Are you travelling around Australia with a pet? I have recently travelled from Sydney to Adelaide with a pet for the first time and it got me thinking – where can I find pet friendly accommodation in Australia?
I asked some fellow travel bloggers for some ideas to add to my limited experience.
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Feature image supplied by Shandos from Travelnuity
Royal Bedourie Hotel, Queensland
Submitted by Victoria from My Australia Trip
The Royal Bedourie Hotel is a great place to stay with your pets if you’re exploring Australia on a remote Outback adventure. Whether you’re wild camping, or doing the drive from the coast in one go, you’re going to want to stay somewhere comfortable with your furry friend after such a long journey.
Bedourie is a very small town with less than 100 permanent residents. The Royal Hotel is one of two hotels in town and a popular stopover for people driving the Birdsville Track. It’s set up in a motel style and the rooms are spacious so there is plenty of room for your pet to come along.
Just keep in mind that the owner often has dogs of his own around, so make sure your pet gets along with others.
The property is not fenced, so it’s not suitable for a dog to roam freely. The road where it’s located is quiet, but when cars do pass they’re usually driving fast, so there is always the danger of an accident.
The Outback is great for hiking and exploring by car. You can head further south to Birdsville passing lakes along the way (depending on the season) where you can spot pelicans and even black swans.
Check the prices and availability of the Royal Bedourie Hotel here.
Discovery Parks Hahndorf, South Australia
Submitted by Natalie & Steve of The Curious Campers
More like a resort than a caravan park, Discovery Parks Hahndorf is in the heart of the Adelaide Hills just minutes from the German heritage town of Hahndorf.
One of the best things about staying here with our pooch was that she was allowed in our cabin – not something you can do at many caravan parks. You can also have your pet with you on caravan and camping sites. The grounds are lovely so it is also a pretty place to go for a walk with your dog.
Pets at Discovery Park Hahndorf must always be on a lead and not left unsupervised or unattended which is standard for this type of accommodation. A plus here was that, unlike some caravan park chains, you do not have to pay a bond or fee for travelling with your pet.
The only thing missing from the excellent facilities and dog-friendly attitude of the staff was a fenced dog walking area. However, there are dog parks at nearby Balhannah and Mount Barker.
Another great reason to stay at Hahndorf Discovery Park is that it is close to many pet-friendly Adelaide Hills attractions. You can take your dog to the nearby Bird in Hand Winery and Lot 100 Brewery or enjoy some excellent food in Hahndorf at The Haus.
Kuitpo Forest and Belair National Park both offer dog-friendly camping in the Adelaide Hills and are beautiful locations where dogs are welcome.
Check the prices and availability of Discover Parks Hahndorf here
Wiggley Bottom Farm, Victoria
Submitted by Shandos of Travelnuity
The delightfully named Wiggley Bottom Farm is also a delightfully dog-friendly place to stay with your pup in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. Located just outside of Healesville, choose between staying in the Apartment in the main farmhouse, the Cottage or the newer Tiny House.
Up to two dogs are warmly welcome to stay with you, although the Tiny House is better suited for small dogs only. We stayed in the stylishly decorated and very private Cottage, which features a king-size bed, spacious living room and kitchen with coffee machine. For cold winter nights there’s a wood burner stove, plus also air conditioning.
Just for pups, there’s a dog treat jar in the kitchen, plus a doggie care kit for anything you may have forgotten, such as a spare lead. Dogs are naturally allowed inside, although not in the bedroom or on the furniture. There’s also a fenced outdoor kennel adjacent to the cottage, plus a fenced space for off-leash runs.
Wiggley Bottom Farm is the perfect base for a weekend of wine tasting in the Yarra Valley with your dog by your side. There’s plenty of wineries that welcome dogs to visit, or take the hassle out of planning a day and book your own private dog-friendly winery tour with Pooches and Pinot.
Check the prices and availability at Wiggley Bottom Farm here
Raes on Wategos, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Submitted by Catrina from 24 Hours Layover
Nestled along the picturesque shores of Wategos Beach in Byron Bay is the iconic Raes on Wategos – a charming luxury boutique hotel. Rae’s on Wategos offers select pet-friendly rooms, ensuring that your furry friend can join you in comfort and style!
The pet-friendly rooms have easy access to outdoor areas, allowing more freedom and a comfortable stay for you and your four-legged friend.
While Raes on Wategos is accommodating to pets, note that there are only 7 rooms in total in this highly sought-after hotel, and rooms get booked out months in advance! Pet-friendly rooms are limited, so you’ll need to book well in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons.
Byron Bay is renowned for its beautiful beaches, several of which are dog-friendly (Belongil Beach is a great dog beach in Byron) so you can enjoy a leisurely walk or play fetch with your dog along the beach.
With pet-friendly accommodation, amenities, and access to nearby dog beaches, Rae’s On Wategos is an ideal destination if you wish to share your vacation with your pets.
Just remember to plan ahead, be considerate of other guests, and embrace the pet-friendly atmosphere that makes Byron Bay a fantastic destination for pet owners!
Check the prices and availability of Raes on Wategos here
Pine Country Caravan Park, South Australia
I stayed at Pine Country Caravan Park in Mount Gambier for nine days, but I do admit I didn’t have a pet with me at the time.
I was really impressed with the facilities available for dogs though. They have two fully fenced dog-friendly cabins, a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom. Each cabin has a doghouse for your furry friend too.
The park also has a fully-fenced 1-acre off-lead area, so your dog has the opportunity to go for a good run while staying here.
Mount Gambier is best known for its stunning Blue Lake (best viewed when it’s bright blue from November to February) and its sinkholes. Don’t miss Umpherston’s Sinkhole right in the middle of the city, or Kilsby Sinkhole and Little Blue Lake for swimming.
Check the prices and availability of Pine Country Caravan Park here
For many more pet-friendly accommodation options in Australia, tick the “Pets Allowed” box when doing your search on Booking.com.
You will also find that many caravan parks are pet-friendly too, often with restrictions so read the information carefully. If in doubt, always give the property a call to make sure you won’t have any issues on arrival.
Before you go…
Travelling in Australia? Read these posts next
Iconic Foods to Try in Australia
Top 10 Money-Saving Tips for Travelling Australia on a Budget
5 Day Sydney Itinerary for the Active Traveller
TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Find flights – I always use Skyscanner as my starting point when searching for flights. One search will give many options including airlines I may not have thought of. This means I can find the best possible flights to suit my needs
Book accommodation – my go to is always Booking.com for the best places to stay. It’s not just hotels anymore, but hostels, apartments, B&Bs and more. I love that the bookings are usually cancellable, and that I can book now and pay later.
Hire a rental car – RentalCars.com is my go to here. It allows me to do just one search and it finds cars from many of the different supplies, so no checking multiple websites to compare.
Get travel insurance – you would have heard by now that saying “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel”. If we’ve learnt anything from the last couple of years it should be how essential travel insurance is. I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – I tried an eSIM on my last trip and it was fantastic. I set it up before I went so it was ready as soon as I landed, and I still had access to my home number for emergencies. Get your own eSIM at Airalo.
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator and Get Your Guide tend to be the first places I look. In Asia, Klook often has more options, and in Australia it’s Experience Oz.
Manage your money – the best way to manage your different currencies is with an account from Wise. You can hold money in many different currencies, and use them with the ATM card or from your phone.
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