Minak Reserve Dog Off Leash Area

Minak Reserve is a bushland off-leash area in the Dandenong Ranges, dense with tall gums and tree ferns, and it plays more like a sniffari nature walk than an open-play dog park.

The rules. It is a 24-hour off-leash area, but it is unfenced, so effective control matters here. Your dog needs to stay within sight and call-back range, and you must carry a lead with you at all times even while off-leash. Dogs must not wander into the neighbouring private properties that border the reserve.

Watch-outs. This bushland is home to echidnas and lyrebirds, so a dog with a strong prey drive is safer kept leashed. The dense fern understorey also makes it easy to lose sight of your dog on the narrow trails, worth remembering on a reactive or nervous dog's visit.

What's there. Facilities are minimal to none: no toilets, no bins and no water taps on site. Bring water for yourself and your dog, and pack out any waste since there is nowhere to bin it.

Getting there. The reserve is on Minak Road, Selby. Street parking is limited, so arrive early on weekends. Belgrave Station is the nearest train stop, but it is a steep walk from there, so driving in is the practical option.

Nearby with the dogs. Selby General Store & Cafe is a short drive away for a coffee and a puppacino afterwards. Cafes around Belgrave and Tecoma are generally welcoming too, though it is worth checking outdoor seating before you arrive with a dog in tow.

Weekend mornings are the busiest time. If your dog is reactive around others, an early start or a rainy day gives you the narrow trails to yourselves.

Sources

• Exercising your dog - Yarra Ranges Council · yarraranges.vic.gov.au
• Dog friendly parks in Victoria · parks.vic.gov.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.