The short answer
- Summer rules are on now: 1 November to 31 March in Port Phillip, Bayside and Kingston (to 30 April in Hobsons Bay). They follow fixed dates, not daylight saving.
- Off-lead all day, even in summer: Sandown Street Beach (Brighton), Sandringham Harbour, Ricketts Point between McGregor Avenue and Beaumaris Yacht Club, St Kilda West Beach, and North Mentone between Charman Road and Plummer Road.
- Off-lead early and late in summer: Port Melbourne (Yacht Club to Station Pier), Middle Park and Elwood from 7.30pm to 10am; Brighton, Sandringham and Black Rock before 10am and after 7.30pm; most Kingston beaches sunrise to 10am.
- No dogs in summer: Hampton Beach all day, the middle of St Kilda Beach, and the Mordialloc no-dog zone (all year). Williamstown and central Altona beaches are on-lead only and dog-free from 10am to 9.30pm.
- Before you unclip: off-lead means the sand. Paths, boardwalks and car parks are on-lead, and the sign at the beach is the final word.
Every Melbourne dog beach, with summer and winter times
Each row comes from the council's own page, map or order, linked in the last column. Times are written the way the council publishes them. “Summer” is 1 November to 31 March unless the row says otherwise, and “winter” is the rest of the year.
Checked against each council's official page in November 2026.
| Beach | Council | Summer | Winter | Good to know | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Melbourne Beach (Port Melbourne dog beach) Port Melbourne | Port Phillip | Dogs allowed on the sand between Port Melbourne Yacht Club and Lagoon Pier (no time limit listed). Between the Yacht Club and Station Pier: 7.30pm to 10am only. No dogs anywhere else on the beach, on or off lead | Dogs allowed on the sand | Lead on along the beach path and before you leave the sand. | Port Phillip council page |
| Sandridge Beach Port Melbourne | Port Phillip | Dogs allowed on the sand between the rock groyne opposite Barak Road and the rock groyne opposite Cumberland Road only | Dogs allowed on the sand | A defined stretch between two groynes. The rest of Sandridge Beach is dog-free in summer. | Port Phillip council page |
| Middle Park Beach Middle Park | Port Phillip | 7.30pm to 10am, between Kerferd Road Pier and Langridge Street only | Dogs allowed on the sand | Dogs are prohibited at Frank and Mary Crean Reserve, Middle Park, all year. | Port Phillip council page |
| St Kilda West Beach St Kilda West | Port Phillip | Off-lead on the sand at all times | Off-lead on the sand at all times | The council calls it a year-round dog beach. Dogs are not allowed on the dune area at West Beach or on St Kilda Foreshore Reserve. | Port Phillip council page |
| St Kilda Beach (two sections) St Kilda | Port Phillip | Dogs allowed on the sand along Pier Road to the drainage channel at the north-west end of Pier Road, and between Brooks Jetty and the northern end of the St Kilda Marina car park. No dogs elsewhere on St Kilda Beach | Dogs allowed on the sand | The main swimming beach between the pier and the Marina is dog-free all summer. The council's web page and map word this section differently, so check the signs. | Port Phillip council page |
| Elwood Beach (northern section) Elwood | Port Phillip | 7.30pm to 10am, between the rock groyne south of Point Ormond and the rock groyne in front of Elwood Angling Club. No dogs elsewhere on Elwood Beach | Dogs allowed on the sand | The summer window here was widened to 7.30pm to 10am in a recent Port Phillip review. | Port Phillip council page |
| Sandown Street Beach (Brighton dog beach) Brighton | Bayside | Off-lead at all times | Off-lead at all times | One of three Bayside beaches the council lists as off-lead all day, every day. | Bayside council page |
| Brighton Beach, Middle Brighton Beach and Holloway Bend Beach Brighton | Bayside | Off-lead before 10am and after 7.30pm. Dog-free 10am to 7.30pm | Greater off-lead access (check the council map) | Three neighbouring beaches with the same summer times. | Bayside council page |
| Dendy Beach Brighton | Bayside | Off-lead sunrise to 10am. Dog-free 10am to 7.30pm. On-lead after 7.30pm to sunrise | Greater off-lead access (check the council map) | The bathing boxes beach. Evenings are on-lead only, unlike Brighton Beach next door. | Bayside council page |
