Correction (4 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 4 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
An off-lead area is only off-lead on the council’s terms, and the sign at the gate wins. This page covers six places: three council parks with off-lead dog areas, and three places to eat that are listed as welcoming pets. Five are in Camberwell and one, Okra, is just over the border in Hawthorn East.
The park details come from Boroondara Council’s park pages, including the sports-time exceptions. The dining details come from AGFG tags, the Camberwell Junction directory and the venues’ own sites. Where a source does not say whether dogs sit inside or outside, we say so and leave it to you to ask.
We could not find separate off-lead hours for these parks; dogs must be off the ovals during organised sport, so check the council’s park page and dog order before you go.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Order this | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| South oval off-lead area | Highfield Park | see below | not printed here |
| Off-lead area, fenced playground | Cooper Reserve | see below | not printed here |
| Off-lead park with shade | Lynden Park | see below | not printed here |
| Pet Friendly cafe, AGFG tag | Choclatte | see below | not printed here |
| Pet Friendly pizza dinner | Boss Pizzeria | Marinara | $24 |
| Dogs welcome in outside area | Okra Restaurant | see below | not printed here |
Highfield Park — 840 Riversdale Road, Camberwell VIC 3124
Status per council: the off-lead dog area is the south oval only. The council also says not to allow your dog on sporting ovals during organised sports events, including matches and training. Its park page lists a playground and a barbecue, and flags an upgrade affecting the toilets and pavilion. Read the council’s park rules before you go, because they cover the playground too.
Off-leash status: South oval only, and not during organised sport; for any times, check the council order.
Cooper Reserve — 22 Green Street, Camberwell VIC 3124
Per council, Cooper Reserve has an off-lead dog area. OpenStreetMap spells the name Coopers Reserve, while the council page says Cooper Reserve. The council lists a fully fenced playground and toilets including an accessible toilet. Sports are scheduled on the oval, so dogs come off it at those times; check the council order for when.
Bring: Waste bags, because the council asks you to pick up after your dog and put it in a bin.
Lynden Park — 210 Highfield Road, Camberwell VIC 3124
As listed by the council, Lynden Park is a designated off-lead dog park, except when there are organised sports training sessions and matches on the ovals. The council also lists a playground and a barbecue, and says tall trees give plenty of shade. Its own park page gives a Camberwell address, though the council’s list page files it under Balwyn North.
Off-leash status: Off-lead per council except during organised sport on the ovals; check the council order for session times.
Choclatte — Rear, 827 Burke Road, Camberwell VIC 3124
AGFG tags Choclatte as Pet Friendly. The Camberwell Junction directory says you can eat indoors, partly indoors or totally outdoors under the giant Jacaranda tree in the laneway. We could not find a line on where dogs may sit. AGFG lists opening hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the same for every day of the week.
Inside or outside only: Not stated, so ask before you sit; the laneway is the outdoor option the directory names.
Boss Pizzeria — 25 Cookson Street, Camberwell VIC 3124
AGFG tags Boss Pizzeria as Pet Friendly. The venue’s website states that a party of more than 4 is seated in the outdoor dining area, and it calls that space undercover, with weatherproof awnings for shelter. We could not find a statement on which area dogs may use. The site lists dinner only: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 5.30pm to 9.00pm, and Friday 5.30pm to 10.00pm.
On the menu (copied from boss-pizzeria.com.au on 4 October 2026):
- Marinara: $24
- Margherita: $28
- Napoletana: $29
- Sopressa: $30
Bring: Your booking details, and ask when you book whether the dog can sit in the outdoor area.
Okra Restaurant — 180 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123
The Camberwell Junction directory quotes Okra: dogs are welcome in our outside area. That is the only dog line we found, so treat it as outside only. The restaurant is on Camberwell Road in Hawthorn East. Its own site says open daily 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, while the directory lists lunch and dinner sessions running to 10:30 pm, so confirm before you go.
Inside or outside only: Outside area only, going by the directory’s wording.
Quick answers
Where are the off-lead dog parks in Camberwell?
Per Boroondara Council, Highfield Park has an off-lead dog area on the south oval only, Cooper Reserve has an off-lead dog area, and Lynden Park is a designated off-lead dog park. All three have sports exceptions on the ovals, so read the council rules before letting the dog off.
Can I take my dog to a cafe or restaurant in Camberwell?
Okra Restaurant in Hawthorn East is quoted in the Camberwell Junction directory as welcoming dogs in its outside area. AGFG tags Choclatte and Boss Pizzeria as Pet Friendly but does not say whether that means inside or outside, so ask the venue when you book or arrive.
What should I bring to a Camberwell dog park?
Waste bags: the council’s off-lead dog park rules ask you to bring them to pick up after your dog and put it in a bin. The council also lists toilets at Cooper Reserve and a barbecue at Highfield Park and Lynden Park, and says Lynden Park has plenty of shade.
Are Camberwell off-lead parks off-lead all day?
Not necessarily. The council says Highfield Park’s south oval is not for dogs during organised sports events, Lynden Park is off-lead except during organised sports training and matches, and Cooper Reserve has scheduled sports on its oval. Check the council’s park page and dog order before you go.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 4 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, council pages, the Australian Good Food Guide, camberwellshopping.com.au and the places’ own websites. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 4 October 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours change, so check with the venue before you go. The cover photo is illustrative, from Unsplash, and does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Highfield Park: openstreetmap.org/28356204, boroondara.vic.gov.au/highfield-park, boroondara.vic.gov.au/lead-dog-parks
- Cooper Reserve: openstreetmap.org/28185289, boroondara.vic.gov.au/cooper-reserve, boroondara.vic.gov.au/lead-dog-parks
- Lynden Park: openstreetmap.org/37319770, boroondara.vic.gov.au/lynden-park
- Choclatte: agfg.com.au/choclatte-60091, camberwellshopping.com.au/choclatte
- Boss Pizzeria: boss-pizzeria.com.au, agfg.com.au/boss-pizzeria-52832, camberwellshopping.com.au/boss-pizzeria
- Okra Restaurant: okrarestaurant.com.au, camberwellshopping.com.au/okra
