Community Forest Fenced Dog Park

The Community Forest Fenced Dog Park is a large fenced bushland off-leash area near the Nepean Highway in Mount Martha, opposite Balcombe Grammar and part of The Briars precinct. This is not a flat lawn with a fence around it: it is a proper forest of tall native trees, dirt trails and a creek, which makes it one of the more adventurous dog spaces on the Peninsula.

The dog setup

The whole fenced area is off-leash, entered through a double-gate airlock at the main entrance. A looped dirt walking track of roughly 2.4 kilometres winds through the trees, with a shallow creek where dogs paddle and natural shade everywhere. There is a rainwater tap for dogs, a rotunda and seating near the entrance, and bins, though carrying your own bags is still smart. The fence holds the boundary, but inside it is big and bushy, so reliable recall still matters, and dogs are strictly excluded from the adjacent Briars conservation reserve.

Worth knowing

The forest closes on total fire ban and code red days, and in high winds, because falling branches are a genuine hazard in mature timber. In summer the bushland carries real snake risk, so keep to the paths, avoid the midday heat, and watch dogs that nose into undergrowth. In the wetter months the tracks turn to mud, so towels in the car are a given. Watch the gate lines too, since an active digger or fence-tester has more opportunity here than at a suburban oval park.

Getting there and parking

Reach it via the Nepean Highway near Bruce Road, with roadside parking opposite Balcombe Grammar. Take care entering and exiting the roadside strip. Parking near the entrance gate is limited, and the fenced area is roughly a 350-metre walk up a track from there, so factor in the approach with gear and an excited dog.

When to go

The area is large enough to spread out even when popular. Weekday mornings are calmest and best for dogs that prefer space. Skip the hottest part of summer days entirely, both for snakes and for heat.

Close by with the dogs

For a contrast, Hawker Beach offers year-round off-lead sand and water on the Esplanade, while Century Drive Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is the simpler open-space option in the same suburb. Donato makes a good coffee stop on the drive back. More options are on the VIC listing and the Mount Martha guide.

Max: a fenced forest with a creek and a 2.4km loop, recall is the whole game in there. Turned to soup after winter rain, bring towels.