| Sandringham Harbour Hampton / Sandringham | Bayside | Off-lead at all times | Off-lead at all times | Bayside lists it as an all-day off-lead beach. Hampton Beach right next to it is dog-free all summer. | Bayside council page |
| Hampton Beach Hampton | Bayside | No dogs at any time | Greater off-lead access (check the council map) | The only Bayside beach that is dog-free all summer. | Bayside council page |
| Sandringham Beach, Edward Street Beach and Black Rock Beach Sandringham / Black Rock | Bayside | Off-lead before 10am and after 7.30pm. Dog-free 10am to 7.30pm | Greater off-lead access (check the council map) | Same summer times as Brighton Beach. | Bayside council page |
| Sandringham Beach Life Saving Club Sandringham | Bayside | Off-lead sunrise to 10am. Dog-free 10am to 7.30pm. On-lead after 7.30pm to sunrise | Greater off-lead access (check the council map) | Evening visits are on-lead here, so walk a little further for an off-lead evening run. | Bayside council page |
| Ricketts Point, McGregor Avenue to Beaumaris Yacht Club Beaumaris | Bayside | Off-lead at all times | Off-lead at all times | Inside a marine sanctuary: dogs are prohibited on the intertidal rock platforms and seagrass beds at all times. Neighbouring Ricketts Point sections have tighter rules. | Bayside council page |
| Altona Dog Beach (next to PA Burns Reserve) Altona | Hobsons Bay | Dogs welcome all year (council visitor page) | Dogs welcome all year (council visitor page) | Shallow water, a narrow strip of sand at high tide. Parking north of the Altona Sports Club. PA Burns Reserve next door has a fenced off-lead area. | Hobsons Bay council page |
| Altona Beach, between Romawi and Mount Streets Altona | Hobsons Bay | 1 November to 30 April: no dogs 10am to 9.30pm. On-lead at other times | On-lead at all times | The main swimming beach on the Esplanade. Not an off-lead beach at any time of year. | Hobsons Bay council page |
| Williamstown Beach, Life Saving Club to Sebastian Beach Grill & Bar Williamstown | Hobsons Bay | 1 November to 30 April: no dogs 10am to 9.30pm. On-lead at other times | On-lead at all times | On-lead only. For off-lead space nearby, the council lists Gloucester Reserve and Cyril Curtain Reserve. | Hobsons Bay council page |
| North Mentone, Charman Road to Plummer Road (Mentone dog beach) Mentone | Kingston | 24-hour off-lead on the sand | 24-hour off-lead on the sand | The only Kingston stretch that stays off-lead all day through summer. Off-lead means the sand: paths are on-lead. | Kingston council page |
| Mentone, Parkdale and Mordialloc (Plummer Road to Bay Street) Mentone to Mordialloc | Kingston | Off-lead on the sand sunrise to 10am. No dogs on the sand 10am to 7.30pm. On-lead 7.30pm to sunrise | On-lead 11am to 3pm. Off-lead on the sand at all other times | Lead on before you reach the off-lead area. | Kingston council page |
| Aspendale, Edithvale, Chelsea, Bonbeach and Carrum (Mordialloc Creek to Old Post Office Lane car park) Aspendale to Carrum | Kingston | Off-lead on the sand sunrise to 10am. No dogs on the sand 10am to 7.30pm. On-lead 7.30pm to sunrise | On-lead 11am to 3pm. Off-lead on the sand at all other times | A long run of beach with the same rules all the way down. | Kingston council page |
| Carrum southern end (Old Post Office Lane car park to Osprey Lane) Carrum | Kingston | Off-lead on the sand 7.30pm to 10am. No dogs on the sand 10am to 7.30pm | Shown as Carrum off leash on the winter map (check the signs for times) | Unlike the beaches to the north, evenings here are off-lead in summer. | Kingston council page |
| Werribee South Beach off-lead area Werribee South | Wyndham | Off-lead in the signed area (no hours listed by the council) | Off-lead in the signed area (no hours listed by the council) | A designated stretch, not the whole beach. Dogs are on-lead everywhere else unless signed. | Wyndham council page |
A note on the winter column. Port Phillip says only that dogs are “allowed on all beaches” from 1 April to 31 October, and Bayside says winter brings “greater off-leash access” and points owners to its interactive map, so we have not written winter off-lead times that those councils do not spell out. Two places people expect to see here are left out on purpose: Point Cook Coastal Park and Campbells Cove, because we could not confirm their dog rules on an official page.
