Dog walking across Port Phillip.
Six dog beaches, and the rules on five of them change on 1 November. We know which stretch of sand your dog can be on, on which date, at which hour — because the fines here are real.
- 10Suburbs covered
- 6Dog beaches
- 1Year-round dog beach
- 5.0★Google reviews
We walk the summer calendar.
We know the 1 November switch
From April to October dogs are welcome on every beach here. From 1 November most of that closes. We change routes on the day, not a fortnight later.
We know which groyne
Summer access is measured pier to pier and groyne to groyne. Barak Road to Cumberland Road. Point Ormond to the Angling Club. Get it wrong and it's an on-the-spot fine.
Early and late in summer
Several beaches only allow dogs between 7.30pm and 10am over summer. Our Port Phillip runs shift earlier and later to suit — which is better in the heat anyway.
Melbourne's bayside strip, rules and all.
Port Phillip is a genuinely great place to walk a dog, and also the trickiest council we work in. Ten suburbs packed along the bay from Port Melbourne down to Elwood, with six beaches dogs can use — but a set of seasonal restrictions that catch out even long-time locals every November.
The default here is on-leash everywhere, including streets, paths and walkways. Off-leash is the exception, not the rule, and council runs proactive patrols seven days a week. Dogs must be on-leash on beach pathways and boardwalks, and back on the lead before they leave the sand.
That's the boring half. The good half is that from 1 April to 31 October, every beach in the council is open to dogs — and St Kilda West stays open all year. A winter beach run along the bay is about as good as a walk gets in this city.
Port Phillip's dog beaches.
From 1 April to 31 October, dogs are allowed on all Port Phillip beaches. From 1 November to 31 March, the restrictions below apply and dogs are prohibited outside them.
St Kilda West Beach
The year-round one. Dogs welcome on the sand at all times of the year, no summer date or time limits. Our default beach between November and March.
Open all yearElwood Beach
Open sand April to October. Over summer, dogs only between 7.30pm and 10am, and only between the groyne south of Point Ormond and the groyne at the Elwood Angling Club.
Summer limitsPort Melbourne Beach
Summer access between the Port Melbourne Yacht Club and Lagoon Pier, plus 7.30pm to 10am as far as Station Pier. Handy for the Bay Street end of our route.
Summer limitsMiddle Park Beach
Over summer, dogs are allowed on the sand from 7.30pm to 10am only, between Kerferd Road Pier and Langridge Street. Early morning here is beautiful and almost empty.
Summer limitsSandridge Beach
Summer access is limited to the stretch between the rock groyne opposite Barak Road and the rock groyne opposite Cumberland Road. Nowhere else on Sandridge.
Summer limitsAlbert Park Lake
Managed by Parks Victoria, not the council, and on-leash throughout — though there's space to properly stretch a dog's legs. The lake circuit is a solid wet-weather option.
On-leashSimple prices, door to door.
Pick-up and drop-off in Port Phillip are included in every price.
Adventure Daycare
$79per adventure
2 to 3 hours door to door, van ride included. Mostly private, secure fields with a small group matched by energy.
Solo walks
$7045 min
Or $80 for 60 minutes. One-on-one at your dog’s pace, ideal for puppies, seniors and nervous dogs.
Home visits
$7045 min
Or $80 for 60 minutes. Feeding, toilet breaks, play and company while you’re out.
Second dog from the same home 50% off · Free meet & greet first · See full pricing
All of Port Phillip.
Click your suburb for local beaches, pick-up notes and rates.
- St Kilda
- St Kilda East
- St Kilda West
- Elwood
- Balaclava
- Ripponlea
- Albert Park
- Middle Park
- South Melbourne
- Port Melbourne
“Would highly recommend Chilly's for dog walking. Jess has been walking my dog Daisy regularly and has even taken her on a few adventure trips — she absolutely loves it! Very professional and reliable service.”
Port Phillip FAQs.
Only in specific spots at specific times. From 1 April to 31 October dogs are allowed on all Port Phillip beaches. From 1 November to 31 March they're prohibited on the sand entirely except in named sections, and several of those are limited to 7.30pm until 10am. Council patrols seven days a week and fines apply.
St Kilda West is the year-round dog beach. Dogs are welcome on the sand at all times of the year, with no summer date or time restriction. It's where we take most of our Port Phillip beach walks between November and March.
No. Albert Park Lake Reserve is managed by Parks Victoria rather than the council, and it's an on-leash park, though it has space for exercising your dog. It catches a lot of people out because it sits inside the City of Port Phillip.
No — under the Port Phillip local law, greyhounds must stay on-leash even inside designated off-leash areas. We walk plenty of greyhounds here and plan long-line lead work and sniffing routes instead, so they still get a proper outing.
Solo walks are $70 for 45 minutes or $80 for 60 minutes, and a 2 to 3 hour Adventure is $79, door to door with the van ride included. Pick-up and drop-off in Port Phillip are included. See full pricing.
Let's meet your Port Phillip walker.
Book a free meet & greet. We come to you, meet your dog, and work out the right beach and the right time of day for them.