Southern Road Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Southern Road Reserve is a designated off leash area on Southern Road in Mentone, run by the City of Kingston in Melbourne's bayside. It is a spacious, tree shaded grassed reserve beside an oval, good for ball work and a proper run, but it is not fully fenced and sits alongside a children's playground, so it rewards a reliable recall.

The dog setup

Dogs may be off leash but must stay under effective voice or hand control at all times. Carry a lead and use it if your dog becomes a nuisance, and bring the dog back under control within 20 metres of the playground, any sporting event or the barbecues. Kingston caps it at four dogs per person, and Victorian dogs must be council registered and microchipped. There is a drinking fountain with a dog bowl, natural shade from surrounding trees and accessible footpaths; there are no public toilets at the reserve itself.

Worth knowing

The playground right next door is the main thing to manage. If your dog's recall is still a work in progress, work the far side of the reserve away from the play area and lead up the moment kids or a game appear. The oval boundary brings cricketers and weekend sport into the mix too.

Getting there and parking

Parking is along Southern Road and the surrounding side streets, and the reserve is easy to reach off the Nepean Highway and Balcombe Road. Mentone station is a 5 to 10 minute walk, which makes this one of the more train friendly off leash spots in the south east.

Max: No fence here and a playground right alongside. Keep to the far side of the reserve, and lead up the moment kids or a game are nearby.

When to go

Quietest midweek and midday; weekend mornings and weekday evenings are busiest. The shade makes summer sessions workable, but the unfenced layout means the quieter windows are the easiest with a dog still learning recall.

Close by with the dogs

If you need a fence, Reg Marlow Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the fully enclosed option in Mentone. For sand and shallows, Mentone Beach Dog Off Leash Area runs off lead 24 hours a year round. Afterwards, Happy As Larry Cafe on Charman Road has a relaxed outdoor area for dogs.

Plot more outings on our guide to dog friendly parks in Victoria or browse what else suits dogs around Mentone.