Best Melbourne dog beach by use case
| If you want | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A midday swim in summer | Sandown Street Beach, Brighton; Sandringham Harbour; St Kilda West; North Mentone | Their councils list them as off-lead at all times, all year. |
| Close to the CBD | Port Melbourne Beach (Yacht Club to Lagoon Pier) or St Kilda West | Inner-city beaches with dog access even in summer. |
| The western suburbs | Altona Dog Beach, next to PA Burns Reserve | Open to dogs all year, with a fenced off-lead area next door. |
| A long morning run | The Kingston coast from Plummer Road to Carrum | Kilometres of sand that are off-lead from sunrise to 10am in summer and most of the day in winter. |
| An evening walk after work | Elwood, Middle Park or Port Melbourne (to Station Pier); Brighton Beach | Off-lead from 7.30pm in summer. |
| A first swim or a nervous dog | Altona Dog Beach, or Sandringham Harbour on a weekday morning | Shallow, calm bay water. Altona is described by the council as shallow for dogs of all sizes. |
| Outer west, near Werribee | Werribee South Beach off-lead area | A signed off-lead stretch opened by Wyndham City. |
Why every beach has different rules: the councils
Victorian dog law comes from the Domestic Animals Act 1994, but each council decides which of its beaches are off-lead, on-lead or dog-free, through orders made under that Act. Port Phillip Bay's Melbourne shoreline is split between several councils, so two beaches a few kilometres apart can run on completely different hours. These are the councils behind the beaches in the table.
City of Port Phillip
Port Melbourne, Sandridge, Middle Park, St Kilda West, St Kilda and Elwood. From 1 April to 31 October dogs are allowed on all its beaches. From 1 November to 31 March dogs are allowed only at set places and times, and are prohibited on or off lead outside them. South Melbourne Beach is a no-dog zone in summer. Lead on before you leave the sand. Dog parks and beaches and the beach map.
Bayside City Council
Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock and Beaumaris. Bayside is an on-leash municipality outside its signed off-lead areas. Three beaches are off-lead all day, every day: Sandown Street, Sandringham Harbour and Ricketts Point (McGregor Avenue to Beaumaris Yacht Club). After a recent review, the council decided at its August meeting to make no changes to its beach rules (review page). Dog-friendly or dog-free beaches.
City of Kingston
Mentone, Parkdale, Mordialloc, Aspendale, Edithvale, Chelsea, Bonbeach and Carrum. Summer regulations run 1 November to 31 March and winter regulations 1 April to 31 October, each with its own map. There is a 24-hour, all-year no-dog zone in Mordialloc between Mordialloc Creek and the end of Bay Street. Canals and waterways are not off-lead areas. Dog ownership.
Hobsons Bay City Council
Altona and Williamstown. The two main swimming beaches are dog-free from 10am to 9.30pm from 1 November to 30 April, and on-lead at other times. Altona Dog Beach next to PA Burns Reserve is the dog beach, and off-lead parks include Burns Reserve, Gloucester Reserve and Cyril Curtain Reserve. Dog off-leash locations.
