top 7 all year round offleash beaches near Melbourne

A top notch offleash beach, to me, has to be:

* not far from Melbourne, 2-hour-drive one way is my comfortable limit.

* Car Park must be near the beach.  I wouldn't want to "hike" to the beach with my forever baby in the scotching sun, carrying beach gear.

* "relatively" easy to find a parking spot.

* Toilets (for human) are nearby.  To maximize the time and enjoyment on the beach, it is necessary for me to visit the toilets before and after.

* A good beach size that can "host" many people and pups without feeling too crowded.  I'm quite sure if I wanted to spend some time at a beach on a good day, there would be other people and pups having the same idea.

* all year round offleash.  There are beaches that pups have to "time share" with other beachgoers.  That means, unless I'm local, my baby wouldn't be able to go to the beach summer time because the time allocated to pups are in the early mornings and evenings.

So........ having those in mind, here are the beaches I love the most:

My most favourite beach:

  Torquay Whites Beach 

click the beach above to see it on google map. 

This is one of several carparks: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ji1NsLdK5iMdPrNg9

I can't think of any ocean beach better than this.  White, fine, soft sand, long and wide stretch off leash beach all year round.  Without hotels or buildings right next to the beach, and without any commercial hotel beach lounges on the beach, it actually feels like we are in the nature.  A short walk from carpark takes you right onto the beach.  3 minutes drive from the carpark will take you to several beachside cafes.

Here is my dedicated page for this special offleash beach: https://dayoutwithdog-vic.blogspot.com/2013/07/whites-beachtorquay-my-rating-a.html

I definitely have a soft spot for Torquay in my heart.  There is another offleash beach in Torquay (near golf course), I will have to go back and check it out see if there are toilet facilities there.

But here is the page for that beach: https://dayoutwithdog-vic.blogspot.com/2013/02/torquay-offleash-beach-near-golf-course.html

2. Seaford Offleash Beach in Seaford, 40 minutes from Melbourne CBD

click the beach above to see it on google map. 

The offleash beach is on the left of the foot ramp (the right side of the ramp is on-leash). It is reasonably good size, but given it is also the only all year round offleash beach in Frankston, it can get busy at times, but still a good sandy beach.

3. Altona Offleash Beach in Altona

click the beach above to see it on google map.   It's about 30-minute drive from Melbourne if you go against the traffic. 

You'd need a bit of walk "on trail" before meeting the sand and water.  Once there, oh my, such a paradise!

4. Ventor Offleash Beach on Phillip Island

Click the beach above to see it on google map.  Located about 2-hour-ish drive from Melbourne CBD, this is probably the furthest beach on the south/east side of Victoria that I go for a day.

There are 2 carparks for this offleash beach, one at each end. Here is one of them: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PYMZ34W2kq72Rbif7

I have a dedicated page for this nice beach: https://dayoutwithdog-vic.blogspot.com/2022/03/ventnor-beach-on-phillip-island-my.html

5. Urquhart Bluff Beach on Great Ocean Road

yes, it is offleash!

This beach is a 2-hour drive from Melbourne CBD, a bit further than Torquay,

But it is so charming, that I opt to this beach if I feel like to drive.

Here's my dedicate page for this hidden germ:

https://dayoutwithdog-vic.blogspot.com/2013/04/urquhart-bluff-beachgreat-ocean-road.html

6.  Ocean Grove Beach in Geelong, between 8W and 13W, 1 hour drive from Melbourne CBD

Click on the Beach to see the google location.

This section of beach is offleash, car park is right next to the beach, as are the toilets.

  

It might be quite windy, but the sounds of the ocean and the smell of the salt water make the visit worthwhile. 

7.  Kilcunda Offleash Beach (next to Oceanview Holiday Retreat)

This is a rather rock beach, 2-hour and a bit one way,  pretty much the same distance as to Phillip Island.  My baby doesn't really find it fun as he likes to wade into the sandy water,  but there are some shallow rockpools for him to dip his feet wet.  

Although the carpark is right next to the beach, the offleash section is quite a walk on beach.  During hot summer when the sand hurts the feet, pups on leash and without shoes might feel putting off.    My baby and I traverse on wet sand.

See the map below (the offleash section is in dark green).

(credit to Bass city council)

But, the view is extremely camera worthy:

 

When you and your pup are on the beach, please be cautious, the waves, the swells, the current, sandflies, or even jellyfish, all these are part of nature and can be deadly.  offleash beaches do not have lifesavers or watchers.   They are less busy than dog-free or dog-on-leash beaches.  

Some beaches probably should make to the list, I haven't checked them out yet, like: 

Thirteenth Beach in Barwon Heads between 30W and 34W

Royal Beach in Mornington

and a few others......  Hopefully I'll get to see them all and update the list here.

Ventnor Beach on Phillip Island (my rating A)

Ventnor Beach on Phillip Island is the only official offleash beach all year round without time restrictions.

There are 2 entrances to this beach, I'm not sure if there are toilet facilities at Tyro Street Entrance.  We parked at the end of Ventnor Beach Road.

(Credit: Bass Coast website)

It features a decent carpark and toilet facilities.

And a short 100-step walk to the sandy beach.

p.s.: On the way back, we stopped at the Chocolate Factory to end the day on a sweet note, but sadly the outdoor dinning patio was closed (don't know when and if it's permanently closed?  The last time we visited this place was 8 years ago).

Como Park@South Yarra (My rating B)

Como Park is located on Alexandra Avenue, South Yarra.  The car park entry is via Como Avenue.  The park is an offleash park with playground, tables and benches, and toilet facilities.

