Correction (9 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 on 9 October 2026.
This page answers which parks and gardens in and around St Kilda suit a picnic or a playground stop. It covers seven places: four in St Kilda, two in St Kilda West and one in Ripponlea, which sits at the edge of the area.
Facilities come from the City of Port Phillip’s park pages, which list things like playgrounds, toilets, benches and dog rules. We give no walking distances or surfaces, because those pages do not print them.
Each place was checked against two independent sources, including OpenStreetMap and council pages. Facilities and access change, so check the official page before you go.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic, playground and conservatory | St Kilda Botanical Gardens | Herbert, Blessington, Dickens and Tennyson Streets, St Kilda |
| Benches and toilets by Luna Park | O’Donnell Gardens | Corner Carlisle Street and Acland Street, St Kilda |
| Shade and benches near foreshore | Alfred Square | Alfred Square, St Kilda |
| Small playground stop | Renfrey Reserve | Corner Chaucer Street and Blessington Street, St Kilda |
| Shaded picnic and playground | Jacoby Reserve | Corner Cowderoy Street and Park Street, St Kilda West |
| Playground by Ripponlea station | Burnett Gray Gardens | Morress Street, Ripponlea |
| Sand-pit playground and BBQs | Catani Gardens | Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda West |
St Kilda Botanical Gardens — Herbert, Blessington, Dickens and Tennyson Streets, St Kilda VIC 3182
Council describes well-maintained gardens in the middle of St Kilda with seasonal displays, local indigenous plants, a giant chessboard, an ornamental pond, a children’s playground, a gazebo, glasshouses and the Ecocentre. It lists a picnic area, and says the garden is open between sunrise and sunset, every day of the year. The conservatory is open between 10.30 am and 3.30 pm all weekdays and from dawn to dusk on weekends and public holidays, council says. Dogs must be on leash and are not permitted within 5 metres of the playground, and council also says no BBQ and no cycling through the gardens.
Start at: Council gives the boundary streets as Herbert, Blessington, Dickens and Tennyson Streets, and says free unrestricted all-day parking is available around the gardens.
O’Donnell Gardens — Corner Carlisle Street and Acland Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
Council gives the location as the corner of Carlisle Street and Acland Street, next to Luna Park and part of the famous Acland Street precinct. It lists public toilets and benches. Council lists no playground or BBQ here, so this suits a short sit-down rather than a long picnic.
Water and toilets: Council lists public toilets here, and we could not find a drinking-water point on its page.
Alfred Square — St Kilda VIC 3182
Council calls Alfred Square open green space close to the St Kilda foreshore, and lists shade trees and benches. It says the square contains memorials to the South Africa War and Victoria Cross recipients. We found no playground, BBQ or dog facility on its page.
Weather call: Shade trees are listed, but check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast first, because the page lists no shelter.
Renfrey Reserve — Corner Chaucer Street and Blessington Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
Council lists a playground and says dogs are on-leash at this small reserve on the corner of Chaucer Street and Blessington Street. Its page also mentions benches, bins and shade trees. It is a quick stop for young children rather than a destination park.
Water and toilets: Council says a water fountain is also available near the playground, and we could not find toilets listed.
Jacoby Reserve — Corner Cowderoy Street and Park Street, St Kilda West VIC 3182
Council places Jacoby Reserve in the residential streets of St Kilda West, close to the foreshore and Albert Park. It says the reserve has a playground and shaded areas for picnics, and lists dogs as on-leash.
Weather call: Council lists shaded areas for picnics, but check the Bureau forecast before you pack the food.
Burnett Gray Gardens — Morress Street, Ripponlea VIC 3185
Council describes a small playground and a memorial to Victorian Jewish soldiers, and lists free parking. It places the gardens next to the historic Ripponlea Train Station and Glen Eira Road shops. This is in Ripponlea, not St Kilda proper.
Start at: Ripponlea Train Station, which council says is next to the gardens; council gives the gardens’ location as Morress Street.
Catani Gardens — Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda West VIC 3182
Council calls Catani Gardens heritage listed and next to the world-famous St Kilda foreshore. Its playground has shade sails, bright contemporary play equipment and is set into a large sand pit. Council also lists BBQs, running and an accessible public toilet. Dogs are not permitted off leash, and council says penalties apply.
Water and toilets: Council lists an accessible public toilet here, and we could not find a drinking-water point listed.
Quick answers
Which St Kilda parks have playgrounds?
Council lists a playground at St Kilda Botanical Gardens, Renfrey Reserve, Jacoby Reserve and Catani Gardens, and a small playground at Burnett Gray Gardens in Ripponlea. Catani Gardens has shade sails over its playground, which is set into a large sand pit.
Are dogs allowed in St Kilda parks?
Council lists dogs on-leash at Renfrey Reserve and Jacoby Reserve. At St Kilda Botanical Gardens, dogs must be on leash and are not permitted within 5 metres of the playground. At Catani Gardens, dogs are not permitted off leash and penalties apply.
Where can you have a barbecue in St Kilda?
Council lists BBQs at Catani Gardens. For St Kilda Botanical Gardens, council says no BBQ, so use Catani Gardens if a barbecue is part of the plan, and check council’s page for current rules.
Which St Kilda parks have free parking?
Council says free unrestricted all-day parking is available around St Kilda Botanical Gardens, and lists free parking at Burnett Gray Gardens in Ripponlea. Check signs on the day, because street rules can change.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 9 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, council pages and en.wikipedia.org. 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
- St Kilda Botanical Gardens: openstreetmap.org/15479037, portphillip.vic.gov.au/st-kilda-botanical-gardens, en.wikipedia.org/St_Kilda_Botanical_Gardens
- O’Donnell Gardens: openstreetmap.org/15477554, portphillip.vic.gov.au/odonnell-gardens
- Alfred Square: openstreetmap.org/218039396, portphillip.vic.gov.au/alfred-square
- Renfrey Reserve: openstreetmap.org/15478945, portphillip.vic.gov.au/renfrey-reserve
- Jacoby Reserve: openstreetmap.org/27695408, portphillip.vic.gov.au/jacoby-reserve
- Burnett Gray Gardens: openstreetmap.org/106609147, portphillip.vic.gov.au/burnett-gray-gardens
- Catani Gardens: openstreetmap.org/18043576, portphillip.vic.gov.au/catani-gardens