Wyndham City
Werribee South. Under its Dog Off Leash Plan, Wyndham has opened a dog off-lead area at Werribee South Beach. Elsewhere in Wyndham dogs are on-lead unless an area is signed off-lead. Wyndham off-lead areas update.
Further down the bay
Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula run their own beach rules and have their own pages on our site: see dogs in Frankston and dogs on the Mornington Peninsula.
Melbourne dog beaches in detail
1. Port Melbourne dog beach
City of Port Phillip · Part all-day, part timed in summer · Calm bay water
In summer, Port Melbourne Beach has two zones. The City of Port Phillip allows dogs on the sand between Port Melbourne Yacht Club and Lagoon Pier, with no time limit listed. Between the Yacht Club and Station Pier, dogs are allowed on the sand from 7.30pm to 10am only. Anywhere else on the beach, dogs cannot go on the sand from 1 November to 31 March, on or off lead.
From 1 April to 31 October, dogs are allowed on all Port Phillip beaches. Dogs must be on a lead on the beach paths and boardwalks all year, and the council asks you to clip the lead on before you leave the sand. Perce White Reserve in Port Melbourne is a dog-prohibited environmental area all year.
Best for: inner-city dogs who need a midday swim in summer. Head for the Lagoon Pier end.
2. Altona dog beach
Hobsons Bay · Open to dogs all year · Shallow water
Hobsons Bay City Council describes Altona Dog Beach as allowing dogs “to frolic freely throughout the year”. It sits further up the road from the main Altona Beach, next to PA Burns Reserve, with parking just north of the Altona Sports Club and south of the Pines Scout Camp. At high tide there is a narrow strip of sand, and the council notes the water is shallow, which suits dogs of all sizes.
PA Burns Reserve next door has a fenced off-lead area, and the council lists Burns Reserve as an unrestricted off-lead location. Horses with a permit can also exercise on the beach at PA Burns Reserve, so keep an eye out and call your dog back if one appears.
The catch: people often mix this up with the main Altona Beach on the Esplanade. Between Romawi and Mount Streets, dogs are banned from 10am to 9.30pm from 1 November to 30 April, and must be on a lead at all other times. That stretch is never off-lead.
3. Brighton dog beach (Sandown Street Beach)
Bayside · Off-lead at all times · Bay water
When people say “Brighton dog beach”, the one that never closes is Sandown Street Beach. Bayside City Council lists it among its three all-day off-lead beaches, open at all times through summer and winter.
The other Brighton beaches change in summer. Brighton Beach, Middle Brighton Beach and Holloway Bend Beach are off-lead before 10am and after 7.30pm, and dog-free from 10am to 7.30pm. Dendy Beach, the beach with the bathing boxes, is off-lead only from sunrise to 10am, dog-free from 10am to 7.30pm and on-lead from 7.30pm to sunrise.
Best for: a reliable all-day option in the south-east. Expect company on hot weekends, since it is one of the few beaches open to dogs at midday.
4. Mentone dog beach (North Mentone)
City of Kingston · 24-hour off-lead all year · Sand only
The City of Kingston foreshore map shows the sand between Charman Road and Plummer Road in Mentone as a 24-hour off-lead area. It is the same on the winter map, so this short stretch is the one Kingston beach where you never have to check the clock.
South of Plummer Road the rest of Mentone, Parkdale and Mordialloc (to Bay Street) follow the seasonal rules. In summer: off-lead on the sand from sunrise to 10am, no dogs on the sand from 10am to 7.30pm, and on-lead from 7.30pm to sunrise. In winter: on-lead from 11am to 3pm and off-lead at all other times.
The catch: off-lead means the sand only. Kingston requires dogs on a lead on bike tracks and footpaths, including the paths along the foreshore reserve, and dogs must be on a lead before reaching an off-lead area.