The park is green and peaceful, with plenty of space for children to kick a ball, and dogs to run.  The park is also a home of many big trees, there would be no problem at all to find a shady place if the sun is burning hot.

The park isn't particularly wheelchair/pram friendly as it has stairs to go down to the oval.  And the other thing which isn't as good as the park itself is the toilets were a bit filthy when we were there on a Saturday morning. 

A day out in Kyneton (my rating B)

Kyneton is a town in Central Victoria, about 1.5hrs drive from Melbourne.  It is a nice town to explore and stroll on a sunny day with your kids and furry little one.

Our day tour starts at Kyneton Botanic Gardens (we park the car on Clowes St), we have a picnic lunch at the park. And afterwards, a short stroll in the gardens.  It is very pleasant and peaceful.  Dogs are welcome on-lead in the gardens.  There are toilets, tables and benches available in the park.

The Botanic Garden is next to Campaspe River, a riverside walk shall be relaxing.  There are 2 swings in the Gardens, FYI.

 

Turpins Falls and Trentham Falls are 2 of several waterfalls near Kyneton.  Each waterfall is about 30mins drive from Kyneton, but opposite directions.  Both Falls are OK with dogs.


Staff@Kyneton Visitor Centre suggests me to put "155 Shillidays Rd, Langley VIC 3444" onto my GPS for the direction to Turpins Falls, there is a sign on Shillidays Rd pointing to Turpins Falls, so you won't miss the  turn.

There is no amenities at Turpins Falls, however, there's a path to the river level, I'd suggest you to bring a hiking stick with you as the path to river level is quite steep and slippery when wet.

Trentham Falls@Trentham Falls Scenic Reserve is off Trentham Falls Road, there's a sign pointing to the Falls so you won't miss the turn.  There is a picnic ground at the Reserve, with tables, benches and toilet facilities.  It's a 70m short walk on a well defined path to the viewing platform. 
**** Extracted from Trentham Falls flyer *****
Trentham Falls Scenic Reserve offers you the best access to one of Victoria's highest single drop waterfalls.  Here the Coliban River plunges 32 meters over a sheer face of basalt rock.

No wonder you can hear the waterfall thunder from the carpark, and the view is spectacular.

You may also like to take the chance for a short walk in the reserve.  The walking map is available at the carpark.

There are other Points of Interests nearby, like Black Hill, Mineral Springs, and other waterfalls......... :)
We shall come back and explore more, for sure......


p.s.: It may be tricky to find a restaurant / cafe in a Sunday afternoon in a country town, thus we usually bring our own picnic lunch.

Greenmeadows Gardens at St Kilda East (my rating B)

Greenmeadows Gardens is in St Kilda East, it's a small garden with a fantastic playground.

The garden is beautiful, relaxing and peaceful, the grass is very green and comfortable.  There's no oval in the garden, thus no ball games.  But the open grassy areas are big enough for kicking a ball.

The shared path is good for scooters and in-line skates.  Drinking taps are available in the park.  The toilet is the "Exceloo", the computerized toilet.  Unfortunately the toilet wasn't in a clean state when we were there in a Saturday afternoon.

According to the sign and the Council Website, the park offers offleash area at the northern end (i.e.: Not the end where the playground is) between 6am and 9am.  Dogs must be on-leash all other times.

I was not made aware of the offleash time restriction until it was time to pack up and ready to go (when I read the sign).  However, Jessica stayed on the picnic rug all the time, so technically we didn't break the rule.  But I did see dogs run offleash, sniffing and wandering around freely, and apparently nobody made a fuss.  Looks like it's a friendly neighborhood.

Ardrie Park@Malvern East (my rating B)

Jessica's health has gone downhill noticeably.   There are days she's happy to have a walk, and mind other people's business;  There are days she sleeps a lot inside the house, and doesn't feel like to go out at all.  It often reminds me the book "Island of Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell..... Remember?  The first dog the young girl adopts, he grows older and older, and he stops chasing the sea gulls on the beach.....  He spends most of time sun bathing on the beach...... One day, he never wakes up again........


Come back to my Jessica.  My goal now is to make each day as pleasant as pleasant can be for her.

This afternoon, after a good afternoon nap, she gets up at 4.30pm, feels like to go out.  Here we are, Ardrie Park at Malvern East, after a short 15mins drive from home.

The park is certainly a hidden gem.  Quietly suited among residential areas with no dedicated car park, this park is beautifully maintained.  Offleash on the oval, Onleash in other parts of the park, fenced playground suitable for young and school aged children.  Plus drinking taps, toilets, benches......... It's a fantastic spot for picnic and relaxation.

 

(Playground)

 

(Oval, offleash)

 

(Oval Offleash)

Dunns Rd Reserve@Mt Martha, Mornington Peninsular (my rating C)

I'm glad that I chose this park for today.  Within an-hour drive, we arrived at this park just before lunch.  Guess it was partially because of the weather (scatter showers with chance of thunderstorm), we were the only ones in the park.

A big shed with tables and benches is perfect to setup the 'base camp', in case of the rain.  Playground is not bad, about the average; large open grassy area is ideal for frisbee.

BBQ stoves, water tap, toilets, all these things make this park friendly. 

Along the walking path, there're fitness equipments for  people to use.

Next to the playground is a doggy playground (fenced up) with play equipments for them to enjoy.

 

(Open Grassy Area)

 

(Playground)

 

(Playground, the climbing frame in the distance)

 

(Shed with BBQ facilities)

  

(Doggie Playground)

 

(Walking Path, fitness stations along the path)