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.
Before a park is anything else it is an outline on a map, so the map is where this guide begins. Five places are covered in and around McKinnon: four in McKinnon and one in Bentleigh, made up of a trail, a memorial garden and three parks with different play and picnic set-ups.
Each was checked against its council page and OpenStreetMap. Distances and dog rules come from the council wording, and where a page did not state something, such as surface or grade, we say so.
The quick picks come first, then each place with a single practical line for planning.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| A large playground and picnic shelters | Allnutt Park | Wheatley Road, McKinnon |
| Nature play and sport space | McKinnon Reserve | McKinnon Road, McKinnon |
| A garden for sitting and reflecting | McKinnon Memorial Garden | Corner Wattle Grove and McKinnon Road, McKinnon |
| A short walking trail | Elster Creek Trail | Whitmuir Road, McKinnon |
| A small playground and picnic | Leckie Street Reserve | Leckie Street, Bentleigh |
Allnutt Park — Wheatley Road, McKinnon VIC 3204
The council describes Allnutt Park as a beloved local destination with a spacious playground suitable for all ages and abilities. It says each of the picnic shelters is nearby to BBQ facilities. On dogs, the council says the northern end of the park is designated as an off-leash area, while the southern end is on-leash only. Elster Creek Trail ends here, according to the council trail page.
Turn-around point: The council says Elster Creek Trail winds up at Allnutt Park, so this is the natural place to turn back if you walk the trail.
McKinnon Reserve — McKinnon Road, McKinnon VIC 3204
The council lists a nature play space at McKinnon Reserve and says the reserve provides great facilities for socialising, play, sport and recreation. It says the southern end of the park (oval two) is an off-leash area. Elsewhere, dogs must be on-leash within 20 metres of barbecues and picnic areas, the council says.
Water and toilets: The council says BBQ facilities and public toilets are nearby to the picnic shelter, and we could not find drinking water mentioned.
McKinnon Memorial Garden — Corner Wattle Grove and McKinnon Road, McKinnon VIC 3204
This is the quiet one. The council calls McKinnon Memorial Garden the perfect spot to sit, relax and reflect. It says the large granite obelisk is dedicated to Glen Eira residents who served in the First World War. The council lists it as an on-leash area at all times.
Weather call: Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast first, because we could not find a shelter listed on the council page.
Elster Creek Trail — Whitmuir Road, McKinnon VIC 3204
Directions run in one order. The council says the trail starts at the Elwood Canal and continues for 1.3 kilometres through Brighton, Gardenvale and Brighton East, before winding up at Allnutt Park, McKinnon. Its page calls it a popular track connecting Brighton East to McKinnon. The council lists it as an on-leash area.
Distance / grade / surface: 1.3 kilometres by the council’s detail text, and the grade and surface were not stated on the pages we read.
Leckie Street Reserve — Leckie Street, Bentleigh VIC 3204
The council says the Leckie Street playground is great for younger children. Its page invites you to pack a picnic and enjoy the tranquility of Leckie Reserve, and says a shelter containing a picnic table and benches provides cover from the elements. The council lists it as an on-leash area.
Weather call: The council says the shelter provides cover from the elements, but check the Bureau forecast before you pack the picnic.
Quick answers
Which parks near McKinnon have playgrounds?
The council lists a spacious playground at Allnutt Park, a nature play space at McKinnon Reserve and a playground for younger children at Leckie Street Reserve in Bentleigh. McKinnon Memorial Garden and Elster Creek Trail are not play stops.
How long is Elster Creek Trail?
The council says Elster Creek Trail continues for 1.3 kilometres from the Elwood Canal through Brighton, Gardenvale and Brighton East, before winding up at Allnutt Park, McKinnon. Grade and surface were not stated on the pages we read.
Is there a quiet garden in McKinnon?
The council calls McKinnon Memorial Garden the perfect spot to sit, relax and reflect. Leckie Street Reserve in Bentleigh is the other quiet-minded option, since the council invites you to pack a picnic and enjoy its tranquility.
Where can you have a picnic or barbecue near McKinnon?
The council says the picnic shelters at Allnutt Park are nearby to BBQ facilities, and McKinnon Reserve has BBQ facilities and public toilets nearby to its picnic shelter. Leckie Street Reserve has a shelter with a picnic table and benches, though the council page does not list a barbecue there.
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 photos are illustrative, from Unsplash: they show the kind of place, not the places 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
- Allnutt Park: openstreetmap.org/28393500, gleneira.vic.gov.au/allnutt-park
- McKinnon Reserve: openstreetmap.org/28394152, gleneira.vic.gov.au/mckinnon-reserve
- McKinnon Memorial Garden: openstreetmap.org/292718415, gleneira.vic.gov.au/mckinnon-memorial-garden
- Elster Creek Trail: openstreetmap.org/60254427, openstreetmap.org/60254487, gleneira.vic.gov.au/elster-creek-trail
- Leckie Street Reserve: openstreetmap.org/253574673, gleneira.vic.gov.au/leckie-street-reserve