5. St Kilda and St Kilda West
City of Port Phillip · Year-round at St Kilda West, set sections at St Kilda
St Kilda West Beach is the City of Port Phillip's year-round dog beach: dogs are welcome on the sand at all times of the year. Dogs are not allowed on the environmentally sensitive dune area at West Beach, and the council's map marks St Kilda Foreshore Reserve as a no-dog zone.
On St Kilda Beach itself, summer access is limited to two sections: along Pier Road to the drainage channel at the north-west end of Pier Road, and between Brooks Jetty and the northern end of the St Kilda Marina car park. The main swimming beach in between is dog-free from 1 November to 31 March. The council's web page and map word this section differently, so check the signs. In winter, dogs are allowed on all of it.
6. Sandringham Harbour
Bayside · Off-lead at all times · Bay water
Bayside City Council lists Sandringham Harbour as an all-day off-lead beach. It is right beside Hampton Beach, which is dog-free at all times in summer, so check which side of the harbour you are on.
The rest of Sandringham is seasonal. Sandringham Beach and Edward Street Beach are off-lead before 10am and after 7.30pm in summer. The stretch at Sandringham Beach Life Saving Club is off-lead from sunrise to 10am and on-lead after 7.30pm. All of them are dog-free from 10am to 7.30pm.
7. Williamstown beach
Hobsons Bay · On-lead only · Dog-free in the middle of the day in summer
Williamstown Beach is not an off-lead beach. Hobsons Bay City Council bans dogs from the beach between the Life Saving Club and Sebastian Beach Grill & Bar from 10am to 9.30pm, seven days a week, from 1 November to 30 April. At all other times, dogs must be on a lead.
For off-lead space nearby, the council lists Gloucester Reserve on The Esplanade and Cyril Curtain Reserve (Thompson Street and Giffard Street) as unrestricted off-lead areas. They are foreshore reserves rather than beaches, so read the signs before letting your dog onto the sand next to them.
8. Elwood and Middle Park
City of Port Phillip · 7.30pm to 10am in summer
At Elwood, the City of Port Phillip allows dogs on the sand from 7.30pm to 10am in summer, between the rock groyne south of Point Ormond and the rock groyne in front of Elwood Angling Club. Outside those hours, and anywhere else on Elwood Beach, dogs are not allowed on the sand on or off lead. These times replaced a shorter early-morning window after the council's recent review of its dog rules.
Middle Park runs on the same summer window: 7.30pm to 10am, between Kerferd Road Pier and Langridge Street. Both beaches are open to dogs all day in winter.
9. Werribee dog beach
Wyndham · Signed off-lead area
Wyndham City has opened a dog off-lead area at Werribee South Beach as part of its Dog Off Leash Plan. It is a signed section of the foreshore, not the whole beach, and the council does not publish time limits for it. Wyndham's off-lead rules require a lead going in and out, a registration tag on the collar or lead, and recall when other people or dogs are near. They also say dogs must not go into waterways, creeks, streams, rivers or ponds, so read the beach signs on whether your dog may swim.
10. Carrum, Ricketts Point and the Kingston coast
Kingston and Bayside · Long stretches, mixed rules
From Mordialloc Creek to the Old Post Office Lane car park in Carrum, the Kingston summer map gives Aspendale, Edithvale, Chelsea, Bonbeach and Carrum the same rules as Mentone: off-lead from sunrise to 10am, no dogs on the sand from 10am to 7.30pm, on-lead from 7.30pm to sunrise. The southern end of Carrum, from the Old Post Office Lane car park to Osprey Lane, is a restricted off-lead area in summer: off-lead on the sand from 7.30pm to 10am and no dogs from 10am to 7.30pm.
At Ricketts Point in Beaumaris, the stretch from McGregor Avenue to Beaumaris Yacht Club is off-lead at all times. The neighbouring sections are on-lead or dog-free in summer, and the whole area is a marine sanctuary where Bayside prohibits dogs from the intertidal rocky platforms and seagrass beds at all times.
