Day Trips With Dogs Melbourne – As a long-time Sydneysider, I always have to say how far Sydney is better than Melbourne because of the long-standing rivalry between the two Australian cities. But when it comes to dog friendliness, Melbourne in Victoria comes out on top and is the most dog-friendly city in Australia.
Melbourne is a great destination to visit with your dog, whether you’re on a short trip or part of a longer trip to Australia. Read on to find out everything you need to know about visiting Melbourne with your dog.
Day Trips With Dogs Melbourne
If you’re spending a whole week in Melbourne (lucky you!), I love this 7-day Melbourne itinerary. Just check which attractions allow dogs and which don’t.
Sometimes We Enjoy Being City Dogs, A Day Walking Around The Lake, Hitting The Beach And Then Luna Park For Some Playtime. Followed By Lunch At A Local Cafe.
While Melbourne’s many attractions are off-limits for those traveling with a pup, there are just as many activities in Melbourne that are dog-friendly. Here are my top five tips.
Having visited these famous colorful bathing boxes on previous trips to Melbourne, I wanted to visit them on a recent trip with my dog. Luckily, it’s dog-friendly, so it’s the perfect place to take Instagram photos with your four-legged friend!
Dogs are allowed here off the leash all day from April to October, before 10:00 or after 19:30 between November and March (from November to March dogs are not allowed between 10:00 and 19:30 .more info here).
Anyway, it’s best to get here early to avoid the crowds and get some great photos with your pup. The easiest way to get there from the city is by car. However, remember to pay for parking.
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If you’re looking for a great off-leash beach nearby, not much further north is Brighton Dog Beach on Sandown Street.
Most botanic gardens in Australia and the rest of the world do not allow dogs on their property. However, the Royal Victoria Botanic Gardens in Melbourne are more welcoming.
Dogs are still off-leash in the gardens, but are allowed to enter. Also, if you decide to take a boat trip on the lake, well-behaved dogs can join you for free.
No trip to Melbourne is complete without checking out some famous and ever-changing street art. There are good examples in many of the suburbs of the city, but the most famous destination in the city is Hosier Lane, near Federation Square.
Australia’s Pet-friendly Road Trips
Be sure to stop by Hosier Lane, where you’ll see new works plastered on the walls. But since it can get very crowded, which some dogs may not like, I recommend going a few blocks further east to the less crowded ACDC Lane and Duckboard Place.
Melbourne is home to one of Australia’s most unexpected World Heritage Sites: the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens, on the northern edge of the city. The building is one of the few remaining examples of show buildings built around the world in the late 1800s.
Although dogs may not be allowed inside (which we weren’t allowed in during our visit due to university exams), it’s still a great place to visit and have a look great outdoors (keep your pup on a leash). The lawns of Carlton Gardens are also perfect for a picnic.
From central Melbourne, the bayside of St Kilda is just a short tram or car ride away. It is a popular beach destination close to town and offers a variety of entertainment options.
Dog Friendly Experiences Along The Bellarine Peninsula
Your dog isn’t allowed in the Luna Park theme park (and he wouldn’t be happy with the squealing), but take a walk on the pier (dogs are allowed on a leash) or visit one of the surrounding beaches.
Dogs are only found on St Kilda Beach, east of the pier, during the Winter months. Instead, head west, near Quay Road, where dogs can be found on leashes all day, all year round. More information about the surrounding beaches can be found below.
If you come on a Sunday, check out the market along the Esplanade. Alternatively, you can enjoy coffee and cake at one of the cafes on Acland Street.
For more ideas on what to do in Melbourne with your pup, check out my list of 25 Dog Friendly Days Around Melbourne!
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Although my home town of Sydney doesn’t have the surfing beaches of Melbourne (head to Torquay at the start of the Great Ocean Road instead to find the closest surfing beaches to Melbourne), there are still good beaches nearby The coast of Port Phillip Bay is suitable Due to the calm waters make it ideal for visiting with a dog.
The rules about whether dogs have access to beaches depend on the individual city. There are usually clear signs, but sometimes you may need to look online at advice websites.
Dogs are often not found on the beaches in winter, but in summer this is limited to early and late afternoon, if at all. However, there are some beaches where dogs are allowed on a leash all year round.
For example, if you are traveling to St Kilda, dogs are only found on the main Bech St Kilda during the winter, but not at all on the sand between November and March.
Visiting Our Dog Friendly Winery
Instead, in summer, head south-east (to the section between Brooks Jetty and the north end of the St Kilda Marina car park) or north-west (to the section between St Kilda Quay and the drainage canal as northwest end) and continue west to St.
Many parks in Melbourne are dog friendly, but with the restriction that dogs must be kept on a lead. As I mentioned above, dogs are welcome in the Royal Botanic Gardens and Carlton Gardens. Another ribbon center option is the Flagstaff Gardens.
If you want to keep your dog on a leash, your options are more limited, although some new dog parks have been proposed (and in some cases opened) recently. You can find an overview and map on the city’s website.
There is a new fenced dog park, Kings Way Fenced Dog Park, with a gravel surface near Southbank a few blocks south of Crown Melbourne.
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On the north side of the city, head to Clayton Reserve on the western edge of North Melbourne. This gated grassy park is popular with dog owners in town and even has lights.
Two other unfenced options near the city are parts of Gosch’s Paddock, north of the Yarra from the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Yarra Park, to the east of the famous MCG Stadium.
For an excellent option further out of town (car required), head to Aranga Reserve, just off the M3 in Donvale. As well as a large fenced lawn, there is also a dog agility course.
Like most places in Australia, most shops in Melbourne will not be happy if you try to bring your dog inside. However, the rules have been relaxed for Chapel Street in South Yarra and Prahran, which recently became Melbourne’s first dog-friendly shopping centre.
Dog-friendly Melbourne: Visiting Melbourne With A Dog
When you’re walking down the street, look for the paw stickers that indicate pet-friendly businesses. Many fashion stores are pet-friendly (we popped into Peter Alexander to check out their latest pajama designs); Even some local banks allow pets in the house.
The stickers also clearly indicate which local restaurants and cafes allow dogs in the outdoor seating. (There’s a lot to choose from!) Check out the full list of participating businesses here and find out more about other dog-friendly shopping centers in Australia.
One area where Melbourne really shines as dog-friendly is its handling of public transport and pets. Unlike most Australian cities where pets are banned on public transport, pets are allowed on public transport in Melbourne with some restrictions.
With these generous rules, this means a quick trip to the Melbourne CBD using public transport with your pet from the metropolitan area (for dogs of all sizes) or from across the state (for those with small pets) is possible. . Plus, it’s easier to get around town with smaller pets.
Pets In Melbourne
The most attractive option is the city trains. Cats and dogs of all sizes are allowed on city trains. Cats and small dogs must travel in a container, while larger dogs are allowed on a leash and muzzle.
On regional trains on V/Linja, only small pets are allowed in containers on board. The container is limited to a maximum size of 56 cm long x 30 cm wide x 38 cm high and a maximum weight of 15 kg. It must be stored in a designated storage area and travel outside the standard is recommended; More information can be found here.
Small pets are allowed in a container on trams and buses throughout Victoria, including Melbourne. This also applies to the practical free tram network in the city.
For more information about taking pets on all public transport in Victoria, see the full policy.
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