Off Leash - One of the Best - Manningham
Stroll along the Yarra for miles with your best friend, stopping off at one of the dog-friendly cafes - The Bakery and The Warrandyte Cafe - for a pleasant break on a sunny day. This reserve is surely one of the best places in Melbourne to enjoy life with your dog. 
Click here to see a map of this walk.
Click here for more off leash parks in the City of Manningham.

On Leash - Whitehorse
Wurundjeri Walk in Blackburn is a lovely little on leash walk along the creek. Trees shade most of the walk, so it is also suitable for hotter days - bring a longer leash so your dog can cool off in the water!
Just follow the tracks closest to the creek and escape suburbia for a short time.

Woodlands Historic Park near the airport is a wonderful place to explore with your dog (on leash). Dogs are allowed in most of the park, apart from a fenced Conservation area. Along miles of walking tracks, there are creeks, boulders and ancient red gums to explore, while the aircraft provide a spectacle of their own. For the dogs, there are kangaroos, rabbits and horses to get excited about - so make sure they are on leash!

Off Leash - One of the Best - Whitehorse
Let your dog run wild with lots of doggy friends in this beautiful park. Safely separated from traffic in most parts, all you have to worry about is how to get your wet and muddy pooch home after he has enjoyed all Gardiners Creek has to offer. 
Even the playground is fenced off for extra peace of mind. In summer, the only problem you might face are well attended BBQs on the weekends. I'm not sure about your dog, but Giro in particular finds the smell of meat on the BBQs quite irresistible, particularly since someone actually fed him a large piece of meat there once! Maybe they thought it would make the dog go away. Needless to say, such an amazing reinforcement has made Giro check out that particular BBQ site very carefully every time we go there. 

For details on how to get there, where to park and other relevant information, please see this map of Gardiners Creek off leash reserve.

Click here for more off leash parks in the City of Whitehorse.

Darebin Parklands (co-managed by Darebin and Banyule) is a beautiful space to explore with your dog. On approximately 33 hectares and only 8 km from the CBD, there are wetlands, ponds, bushland, walking tracks and lots of open space. 
If this sounds great, it gets even better: There is a large, safe off leash area along Darebin Creek at the northern end of the park. Dogs have access to the creek at two points, so remember to bring a towel! The off leash area has no walking tracks so come in your wellies if the weather has been wet.
More information about Darebin Parklands
Reviewed by Simone and Leya
Click here for more off leash parks in the City of Banyule.