Correction (10 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 between 9 October 2026 and 10 October 2026.
Four parks and reserves are covered here, three in Ivanhoe and one just over the border in Bellfield. The status that matters comes first: the Banyule council page for each place says whether dogs must be on lead, restricted or allowed off lead.
Three of the four are on-lead or restricted. Only Ford Park in Bellfield is listed by the council as an off-lead area. We give no off-leash times, because none are in our sources. Check the council order and the signs at the gate.
Each place was checked against OpenStreetMap and the council page.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| On-lead creek-side walking | Rockbeare Park | 44-68 Rockbeare Grove, Ivanhoe |
| On-lead bushland trails | Darebin Parklands | Rockbeare Grove, Ivanhoe |
| Wetland walks, signed restrictions | Wilson Reserve | 78 The Boulevard, Ivanhoe |
| Fenced off-lead area | Ford Park | 244-268 Banksia Street, Bellfield |
Rockbeare Park — 44-68 Rockbeare Grove, Ivanhoe VIC 3079
Status: on lead. The council page says dogs must be under effective control with a chain, cord or leash. That makes Rockbeare Park a lead-only walk, not an off-lead area.
The council lists walking and bike trails here. Its page lists no playground or toilets, so plan around that.
Off-leash status: none; per council, dogs stay on a chain, cord or leash.
Darebin Parklands — Rockbeare Grove, Ivanhoe VIC 3079
Status: on lead. The council page says dogs must be under effective control with a chain, cord or leash, and OpenStreetMap tags the park as leashed too. The two sources agree.
The council lists barbecues, public toilets and walking and bike trails. It describes many areas to explore for walkers, cyclists and picnickers.
Bring: a lead and waste bags; the council lists toilets and barbecues here.
Wilson Reserve — 78 The Boulevard, Ivanhoe VIC 3079
Status: restricted. The council says dogs and cats are prohibited from entering environmentally sensitive park and reserve areas as designated by signs. Its page also carries a line allowing dogs under effective control in some parts, but the wording is unclear, so we do not call this an off-lead area.
The council describes a natural environment of wetlands, native woodlands and aquatic vegetation, with walking and bike trails and wildlife observation. Read the signs at each entry. Where they say no dogs, that settles it.
Off-leash status: not off lead; check the council order and the signs.
Ford Park — 244-268 Banksia Street, Bellfield VIC 3081
Status: off lead, in a designated zone. The council lists Ford Park, Banksia Street, Bellfield, among parks with fully fenced, off-lead exercise areas with park benches, dog waste bins and drinking fountains with attached dog bowls. Bellfield is just outside Ivanhoe.
The page also lists a dog off lead zone, play equipment, public toilets, barbecues and walking and bike trails. For the off-lead times, check the council order.
Bring: waste bags and a water bottle for the walk in; the council lists bins and fountains with dog bowls inside.
Quick answers
Is there an off-lead dog park near Ivanhoe?
Ford Park in Bellfield is the one off-lead option on this page. The council lists a dog off lead zone and describes fully fenced, off-lead exercise areas with benches, dog waste bins and drinking fountains with dog bowls. Check the council order for any times.
Do dogs have to be on a lead at Rockbeare Park?
Yes, per the council page. It says dogs must be under effective control with a chain, cord or leash at Rockbeare Park. The same wording appears on the council page for Darebin Parklands.
Can dogs go into Wilson Reserve?
Not into areas signed as sensitive. The council says dogs and cats are prohibited from environmentally sensitive park and reserve areas as designated by signs. Wilson Reserve is not listed as an off-lead area, so check the signs and the council page.
Which Ivanhoe parks have toilets and barbecues?
The council lists public toilets and barbecues at Darebin Parklands, which is an on-lead park. Ford Park in Bellfield lists the same two, plus play equipment. The council pages for Rockbeare Park and Wilson Reserve list neither toilets nor a playground.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources between 9 October 2026 and 10 October 2026: OpenStreetMap and council pages. 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
- Rockbeare Park: openstreetmap.org/30968287, banyule.vic.gov.au/Rockbeare-Park
- Darebin Parklands: openstreetmap.org/30967890, banyule.vic.gov.au/Darebin-Parklands
- Wilson Reserve: openstreetmap.org/29334985, banyule.vic.gov.au/Wilson-Reserve
- Ford Park: openstreetmap.org/30288064, banyule.vic.gov.au/Ford-Park, banyule.vic.gov.au/Dog-walking-and-parks
