Correction (5 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 5 October 2026.
Whether a reserve is truly off-leash is the council’s call, and whatever the sign at the gate says takes priority. This page lists four parks and reserves in and around Montmorency with the dog rules their councils print. None has a Montmorency address: Malcolm Blair Reserve is in Greensborough, and Barak Bushlands, Eltham Lower Park and Alistair Knox Park are in Eltham.
Each entry gives the listed status first, then what the council or map source says about leashes and no-dog areas. We found no off-leash hours in the text we read, so where times matter, check the council order and the on-site signs. Bring bags.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| A dog off lead zone listed by Banyule council | Malcolm Blair Reserve (with Malcolm Blair Dog Park) | 94 Karingal Drive, Greensborough |
| Bushland walking with off-leash areas shown on a council map | Barak Bushlands | Falkiner Street, Eltham |
| A fenced off-leash dog area, per Nillumbik council | Eltham Lower Park | Main Road, Eltham |
| A leash-only park with sculptures and an art trail section | Alistair Knox Park | 829 Main Road, Eltham |
Malcolm Blair Reserve (with Malcolm Blair Dog Park) — 94 Karingal Drive, Greensborough VIC 3088
Status: off-lead zone listed. Banyule council’s feature list for the reserve reads “Barbecues Baseball diamond Dog off lead zone Oval Play equipment Public toilets Tennis court”. OpenStreetMap maps the Malcolm Blair Dog Park separately, tagged as fenced (fence=yes) and operated by the City of Banyule. The reserve is in Greensborough, not Montmorency. We found no off-leash times, so check the council order.
Off-leash status: the council lists a “Dog off lead zone”, and the fence is an OpenStreetMap tag, so confirm the boundary on the signs.
Barak Bushlands — Falkiner Street, Eltham VIC 3095
Status: off-leash areas exist, on-leash rules apply elsewhere. Nillumbik council describes Barak Bushlands as “a peaceful open space and bushland reserve where visitors can enjoy native vegetation, creek-side views and access to the Diamond Creek Trail.” Its dog rules say that in off-leash areas dogs must be under effective control, which “means your dog needs to stay within constant sight, and respond when you call.” They also say “Your dog must be on a leash within five metres of shared paths, and in the Barak Bushlands Reserve area.”
Off-leash status: the council shows the off-leash and on-leash areas on a map image that we could not read as text, so check that map and the on-site signs.
Eltham Lower Park — Main Road, Eltham VIC 3095
Status: fenced off-leash area listed. Nillumbik council describes “the back oval (also referred to as oval number two or South oval, which is a fenced off-leash dog area)”, and says “Dogs are permitted off leash at Lenister Farm and in the Eltham Lower Park Dog Park”. The council page also says dogs are not permitted in the Eltham Lower Park Playground or the Eltham Copper Butterfly Playground at any time. It also says “Dogs are permitted off leash on ovals when not in use by schools or sporting clubs” and that dogs must remain on leash outside of the ovals and within five metres of shared paths. It lists two playgrounds and “a ridable miniature railway located at Eltham Lower Park.”
Inside or outside only: dogs are listed as not permitted in either playground at any time, per the council page.
Alistair Knox Park — 829 Main Road, Eltham VIC 3095
Status: on leash. Nillumbik council says “You can bring your dog to the park, but they must be on a leash, except where signed. They are not allowed within five metres of a playground or BBQ.” The council describes a park with “a playground, picnic tables, BBQs, several artistic sculptures and a section of the Heidelberg School Artist’s Trail.”
Bring: a leash, because the council lists this as a leash park, and keep to five metres from the playground and barbecues.
Quick answers
Where can my dog go off lead near Montmorency?
Banyule council lists a “Dog off lead zone” at Malcolm Blair Reserve in Greensborough. Nillumbik council lists a fenced off-leash dog area at Eltham Lower Park and says off-leash areas exist at Barak Bushlands, shown on a council map. Check the council order for times.
Are dogs allowed at Alistair Knox Park?
Yes, on a leash, except where signed, per Nillumbik council. Dogs are not allowed within five metres of a playground or barbecue. It is not an off-lead park.
Can dogs go in the playgrounds at Eltham Lower Park?
No. Nillumbik council’s page says dogs are not permitted in the Eltham Lower Park Playground or the Eltham Copper Butterfly Playground at any time.
Are any of these parks inside Montmorency?
No. Malcolm Blair Reserve is in Greensborough (3088), and the other three are in Eltham (3095). If you are keen on a fenced run, the two fenced options on this page are the dog park at Malcolm Blair (fenced per an OpenStreetMap tag) and the back oval at Eltham Lower Park, which the council lists as a fenced off-leash dog area, with off-leash use on ovals permitted when they are not in use by schools or sporting clubs.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 5 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, council pages, dvr.com.au and en.wikipedia.org. Facilities and opening hours change, so check the official page 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
- Malcolm Blair Reserve (with Malcolm Blair Dog Park): openstreetmap.org/28572008, openstreetmap.org/675976975, banyule.vic.gov.au/Malcolm-Blair-Reserve
- Barak Bushlands: openstreetmap.org/17372071, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Barak-Bushlands, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Parks-reserves-and-playgrounds
- Eltham Lower Park: openstreetmap.org/28242413, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Eltham-Lower-Park, dvr.com.au
- Alistair Knox Park: openstreetmap.org/1264438210, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Alistair-Knox-Park, en.wikipedia.org/Eltham,_Victoria, nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Parks-reserves-and-playgrounds
