Dog Friendly beaches in Melbourne and Victoria

Pin Me Please

Dog friendly beaches are scattered along the foreshores of Melbourne and Victoria. Some of these allow dogs on leads at all times, some restrict those times and others will allow your dog to run free along the beach.

Dogs love to splash in the sea as we all know and Victoria's Port Phillip Bay offers locals and tourists alike the perfect opportunity to play with dog beaches all along its coastline.

Check the signs that are always displayed at these beaches and be mindful of the elderly and children when walking your dog on its lead.

Many dog friendly beaches have restricted hours so be aware of the times and just what restrictions may apply. Some beaches are open all year round and will allow your doggie to run free, however common courtesy still prevails, nothing worse than a pooch that is over zealous destroying a great day out at the beach.

From the start of November through to the end of March is classified as the peak season on Melbourne's beaches. Most dog friendly beaches enforce restrictions during this time and it is wise to check with the local council in the area to avoid a hefty fine.

Dog Litter - it's now mandatory to carry bags or other devices and clean up after your dog.

Under council's Community Amenity Local Law, dog owners must carry bags or devices in addition to the current requirement to pick up after their dog. The penalty is an on the spot fine.

A range of other bags and devices are on the market and available from various outlets including pet shops, veterinaries and supermarkets.

There is nothing worse than stepping on or swimming in animal feces so please take care of your animal's droppings or cop a hefty fine if you are caught ignoring the rule. This applies to walking in all public places these days, parks, streets, beaches and lake foreshores.

Just Chillin' at the Dog Beach

Common Coutesy Doggie Rules

collect and dispose of droppings
do not let your dog use the sea as a public toilet
keep your dog on a leash, except in the designated off-leash areas
ensure your dog doesn’t disturb other people and wildlife
if your dog tends to get a little aggressive when it comes to other dogs, please keep it on a short lead to avoid fights
carry a leash and keep your dog under effective control on off-leash beaches in summer, when more people are around.

Dogs happily exercising at the beach

If you are not familiar with the local beaches then it's a good idea to check the local council's website before heading down to the sand. You can find their contact details on the Internet or in the Yellow Pages Directory.

Check out these useful links to councils and parks and gardens for Dog Friendly Beach information

My Top 5 Picks For Dog Friendly Beaches

Brighton Dog Beach

Just 30 minutes south of the city you will find the perfect beach for your pooch!

There is a section of beach that has been designed specifically for dogs with a fenced off area. Plenty of company for you and your pet to interact with and compare notes on a sunny Melbourne day.

Brighton Dog Beach

Port Melbourne Beach

You are able to walk your dog off-leash all year round at the Port Melbourne Beach between the Port Melbourne Yacht Club and Lagoon Pier.

For further information please refer to the signage at the beaches, parks and reserves in and around Port Melbourne.

Follow this link for more information on what restrictions there are on beaches nearby

Port Melbourne Dog Beach in Victoria Australia

Port Melbourne Pet Friendly Beach

Aireys Inlet

Along the westcoast of Victoria around 1.5 hrs from Melbourne central you arrive at the beginning of the Great Ocean Road. Just a little further on from Angelsea you will find Aireys Inlet, one of the few off-leash dog friendly beaches in Victoria.

The coast here is made up of a series of rock shelves and secluded sandy swimming beaches. Beaches include Sandy Gully, Steppy Beach and Sunnymeade.

Low tide makes this area a great place to walk your dog along the rocky platforms and sandy beaches. Just make sure you are aware of tidal changes and if you do decide to swim here be very aware of the currents and take care.

Seaholme Dog Beach

Along the foreshore of the Altona Coastal Park you will find Seaholme Dog Beach, this wonderful stretch of shallow water has to be one of the best dog beaches in Melbourne. There are no complicated restricted hours to figure out - it's off leash for dogs all year round.

Make sure to check the tides so that you arrive at low tide to play with your dog as the experience is best then as you can wade and splash your way out to sea on the sand flats and shallow waters. You can walk at least 50 meters out into the sea here.

