Gladeswood Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Gladeswood Reserve is an open suburban reserve in the City of Monash, tucked between Maygrove Way, Gladeswood Drive and Haverbrack Drive in Mulgrave. Big grassy areas, mature trees and a playground make it a multi-use space where dog walkers share the ground with families and sporting groups, and it works best for dogs with solid recall rather than wanderers.

The dog setup

This is a designated off-leash area, not a fenced dog park. Dogs can run free under effective voice or hand control, but the on-lead rules matter here: within 20 metres of the playground equipment when it is in use, on the surrounding footpaths, in the car parks, and clear of any organised sport. Bags and bins are provided on site. The reserve is largely unfenced and backs onto homes, so it suits dogs that come back when called. Birdlife in the trees and shrubs is a real distraction for high-prey-drive dogs, so keep those ones in close near the edges.

Worth knowing

For an unfenced reserve it is reasonably well equipped: a drinking fountain, waste-bag dispenser, bins, park seating, some shelter and on-site toilets. The central field is big enough that you can give a busy entrance a wide berth, which matters when the weekend crowd rolls in.

Getting there and parking

Access is via Gladeswood Drive or Maygrove Way, roughly five minutes off the Monash Freeway. Parking is on-street or in a small lot off Maygrove Way, all free residential. Buses run along Wanda Street and Brandon Road a short walk away.

When to go

Weekday mornings and late afternoons, plus weekend mornings, are the busy windows. If your dog is reactive or still learning the recall game, aim for the quiet mid-morning gaps on weekdays.

Close by with the dogs

If you want a fully fenced run instead, Sabina Park and Freeway Reserve Dog Off Leash Area are both in Mulgrave. For coffee afterwards, Troublemaker Cafe on Albany Drive does outdoor tables with water bowls, and Little Mavros on Police Road is another dog-friendly stop. More options are on the VIC listing and the Mulgrave guide.

Max: open ground with houses on the boundary and birds everywhere, so recall has to be sharp and we stay leashed on the footpaths.