Mildura Fenced Dog Park (Rio Vista Park)

The Rio Vista off-leash dog park is Mildura's fully fenced run, set right on the Murray on Hugh King Drive between the Lawn Tennis Club and Lock 11. Separate enclosures for large and small dogs, a riverside setting and a solid amenity list make it the town's go-to for off-lead play.

The dog setup

The perimeter is securely fenced with an internal dividing fence, so small-dog and big-dog play stay on their own sides. Inside there are grassed areas, a sandpit, agility apparatus, shaded benches and tables, water fountains and bowls for dogs, and waste bag dispensers. Public toilets sit close by, so a full park session does not require a dash back to the car.

Council rules: dogs run off-leash inside the fence but must be supervised at all times and never left alone, with a maximum of three dogs per person. Dogs should be vaccinated, desexed and socialised, leave aggressive dogs and very young puppies at home, and council advises against bringing toddlers into the enclosure.

The vibe

Max: two gates and a solid fence are the whole point here. Latch the first behind you before you unclip, and read the small-dog versus big-dog split before you pick a side.

Early mornings and late afternoons are the social peaks, and weekend mornings are busiest of all. A weekday mid-morning or early afternoon gives a timid dog the quietest run.

Getting there

It is on Hugh King Drive, easy by car with parking nearby, and it sits on the riverfront walking and cycling path so you can fold it into a walk from town. At busy times, use the tennis club parking and walk the short distance in. Lock 11 sits next door, so you can watch boats pass through the lock between throws of the ball.

Close by with the dogs

The riverfront is lined with dog-welcoming cafes: Jessica Rabbit sits directly opposite, with Shippys Cafe and Bobby + Me close by along the river. The wider precinct adds Ornamental Lakes Park for an on-lead wander afterwards.

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