Melbourne

Thirty eight hectares of landscaped garden on the south bank of the Yarra, arranged around an ornamental lake. Dogs on a short lead are admitted free during opening hours with no size limit, and Punting on the Lake will even take a well-behaved dog aboard.

Melbourne's classic seaside outing: a long pier into the bay, a palm-lined promenade and, on Sundays, the Esplanade art and craft market. Dogs welcome on a lead on the pier and through the market; the little penguin colony in the breakwater is protected, so keep the dog on the decking.

260 hectares of natural bushland 4 km from the CBD, with signposted off-leash areas and an easy riverside trail to Dights Falls, where a rock embankment gives access to the water. Stay on the tracks from September to April: tiger snakes live along the river corridor.

The one Melbourne beach that is fully fenced with a self-closing gate, where dogs run off-leash 24 hours a day all year with no seasonal restriction. The bay water is shallow and wave-free; free parking is very limited, so plan for the ticketed area near Middle Brighton Baths.

Melbourne's street art is an outdoor, free experience and a leashed dog fits right in: Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane and Degraves Street make an hour-long loop from Flinders Street. The laneway cafes serve outside, so the coffee stop works with the dog too.

The zoo occupies an enclave in the middle of Royal Park and admits no pets, accredited assistance animals excepted. The surrounding park stays open and carries three off-leash areas, so leave the dog with a sitter or split the group for the visit.