Kevin Hayes Dog Park with coffee van

Kevin Hayes Reserve on Crown Avenue is a large, fully fenced off-leash park in Mordialloc, and the secure fencing is the reason most owners drive here: you can let a bolter or a dog with patchy recall run flat out without watching the road. A coffee van is a regular fixture, so it doubles as a morning social spot.

The rules. Dogs run off-leash inside the fence and must stay under effective control. The whole area is enclosed with self-closing gates, so the one job that matters is latching the gate behind you on the way in and out. Bins are on site and picking up after your dog is expected.

What's there. Full perimeter fencing, an agility and obstacle section, water stations, dog-waste bags, and trees plus a covered shelter with seating for the humans. The entrance and parking are flat and step-free.

Getting there. Free street parking runs along Crown Avenue. It is a short trip from Mordialloc station on the Frankston line, with local buses nearby, and the gate is an easy flat walk from the street.

When to go. Weekend mornings, Saturday and Sunday both, are the busy social peak. For a quieter run, especially with a nervous or reactive dog, aim for an early weekday morning or a weekday evening. The surface can get muddy and churned up after rain, so pick a dry spell if your dog hates wet paws.

Sources

• Kevin Hayes Reserve Fenced Dog Park - Tripadvisor · tripadvisor.com.au
• Best Dog Parks And Dog Beaches In Melbourne · doncastervet.com.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.