away.

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