Top pet-friendly road trips across Australia
What to expect
New South Wales: Riverina region
The vast Riverina region in southern New South Wales knows how to pamper your pooch, with a plethora of places to stay and play while on a road trip. Drive through the Snowy Mountains to Tumut Plains, where pet-friendly Elm Cottage overlooks the Goobarragandra River. Nearby, Tumut River Brewing Co’s patio is the perfect perch for you and your pup to refuel.
Next stop is Carrathool’s Corynnia Station, a 6800-hectare working farm with pet-friendly accommodation adjoining the 1930s homestead. Every member of your family will love the manicured grounds, beds of fragrant roses, magnificent purple jacaranda trees, pots of curious-looking succulents and, rather appropriately, a tin dog sculpture by artist Kim Gibbs.
Approaching Wagga Wagga, you’ll want to linger over a seasonal beer in the Thirsty Crow’s garden – request a bone-broth ice treat for Fido. Then check in at Kimo Estate in Gundagai, one of the best farm stays in NSW, where 2,800 hectares of rolling hills host a range of individually styled accommodation.
Photo credit: @elmcottagetumut on Instagram
Victoria: Mornington Peninsula
Some establishments along Victoria’s bucolic Mornington Peninsula welcome pets with open arms. Case in point, Miss Drew's Bakery and Dog Cafe in Tyabb, where you can treat your hound to a pup-cake and pugichino.
Elsewhere, take your pick from dozens of wineries and restaurants, many of which offers alfresco, pet-friendly drinking and dining areas. Enjoy tapas and a glass of wine in the sun at Green Olive at Red Hill, where pets are welcome in outdoor areas, or pull up an outside perch for a pale ale and pizza at the Tar Barrel Brewery & Distillery.
When it’s time to expend some energy, let your dog run and splash along the Camerons Bight off-leash area in Blairgowrie. Note that seasonal restrictions apply: between 26 December and 1 March, dogs can be off leash there from 7pm noon.
Refreshed, take your pick of pet-friendly accommodation. Perhaps a self-contained cottage, steps from the sand, at Blue Moon Cottages in Rye. Or Coolart Studios in Balnarring, featuring works from local artists.
Photo credit: @missdrewsbakery_dogtreats on Instagram
Queensland: Sunshine Coast to Gold Coast
Along the Queensland coast, blissful beaches and peaceful creeks are just waiting for you to dip a toe – or a paw. Pets are welcome across much of paradise. Start on the Sunshine Coast with a stay at Noosa Avalon Farm Cottages, proximate to both hinterland rainforest and ocean.
For some off-leash fun, head to Doggy Beach on Noosa Spit, where dogs can run free beside the Noosa River. Sunshine Beach also has an off-leash section at its northern end, beside Noosa National Park.
More sand awaits on the Gold Coast – head to The Spit, for miles of off-leash, ocean-paddle play time. If you and your dog prefer calmer conditions, try Currumbin Creek, where cool waters meet quiet atmosphere. You don’t have to travel far for a good feed: nearby Balter Brewing Company hosts a sun-drenched, pooch-friendly garden. Exhausted? Crash at NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort – the Ensuite Site cabins welcome every member of the family.
Photo credit: @noosacottages on Instagram
Western Australia: Pilbara
Buckle up for an epic, pet-friendly road trip around the Pilbara, beginning your journey in mining town Tom Price and heading toward the coast. Enjoy the wide skies and vast grounds of Cheela Plains Station, a working cattle station with pet-friendly accommodation.
Four hours west lies coastal Onslow. By the time you arrive you’ll be ready to take your dog for a run along the foreshore between high and low watermarks. Then park at Peedamulla Campground, a cattle station on Aboriginal-owned land, with all the facilities you and your pooch need for a restful night. The campground is part of Tourism WA’s Camping with Custodians program and is dog-friendly.
Set the GPS for Karratha, the gateway to Millstream Chichester National Park and the Dampier Archipelago. Dogs can expend some off-leash energy at Mara Guthara Park in Baynton West, a designated dog exercise area, or you might like to lead your pooch on a walking tour designed for four-legged friends – the Red Dog Trail takes in Dampier highlights. Keep your dog under control when using off-leash areas.
South Australia: Kangaroo Island
While dogs are welcome on Kangaroo Island, make sure your dog's registration and identification are up to date before travelling.
Jump aboard the SeaLink ferry from the mainland and look forward to exploring the island’s pet-friendly parks, beaches and cellar doors. Dog access varies by location, so check local signage and restrictions before setting out.
Furry friends are certainly welcome to hang with you on the grass at Bay of Shoals Wines, where you can sip a glass of something cold and nibble cheese while overlooking vines stretching to the water. And then there’s highly-awarded award-winning Kangaroo Island Spirits, which boasts a gin garden. Dogs are welcome in the garden, subject to the venue’s current conditions.
Despite its name, the Still Windy Couple’s Retreat invites your pup to bunk down as well, with a wood-burning pot belly stove to snuggle beside at night and an expansive block of native forest to explore. The property is unfenced, so dogs need to remain under effective control. Meanwhile, Beira-Mar Cottage takes you straight to the sand in Penneshaw – open your door in the morning, and you’re greeted by a stretch of blue water and the prospect of long walks with your furry friend.
