Mount Martha Fenced Leash-Free Area

This fenced leash-free area occupies the north-western corner of Citation Reserve at 88 Helena Street, Mount Martha, a secure, enclosed run close to the village and the foreshore. It is the pick for dogs still working on recall, because the fence does the work that voice control cannot yet.

The rules

Dogs are off-leash only inside the fenced enclosure and must be under effective voice control, with owners carrying a lead at all times, under Mornington Peninsula Shire's leash-free area rules. Keep your dog on-lead until the gate is shut behind you, clean up with the bins provided, and note that the rest of Citation Reserve, including the sports ovals, stays on-lead when sport or restricted activities apply.

What is there

The draw is the containment itself: a fully fenced run with some tree shade, big enough for a proper game of fetch rather than a token lap. Amenities are basic, so bring your own water and bowl, and check the gate and tap details on site, since facilities at smaller reserves vary. The rest of Citation Reserve has sports ovals and open space beyond the fence, useful for an on-lead cool-down before the drive home.

Getting there and parking

The reserve is reached via Helena Street, just up from the Mount Martha Esplanade. Street parking is available nearby but can be tight at busy times, and it is a short drive or decent walk from the village shops on the Esplanade, where the cafes cluster.

When to go

Weekday mornings are the calmest. Because it is fenced and central, it pairs naturally with a beach leg: check signage before you go, as beach rules change seasonally.

Pair it with

Down at the water, Hawker Beach offers year-round off-lead stretches between Helena Street and Morrisons Avenue, with sandstone cliffs and rocky shallows. For a second fenced run, the Community Forest Fenced Dog Park is the other secure option in Mount Martha, and the Balcombe Creek Estuary Boardwalk makes an easy on-lead add-on.

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