Strathdale Park

Strathdale Park is in Strathdale, a few minutes from the Bendigo CBD and just west of Junortoun. The drawcard is the fully fenced Harcourt Dog Park inside the reserve, with the rest of the park on-lead.

Leads and the off-lead area

Greater Bendigo is an on-lead municipality by default, so dogs stay leashed on the park's paths and around the play spaces. The exception is the fenced Harcourt Dog Park, where they can run free.

The walk

Paved and gravel shared paths mix with natural bush tracks, past open grass, an inclusive playground and bushland heading toward Kennington Reservoir. Inside the dog park, bitumen tracks cross a creek on steel footbridges and pass small dams.

The dog park has water for dogs and handlers, bins, and good shade from mature trees along the exercise areas. Parking and entry points are off Crook Street.

Pair it with

Local trails link on to the Grassy Flat Creek Trail from Kennington Reservoir for a longer walk.

For coffee, Food Shack Cafe & Foodshack Pizzeria in East Bendigo is close, and the Strathfieldsaye Junior Oval Dog Off Leash Area is another place to run.

Who it suits

With shade, water and a fenced run in one reserve, it suits dogs that need a walk and a proper off-lead session in the same trip. Keep the lead handy for the paths in between.