If you are a dog lover, you will definitely want to visit some of the best Melbourne dog beaches. The city is one of the best places in Australia for both humans and dogs. And with the awesomely affordable beachside suburbs in Melbourne, its popularity continues to grow. With its warm weather, stunning beaches and great cafes, Melbourne is the perfect place to bring your furry friend around.
Even if you’ve found yourself the best apartment dog or have built the best dog-friendly backyard, taking them out into nature is a wonderful treat. Let’s show you the best dog beaches in Melbourne and what makes them special. And after that, you can venture out to see the best places to swim in Melbourne for humans!
1. Brighton Dog Beach
Brighton Dog Beach is one of the most popular dog friendly beaches, located in Melbourne’s Bayside area. It is a long, wide beach that provides plenty of space for dogs to run and play.
This beach is perfect for dogs that love to swim, as the water is shallow and calm. Dogs are also allowed to play off-leash at this beach, making it a great place for dogs to socialise and have fun.
Important info: Dogs are permitted on all beaches in Brighton & Hove from 1 October to 30 April. The rest of the year, dogs are only permitted on Melbourne dog beaches listed as dog-friendly beaches.
2. Port Melbourne Dog Beach
Port Melbourne Dog Beach is another popular dog beach located in Melbourne. This beach is a great place for dogs to play, as it provides plenty of space. The area between Lagoon Pier and the Port Melbourne Yacht Club is where they’re allowed off leash.
The water at Port Melbourne beach is shallow and not rough, making it perfect for dogs that love to swim. There are also plenty of benches and shade areas for dog owners to sit back and watch the ships pass.
Important info: Off-leash areas and restrictions change during summer from 1 November to 31 March.
3. St Kilda Dog Beach
St Kilda Dog Beach is located in the famous suburb of St Kilda and is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. This beach is great for dogs that love to play and socialize, as it is off-leash and provides plenty of space.
Along St Kilda West Beach, the water is shallow and calm, and the stretches of sand long, making it perfect for dogs that love to swim. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants in the area, making it a great place for dog owners to relax and grab a bite to eat.
Important info: West Beach St Kilda (not allowed on environmentally sensitive dune area)
4. Williamstown Dog Beach
Williamstown Dog Beach is located in the suburb of Williamstown and is a popular destination for dog owners. This beach is great for dogs that love to swim, as the water is shallow and calm.
Dogs are also allowed to play off-leash at this beach, making it a great place for dogs to socialize and have fun. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants in the area, making it a great place for dog owners to relax and grab a bite to eat.
Important info: On Williamstown Beach (between Williamstown Life Saving Club and Sebastian restaurant), dogs are prohibited between 10am and 9:30pm from 1st November to 30th April.
Outside of those times and throughout the rest of the year, dogs are permitted on-lead on Williamstown Beach. Cited from Dogs on Holidays.
5. Altona Dog Beach
Altona Dog Beach is located in the suburb of Altona and is one of the great Melbourne dog beaches for the social furry ones that love to play and socialize. This beach is off-leash and provides plenty of space for dogs to run and play.
The water is perfect for dogs that love to swim because it’s calm. There are also plenty of benches and shade areas for dog owners to relax and enjoy the view.
Important info: Dogs are allowed to be off-leash only in the beach area, the adjacent fenced dog park at PA Burns Reserve.
6. Werribee South Beach
Werribee South Beach is located in the suburb of Werribee and is a popular destination for dog owners. This beach is great for dogs that love to play and socialise, as it is off-leash and provides plenty of space.
You can feel safe around the water because it’s good for dogs. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants in the area, making it a great place for dog owners to relax and grab a bite to eat.
Important info: Dogs permitted off-lead at all times at Campbells Cove Beach, from the eastern end of Campbells Cove Road to the RAAF Williams Point Cook Base
7. Flinders Beach
There is a long sandy beach about 2 kilometres long which your furry friends will love! It extends from Dodds Creek beach to Manton Creek beach passing Mornington Park.
When it’s low tide, bring your dog and they can explore the exposed rock pools.
Important info: Dogs are permitted off-lead on all beaches north of Dodds Cree. Dogs are prohibited from Ocean Beach
8. Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary
This awesome dog friendly beach is not be missed. The landscape isn’t like the standard big sandy beach but a little more rugged with scrublands and rock pools. If your pup is an adventurer, they’ll love to explore and sniff around here!
Important info: Dogs are prohibited on all inter-tidal rock platforms within the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary at all times
9. Tassells Cove
Is your dog tired of the ocean? Maybe you can interest them in some rock pools!
Surrounded by cliffs, Tassells Cove at Safety Beach is surrounded by gorgeous cliffs. They can sniff around the rock pools while you enjoy the views.
Important info: Off leash all year all the time.
Not interested in Melbourne dog beaches?
Check out our dog friendly parks in Sydney round up. Or perhaps you’re wondering what renting with pets is like?
Either way, Soho has got you covered. Keep yourself updated with useful tips like these by downloading our app for the full Soho experience.
