Mont Albert Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Mont Albert Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is a fenced sports oval on Melrose Street, Mont Albert North, that doubles as an off-leash park whenever organised sport is not using the ground. It is a solid pick for a dog that needs a proper sprint rather than a gentle stroll.

The dog setup

Off-leash is allowed around the clock outside scheduled sport, but your dog needs to be under effective voice or hand control and come back on command. Carry a lead under 1.5 metres at all times, and keep at least 2.5 metres clear of the playground, barbecues and picnicking families, per Whitehorse City Council's rules for dogs in public spaces.

The oval is fenced on most sides, though the section near the pavilion opens out, so a dog with a selective recall still needs watching there. During cricket or training, dogs stay off the field entirely and the oval effectively becomes an on-lead walk around the perimeter.

Pepsi: check the fixture boards before you unclip. Saturday cricket seasons eat most of the oval from spring onward, and the difference between a full off-lead run and a perimeter walk comes down to what is scheduled.

What you'll find

There is a drinking fountain with a dog bowl, waste bins, a pavilion and public toilets, with the children's playground at the reserve's edge. The oval surface gives the fastest dogs in the suburb their main outlet.

Getting there

The reserve sits on Melrose Street in Mont Albert North, with street parking around its edges and easy access from the Eastern Freeway side of Box Hill. Bus routes along the nearby arterials cover it for anyone coming without a car.

Close by with the dogs

After the run, Matilda Mont Albert is the local dog-friendly cafe with outdoor seating, and Butterfly House on Milne is another neighbourhood option.

More options are on the Victoria dog parks guide and the Mont Albert North destination page.