Whites Beach@Torquay (my rating A)

Whites Beach at Torquay is an offleash beach at all times.  The beach is super nice, long and wide and smooth, plus plenty of parking areas.

The offleash area is towards the town centre till Beach Mark 57W.

 

(Offleash beach in Green - map from Council Website)

Conner Street Reserve@Kew East (my rating B)

Conner Street Reserve in Kew East, adjacent to Hyde Park,  is a leafy shady and grassy area shared among joggers, bikes and dogs.  The path joins the Outer Circle Trail.

Bundoora Parkland (my rating: B)

I decided to visit the park after reading the info about Bundoora Parkland on the council website (and other webs) and studying the map.

Mt Cooper Summit was the first stop. It's 137m above the sea level and it's the highest point in the metro Melbourne.  You'll like here if you like to overlook the city from a hilltop.  The offleash area is nice, away from the noise and crowd.  The hillside slope gave the kids opportunity running up and down burning their energy.  After that, the kids spent hours looking for 4-leaf clovers.  

 

(Mt Cooper)

  

(4-leaf clover)

 

(Jessica at the Mt Cooper)

Then we went to the other offleash area (the south side of the park).  The playground near that offleash area is a playspace, fenced up and big.  The kids had fun there too.  We passed the Bundoora Park Farm,  Jessica and the sheep had an interesting moment staring at each other over the fence.

Compared to Darebin  Parkland, this park doesn't feel as "bushy" as Darebin Parkland.  Personally, I would prefer Darebin Parkland.

 

(Jessica and the sheep)

 

(Bundoora Park - map from Council Web)

Special Post: DogParks-VIC Australia

I've just published a free Android App on Google Play called "DogParks-VIC Australia".  Feel free to download it to your Android Mobile Device if you have one.

The whole idea is to locate dog offleash (mainly) parks near you (based on GPS location).  The app can also show the entire dog offleash network,  Hope that will help you plan your adventure with your loved ones.

I'm still building up the list, consolidating the different info from local councils, visitor centres and Victoria Park.

I'm focusing on Melbourne Inner Suburbs and Other Cities in Victoria at the moment.  I guess people in rural and remote victoria areas aren't strict as long as your dog behaves.  However, I was told off (not by a civil servant, but by a tearoom lady) when we were holidaying at Silverton NSW (near broken hill).  Jessica was offleash exploring around in her graceful manner.  :-(


Anyway, hope you find the app handy.

Darebin Parklands@Alphington (Inner Melbourne) (My rating A)

Darebin Parklands is super awesome!  It's just 7km from Melbourne CBD.  If you want to escape from the city, from the noise, from the stress, from the 'modern' atmosphere,  Darebin Parklands is where you would love to go and stay for a few hours;  If you want to have a bush walk, or just lie down and the grass and relax, or let the children to run and kick a ball for hours, Darebin Parklands is where you would love to go.

But it won't be the right park for you if you're after some play facilities.  It doesn't have a playground.

It has a natural bush and country feel, with toilet and BBQ facilities.  The park has sufficient signage to guide the visitors through, you may also find the maps and information booklets.

The rain was pouring down when we were there today, didn't get to go onto the bush trail.  Will definitely try that next time, this is one of my favourite parklands!

 

(Offleash Area is shaded in yellow, map from Darebin Council Website)

 

(Well Displayed Signage)

(Information Hut, where you can get a copy of Info Booklet)

  

(Leading to Offleash Area)

 

(Jessica exploring)

 

(Look at my baby's muddy hands and feet)

  

(This is the map on the Information Board)

Beach at Apollo Bay (between Marriners Lookout Rd and Skenes Creek) (My rating A)

Apollo Bay is about 3 hrs drive from Melbourne City.  It's the last stop on Great Ocean Road before the road goes inland.

The beach is awesome!  It doesn't have cliffs, thus we don't need to worry about falling rocks.

The beach between Marriners Lookout Road and Skenes Creek is offleash all year round!  It is a heaven, to us and to dogs!  Like the slogan says "Beach Paradise"

Beach at Apollo Bay (between Apollo Bay and Marriners Lookout Road) (My Rating A)

Apollo Bay is about 3 hrs drive from Melbourne City.  It's the last stop on Great Ocean Road before the road goes inland.

The beach is awesome!  It doesn't have cliffs, thus we don't need to worry about falling rocks.

The beach between Apollo Bay and Marriners Lookout Road is offleash from May 1 to Dec 23.  And no dogs allowed from Dec 24 - Apr 30.  It makes Apollo Bay more appealing in non-summer time.

 

(Beach between Bay and Marriners Lookout Rd)

There's a very nice skate park and playground in Apollo Bay.  Don't forget to bring the scooters with you when you plan a holiday in Apollo Bay!