Nicoll Park Dog Off Leash Area

Nicoll Park is a compact, fenced dog off-leash area in a residential pocket of Nunawading, run by Whitehorse City Council. The draw is the enclosure itself: three gated entrances and a fully contained run make it a sensible spot for recall practice or letting a smaller dog stretch out without traffic worries.

The dog setup

The reserve is fenced with three entry gates and has bench seating for owners while dogs run, though shade is limited, so factor that in on hot days. It doubles as a neighbourhood park with a playground and family facilities, so the off-leash space shares the reserve rather than owning all of it.

Worth knowing

Whitehorse rules apply: dogs stay under effective voice or hand control, within 25 metres and in clear view, and you must carry a lead of 1.5 metres or less and waste bags at all times. Leash up on shared paths and keep clear of the playground, BBQ and picnic buffers, and greyhounds must stay muzzled and on lead unless exempt.

Max: because the fence is shared with the playground, check who is inside the gate before you unclip. After-school hours from about 3:30 to 5:30pm bring the most dogs and kids together.

The vibe

Early mornings and late afternoons are the social windows; midday is quietest and best if your dog finds a busy fence stressful. Good for small dogs and for anyone working on recall in a contained space.

Getting there

It sits on residential streets in central Nunawading near Lane Street, with parking nearby and the Nunawading Tennis Club next door. By train, Nunawading Station on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines is the closest rail, a short walk away.

Close by with the dogs

The Oxford Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is the other Nunawading option, Mahoneys Reserve adds a bigger fenced run at Forest Hill, and Blackburn Lake Sanctuary is a few minutes away for a longer on-lead walk. The Peddler Cafe takes dogs in its covered rear courtyard for a post-run brunch.

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