Onyx Crescent Fenced Dog Park

Onyx Crescent Fenced Dog Park is a small, fully fenced off-leash park on Onyx Crescent in Officer, secure enough to let a dog run without a lead. The reason to come: an enclosed oval roughly 35 metres across that works as a handy local burn-off for recall practice or a quick social session.

The dog setup

Inside the fence, dogs run off-leash under Cardinia Shire Council rules, but everything outside the gate is a designated on-leash zone, so clip the lead on as you enter and exit. Keep your dog under control and in sight, with a maximum of two dogs per person. Female dogs in heat are not permitted, children need close supervision, and any dog showing aggression should be leashed and taken out of the park straight away. Pick up after your dog using the bins on site.

Facilities are simple: a secure perimeter fence with double gates, a couple of seats inside the enclosure, and bins for waste. There is a water tap with a bowl, though it sits outside the fenced area. The surface is grass with some worn, bare patches near the entrance.

Max: the ground turns to mud after rain and the worn entry patch is the first to go, so keep a towel in the car if the weather has been wet.

The vibe

Quietest early morning or early afternoon on a weekday. It gets busiest on weekend mornings and after 4pm on weekdays, and the small footprint means it crowds quickly. This suits a sociable dog that does not need a lot of room rather than a big runner wanting open ground.

Getting there and parking

The park is at 6 Onyx Crescent, Officer, reached off the Princes Highway or the M1 through Officer, with street parking along Onyx Crescent. It is open around the clock, and most visitors arrive by car or walk in from the surrounding streets.

Close by with the dogs

Because the park is small and fills fast, pair the visit with an outdoor coffee at The High Horse, which overlooks the wetlands with a dog-welcoming deck, or Blondie's Kafe, both a short drive away.

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