Bunurong Marine Park (my Rating B)

Bunurong Marine Park is one of a few Marine Parks that allows dogs to visit (on leash non-summer).

The park is 140km south-east of Melbourne.

The rockpool is so much fun for Jessica and kids, and us.  The view is spectacular.

To be well prepared, would suggest you read the chart below beforehand, and also download the flyer from park victoria website.   You might want to bring spare clothes and shoes.

(Credit: Park Victoria Website)

(Credit: Park Victoria Website)

Queenscliff Offleash Beach - Narrow Beach (my rating A)

We've been to quite some offleash beaches in Victoria.  Queenscliff Offleash Beach remains on top of our favorite list (within day trip distance), we just love to go there over and over and over again.

Queenscliff Beach has 2 sections.  1 section is offleash all year around, i.e.: We can all go there in the hottest summer days, and Jessica can be absolutely free, while the kids are busy splashing and creating sand master pieces.  The other section is offleash in other 3 seasons (dogs are not allowed in summer).

The beach is beautiful, the sand is fine and soft, and most of all, not packed at all, even in summer, maybe because it's not patrolled.  Parents, please be alert of the wave conditions and be water play safe.

The map was downloaded from Local Council website.
http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/common/public/documents/8cbe98bd3948293-Walk%20Time%20Maps%202011.pdf

 p.s.: The local visitor centre was very friendly and helpful when we were there asking for direction to the beach.  There's a restaurant near the visitor centre which has a back garden, very dog friendly.
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Dinner Plain snowy village (my rating A)

Dinner Plain is the snow place we as a family go every winter,   It is a village closest to Mt Hotham (10km to Big D ski run @ Hotham).  They have dog friendly chalets.  They have snow shuttle to Hotham too.

The kids learned how to ski at Dinner Plain (a beginner run with ski lift), the toboggan run is fun too.  Now they're competent to ski at Hotham.

Dogs are allowed as long as they have a valid permit / tag  (registered with local council Alpine Shire).


Below's the web of dinner plain
http://www.visitdinnerplain.com/

and Mt Hotham
http://www.mthotham.com.au/

Alpine Shire Council:
http://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=82#BM421

Jessica loves snow.

Lillydale Lake Park (my rating: A)

After a few rainy weekends, the sun finally decided to come out to greet Melbourne for a day.  There were so many parks I wanted to explore,  Lillydale Lake Park was one of them.

Packed picnic rugs, fold-able food table, bikes, off we set the journey to the park.

Lillydale Park has a very nice shared track, and 2 offleash areas, and a nice playground.

We set the base camp on a little hill in an offleash area. So we had a lovely green view in front of us.

Jessica was busy running up and down the hill in the offleash area.

See the map below, downloaded from Yarra Ranges Council website (www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Things_To_Do/Lillydale_Lake).