Dog-Friendly Activities In Melbourne
When looking for activities to do with their pet, dog owners in Melbourne have an abundance of choices. Surrounded by varying landscapes within just a short drive, as well as a bustling city with plenty of pet-friendly venues, there is no shortage of outdoor or indoor activities that you can choose from if you’re looking for something different. Whether you want to do something adventurous, or slow-paced, or to take in beautiful scenery, there are plenty of activities to choose from.
We’ll explore a host of dog-friendly activities in Melbourne, including visiting parks and beaches, hiking, leisure and recreation, and meetups.
Things To Do In Melbourne With Your Dog
Hiking
Melbourne is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, and if you want to see all that Victoria has to offer, taking your dog on a hike is a great way to explore it whilst exercising your dog. Merri Creek Trail is one of our favourites, as it follows a natural waterway through the bush, and is approximately 14km point to point, you can choose to make it shorter—or do the whole trail—if you want to.
There are lots of national parks to explore, but as many don’t allow dogs if you plan on making a day of it, there are plenty of dog-friendly national parks in and around Melbourne that you can bring your dog on a leash on your hike. Great Otway National Park has many areas where you can take your dog, including the St George River Track near Lorne, walking tracks around Lake Elizabeth, and Ironbark Gorge Walking Track. In the One Tree Hill section of Greater Bendigo National Park, there are designated trails for walking with your dog on lead, and you can also take them to Kinglake, Lake Eildon, and Heathcote-Graytown National Parks, too.
Beaches
For a summer day out, taking your dog to one of the many beaches in and around Melbourne is a great way to cool off. Melbourne's coastline is dotted with dog-friendly beaches, but you need to know when and where you can take your dog off-lead, as some beaches also have seasonal restrictions. In Melbourne, pet owners have a couple of great choices including the dog beach at the end of Bay Street in Port Melbourne and Brighton Doggy Beach, both of which allow your dog to go off-leash. If you want to travel a little further, Great Ocean Road offers beaches with year-round off-leash areas, and there are also pockets where you can let your dog run free in Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, and the Bellarine Peninsula too. Although there are few places to take your dog on Phillip Island to protect its birdlife, there are a few beaches you can take your dog to during the summer, including Ventnor and YCW beaches.
Parks & Dog Parks
Melbourne is home to parks, reserves, and designated dog parks where you can take your pup on a walk with plenty of room to explore. Closer to the city, Clayton Reserve, Martin Reserve, and Gilpin Park offer dogs the chance to make new friends and run around, with all the facilities you might need. Larger parks that are further out from the city give larger dogs a chance to stretch their legs, with Farm Road Reserve in Cheltenham, Tirhatuan Park in Dandenong, Tatterson Park in Keysborough, and Aranga Reserve in Donvale being great choices.
If you live near our Prahran, South Yarra, or East Melbourne locations; Victoria Park, Barkly Gardens, Armadale Reserve, and Moran Reserve all have off-leash areas that are closer to home.
Leisure & Recreation
Melbourne is very dog-friendly, which means that you can often take your dog with you, whether you’re going for a coffee, having brunch, or visiting somewhere new. CERES Community Environment Park is one of our favourite dog-friendly activities in Melbourne as you can walk through the park, visit the nursery, or stop for a coffee. Whilst there is no shortage of dog-friendly cafes and restaurants, there are also dog cafes where your dog can get special treats and make friends too. Miss Drew’s Bakery in Tyabb and The Dog Cafe in Boronia are two of our top picks!
Dog-Friendly Events
Melbourne hosts a variety of dog-friendly events throughout the year, providing opportunities for you and your furry friend to socialise, have fun, and make friends. Puppy pub crawls are common across the city, and many are for specific breeds too, so your dog can meet others who look just like them! There are also regular puppy yoga and pilates classes if you’re looking to get active in the company of cute dogs. As a city of dog lovers, there are always lots of groups that host regular meet-ups, so you’ll always have an event that you can attend with your pet.
Whether you’re looking for adventure, to try something new, or to make new friends along the way, there are plenty of dog-friendly activities in Melbourne that you can do with your pup. At Evervet, we want to ensure that your pet has the best quality of life, and we believe that fun activities are a vital part of pet care!
When choosing a vet, we know that you want the best for your pet, and our experienced and knowledgeable team will give you peace of mind and ensure that you and your beloved pet get the best care possible. Whether you have questions about caring for your dog, specific breed-related questions, or want to book your pet in for a check-up, we can help. Get in touch with the Evervet team.