Looking for a beach buddy?
Browse adoptable dogs from Melbourne's shelters, council pounds and foster-based rescues in one place. Filter by size, age and energy to find a dog that suits early-morning beach runs.
Browse Dogs in Melbourne →Melbourne beaches where dogs are banned
The most common mix-up is assuming a beach that took dogs in winter still does in January. These bans come straight from the council pages:
- Hampton Beach (Bayside). No dogs at any time from 1 November to 31 March.
- The middle of St Kilda Beach, South Melbourne Beach, and most of Port Melbourne, Sandridge, Middle Park and Elwood (Port Phillip). Dog-free in summer outside the sections and times in the table.
- The Mordialloc no-dog zone (Kingston). Between Mordialloc Creek and the end of Bay Street, dogs are not allowed on the foreshore reserve at any time of year. On-lead dogs can use the path on Beach Road.
- Williamstown Beach and central Altona Beach (Hobsons Bay). Dog-free from 10am to 9.30pm from 1 November to 30 April, and on-lead only at other times.
- Every Bayside and Kingston beach from 10am to 7.30pm in summer, except the all-day off-lead beaches in the table.
- Environmental areas, all year. Perce White Reserve in Port Melbourne, the dune at West Beach St Kilda, and the intertidal rock platforms and seagrass beds of Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
For grass off-lead areas near the dog-free beaches, see our guide to Melbourne dog parks and off-lead areas.
How dog beach rules change through the year
Unlike some Sydney beaches, Melbourne dog beach times are not tied to daylight saving. The councils switch on fixed dates:
- Port Phillip, Bayside and Kingston: summer rules 1 November to 31 March, winter rules 1 April to 31 October.
- Hobsons Bay: the summer restriction on Williamstown and central Altona beaches runs 1 November to 30 April, a month longer.
- Year-round beaches: Sandown Street, Sandringham Harbour, Ricketts Point (McGregor Avenue to Beaumaris Yacht Club), St Kilda West and North Mentone do not change.
The summer windows are built around the heat and the crowds. Melbourne summers average roughly 14 to 27 degrees but spike into heatwave days above 40 degrees, and dry sand in the middle of the day can burn paw pads. The early-morning and evening slots are the safer time for a dog anyway.
Safety at a Melbourne dog beach
Heat and hot sand. Press the back of your hand on the sand for a few seconds. If you cannot hold it there, it is too hot for paws. Bring fresh water and a bowl, because a dog that drinks seawater can get an upset stomach. Never leave a dog in a parked car at the beach on a hot day. Heatstroke needs a vet straight away.
Water quality after rain. EPA Victoria's advice is not to swim in Port Phillip Bay for 48 hours after rain, or longer if drains are still flowing or the water is murky or smells bad. The EPA Beach Report forecasts water quality for 36 Port Phillip Bay beaches twice a day in the warmer months. Check it before a swim, keep your dog away from stormwater drains, and rinse it with fresh water afterwards.
Paralysis tick is a low risk here. The Australian paralysis tick is an eastern-seaboard species and does not establish in Melbourne's climate, so it is not a routine beach worry in Melbourne the way it is on the NSW coast. Think about tick prevention before you take your dog to the NSW coast or East Gippsland, and ask your vet about flea, worm and heartworm prevention, which matter year-round in Victoria.
Wildlife. Councils keep dogs out of dunes, rock platforms and seagrass for a reason. Bayside asks owners to stop dogs digging or chasing shorebirds, and Wyndham's off-lead rules say dogs must not chase or attack wildlife. Keep your dog away from birds on the sand, and away from any sick or dead bird or marine animal.
Things on the sand. Fishing line and hooks collect near piers and boat ramps such as Station Pier, Lagoon Pier and the Altona boat ramp. Steer your dog away from anything washed up, and call your vet if it swallows something or seems unwell.