Access is via Burns Reserve or Altona Sports Club. Car parking is also easy (and free) adding an extra bonus!

Doggie Games At The Beach

St Kilda Dog Beach

This has to be one of Melbourne's best and largest dog beaches so close to the city. It is situated beside St Kilda pier and extends all the way along the West St Kilda Beach foreshore and even further along to the groyne (a low wall or sturdy timber barrier built out into the sea from a beach to check erosion and drifting ) opposite Sandridge Street.

Port Phillip Council has pretty good policies for dogs - all of its beaches are accessible off lead at certain times of the year, with a number, including this one, off-lead all year round.

There is a section where you must keep your dogs off being the vegetated dune conservation area with the walking paths. This is situated between the beach pavilion and the creek outflow.

This beach also provides ...

shallow sandbars to wade out on and enjoy those much loved doggie games you and your pooch love so much.
a dog-friendly West Beach Pavilion cafe, right on the sand, they also provide dog drinking bowls
good parking all along the foreshore (though it is ticketed and not cheap!).

Pet Friendly Beaches In Melbourne

Spending time with your family pet is an enjoyable experience and securing that experience at all times is paramount. Be aware of council regulations, always carry your dog lead when walking your dog even in off leash situations you never know when you might have to separate two over enthusiastic animals.

Always be aware of others around you especially little children who just love to pat a pet. The elderly can also become a little intimidated by an over enthusiastic doggie.

Dog Friendly Beach Handy Links

Off-leash dog friendly beaches and parks in Victoria - https://dogculture.com.au/off-leash-dog-friendly-parks-and-beaches-in-vic/

Melbourne Suburbs

http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/living_in_bayside/animals_dog_off_leash_areas.htm
http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Community/Animals/Dog-off-leash-locations
http://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/Community/Pets/Dog-Ownership/Dog-Access-to-Foreshore-Reserve
http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/dogs_on_beaches.htm

Mornington Peninsular
http://www.balnarring.net/the-reserve/
http://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Our_Community/Animals/Beach_and_City_Centre_Access
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/mornington-peninsula-national-park
http://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Your-Property/Animals-Pets/Pet-Owner-Info/Leash-free-areas
http://pointleo.com/dogs-at-point-leo/

Bellarine Peninsula
http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/pets/default.aspx
http://www.queenscliffe.vic.gov.au/community/pets-and-animals/dog-friendly-areas
http://www.barwoncoast.com.au/

Dogs Love To Play On Doggie Beaches

Gippsland Region
http://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/Leisure/Beaches_and_Foreshore_Reserves/Where_Can_I_Take_My_Dog_
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/cape-conran-coastal-park
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/cape-liptrap-coastal-park
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/corner-inlet-marine-and-coastal-park
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/gippsland-lakes-coastal-park
http://www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/Services/Community_Laws/Domestic_Animals
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/nooramunga-marine-and-coastal-park
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/shallow-inlet-marine-and-coastal-park
http://www.wellington.vic.gov.au/Living-in-Wellington/Animals-and-Pets/Dogs-on-Leads

Phillip Island region
https://www.penguins.org.au/about/local-community/regulations/
http://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/Leisure/Beaches_and_Foreshore_Reserves/Where_Can_I_Take_My_Dog_

Great Ocean Road
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/bay-of-islands-coastal-park
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/discovery-bay-coastal-park
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/great-otway-national-park
http://www.visitportfairy-moyneshire.com.au/activitiesattractions/itineraries/206-holidaying-with-dogs&Itemid=16
http://www.otwaycoast.org.au/
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/port-campbell-national-park
http://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/My_Community/Pets_Animals/Dogs_On_Leash_Controls
http://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/walking-your-dog

Enjoy your time down at your favorite dog beach and please let me know if you have a favorite of your own. We would love to hear about it!

Just tell us your story on the form below and don't forget to add some photos.

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Sunset and dog friendly beaches - Great combination

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