Know your emergency vet. Melbourne has 24/7 emergency hospitals, including the Animal Emergency Centre in Mount Waverley and the Animal Referral Hospital at Essendon Fields (both via emergencyvet.com.au) and Advanced Vetcare in Kensington. Lort Smith in North Melbourne runs an emergency vet from 8am to 10pm every day. Save the closest one to your favourite beach in your phone before you go.
When is my new rescue dog ready for off-lead at the beach?
A beach is the hardest recall test there is: open space, water, birds, food smells and other dogs all at once. A dog that has just changed homes does not yet know its name well or trust you to come back to. Most newly adopted dogs need several weeks of on-lead walks and practice before off-lead freedom on sand is a fair ask. Every Melbourne council in this guide also requires effective control in off-lead areas, which means your dog comes back when called.
- Read the paperwork. Rescue profiles and adoption notes often say how a dog gets on with other dogs, and some say a dog is not suitable for off-lead areas. Take that seriously. The foster carer or shelter knows the dog better than you do in week one.
- Start on a long line. A long line on a quiet stretch, such as Altona Dog Beach or North Mentone early on a weekday, lets your dog paddle and sniff while you practise recalls.
- Use winter. From April to October more sand is open for longer and the beaches are quieter, which makes it the easiest season to build beach manners.
- Watch for stress. A dog that freezes, hides behind you, or goes stiff around other dogs is telling you it is not ready. Leave calmly and keep the outing short.
- Greyhounds stay on-lead. In Victoria a pet greyhound must be on a lead in public at all times, including off-lead beaches (Agriculture Victoria). Our greyhound recall guide for Melbourne covers where you can safely let one run.
Make sure your dog is microchipped and registered with your council before its first beach trip, and that its registration tag is on its collar. Wyndham requires the tag in off-lead areas, and Port Phillip fines owners whose dog is not wearing one. Our Melbourne dog registration guide explains how Victorian council registration works for a newly adopted dog.
Beach-by-beach guides
Port Melbourne Dog Beach
The summer zones and times between Lagoon Pier and Station Pier.
Altona Dog Beach
The dog beach by PA Burns Reserve, open to dogs all year.
Brighton Dog Beach
Sandown Street off-lead beach and the summer times for the rest of Brighton.
Mentone Dog Beach
North Mentone is off-lead 24 hours all year; the rest of Kingston has seasonal times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best dog beach in Melbourne?
It depends on the time of year, but in summer the most useful Melbourne dog beaches are the ones that stay off-lead all day: Sandown Street Beach in Brighton, Sandringham Harbour, Ricketts Point between McGregor Avenue and Beaumaris Yacht Club (all Bayside), St Kilda West Beach (Port Phillip) and North Mentone between Charman Road and Plummer Road (Kingston). Most other bay beaches close to dogs in the middle of the day from 1 November to 31 March.
What are the dog rules at Port Melbourne dog beach?
From 1 November to 31 March, the City of Port Phillip allows dogs on the sand between Port Melbourne Yacht Club and Lagoon Pier, and between the Yacht Club and Station Pier only from 7.30pm to 10am. Dogs cannot go on the sand anywhere else on Port Melbourne Beach in summer, on or off lead. From 1 April to 31 October, dogs are allowed on all Port Phillip beaches.
Can dogs go on Altona beach?
Yes at Altona Dog Beach, which Hobsons Bay City Council describes as open to dogs throughout the year, next to PA Burns Reserve and north of the Altona Sports Club. The main Altona Beach between Romawi and Mount Streets is different: dogs are not allowed there from 10am to 9.30pm between 1 November and 30 April, and must be on a lead at all other times.
Is Brighton dog beach off-lead all day?
Sandown Street Beach in Brighton is. Bayside City Council lists it as off-lead at all times, all year. Brighton Beach, Middle Brighton Beach and Holloway Bend Beach are only off-lead before 10am and after 7.30pm in summer (1 November to 31 March), and dog-free between 10am and 7.30pm. Dendy Beach is off-lead from sunrise to 10am and on-lead in the evening.
Where is the Mentone dog beach?
The Mentone dog beach is the stretch of sand between Charman Road and Plummer Road, which the City of Kingston maps as a 24-hour off-lead area all year. South of Plummer Road the seasonal rules apply: in summer, off-lead from sunrise to 10am, no dogs on the sand from 10am to 7.30pm and on-lead from 7.30pm to sunrise; in winter, on-lead from 11am to 3pm and off-lead at other times.
Can I take my dog to St Kilda beach?
In summer, only to set sections. From 1 November to 31 March the City of Port Phillip allows dogs on the sand along Pier Road to the drainage channel at the north-west end of Pier Road, and between Brooks Jetty and the northern end of the St Kilda Marina car park. The rest of St Kilda Beach is dog-free in summer. The council's web page and map word this section differently, so check the signs. St Kilda West Beach is a year-round dog beach, and in winter dogs are allowed on all Port Phillip beaches.
Can dogs go on Williamstown beach?
Only on a lead, and not in the middle of the day in summer. Hobsons Bay City Council bans dogs from Williamstown Beach between the Life Saving Club and Sebastian Beach Grill & Bar from 10am to 9.30pm, 1 November to 30 April, and requires a lead at all other times. For off-lead space in Williamstown, the council lists Gloucester Reserve on The Esplanade and Cyril Curtain Reserve as unrestricted off-lead areas.
Is Sandringham beach off-lead for dogs?
Sandringham Harbour is off-lead at all times, all year, according to Bayside City Council. Sandringham Beach and Edward Street Beach are off-lead before 10am and after 7.30pm in summer and dog-free in between. The stretch at Sandringham Beach Life Saving Club is off-lead from sunrise to 10am and on-lead in the evening during summer.
What time can dogs go on Elwood beach?
From 1 November to 31 March, dogs can go on the sand at Elwood from 7.30pm to 10am, and only between the rock groyne south of Point Ormond and the rock groyne in front of Elwood Angling Club. Outside those hours, and anywhere else on Elwood Beach, dogs are not allowed on the sand on or off lead. From 1 April to 31 October, dogs are allowed on all Port Phillip beaches.
Is there a dog beach in Werribee?
Yes. Wyndham City has opened a dog off-lead area at Werribee South Beach. It is a signed section of the beach, not the whole foreshore, and the council does not list time limits for it. Keep your dog on a lead going in and out, and on a lead elsewhere along the Werribee South foreshore unless a sign says otherwise.
Do Melbourne dog beach times change with daylight saving?
No. Port Phillip, Bayside and Kingston switch on fixed dates, not daylight saving: summer rules run from 1 November to 31 March and winter rules from 1 April to 31 October. Hobsons Bay runs its summer restriction a month longer, from 1 November to 30 April. The summer rules are in force now.
Can a greyhound go off-lead at a Melbourne dog beach?
No. In Victoria a pet greyhound must be on a lead at all times in public, including council off-lead areas and off-lead beaches. Agriculture Victoria sets out the rule, and the City of Port Phillip and Wyndham City both repeat it for their off-lead areas. Pet greyhounds no longer need a muzzle in public.
When is a newly adopted rescue dog ready for a dog beach?
When it comes back to you reliably, which for most newly adopted dogs takes weeks of on-lead walks and long-line practice rather than days. A dog that has just changed homes may not know its new name or trust you yet, and an open beach with water, birds and other dogs is the hardest place to test recall. Start on a long line at a quiet time, and read what the rescue told you about the dog with other dogs before you unclip.
Find a dog to share the sand with
Current listings from Melbourne shelters and rescues, refreshed regularly. Many listings say how a dog gets on with other dogs, which helps you plan those first beach trips.
See Adoptable Dogs in Melbourne →Keep exploring
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Every adoptable dog we list across Melbourne's shelters and foster-based rescues.