It would be cruel to bring them to this beautiful city and not have as many swims as possible. Being right in the city, yet feeling as though you are a million miles away lost in a beautiful oasis is hard to top. Have a picnic among the trees. 3 Days in Melbourne Itinerary. Yarra Bend Park is only 4km northeast of Melbournes CBD, but is home to the largest area of natural bushland left in the inner suburbs of Melbourne. During the Autumn months, Mount Macedon is a popular destination for viewing its colourful Autumn leaves and enjoying its cooler climate. That sadness and separation anxiety can easily be alleviated with one of these dog-friendly weekend trips. Make sure you pick up one of the brochures with maps, so that you explore the far reaches of the site, as well as the large kinetic sculptures on the front lawn. The You Yangs were named after the local Aboriginal word for big mountain in the middle of the plain. While dogs arent allowed in the Yarra Ranges National Park to the north, dogs are allowed at Tooroongo Falls Reserve (including off-leash, as long as they are under effective control). They say the best things in life are free - turns out, they were right! LOCH VILLAGE | Our guide to Gippsland's cutest little town, Loch. 2.1 Great Ocean Road. One of the most surprising attractions just outside of town is the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, the largest stupa in the Western World. 2.7 Macedon Ranges Tour. Theres also a continental buffet on offer, if you can trust your dog to remain behind in your room. Let us suggest a mosey up Australias east coast, taking in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane as you go. If you have time, follow the Tramline Walkway with your pup, which starts opposite the old post office, then runs for 700m to the entrance of the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine. In Richmond, head to Citizen Park when football isnt being played. Theres also a shop selling treats and toys, and the option to order dog birthday cakes. Scratch Pet FoodCollingwood, Vic 3066 Australia, All content 2021 Scratch Pet Health Pty LtdABN 40625813694, Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve, Curl Curl. Not many people know that Spirit of Tasmania has kennel decks where your dog can take the ride along with you across the pond. Adventure Best Seller Hiking/Bush Walk Beach Wildlife. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome to join you on the underground tour of the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine. There's a reason that Daylesford is known as a haven of relaxation. Ask whether this is still available (I believe its currently off the menu). Cruises operate seven days per week, multiple times per day. Otherwise you can catch the 21 bus from Ballarat Station. Distance - approx 142km/88 miles. Along the trip, visit the Surf World Museum in Torquay and look for massive waves at the famed Bells Beach. Phillip Island Day Trip (from USD 135.0) Show all photos. that will make sure your four-legged pal isn't bored and lonely while you're working. Daylesford. If you're looking for fun day trips near Melbourne to entertain the kids, the Werribee Zoo is only a 30 minute drive from the city but you'll feel like you're a world away. For something a bit more extravagant for your pooch, head to one of the many dog-friendly cafes round Melbourne that serve up a whole menu for pups, not just humans. Allow an hour or more to stroll around the many gardens, including the Japanese-style gardens that are a particular highlight. However, dogs are only permitted on board the Puffing Billy Dog Express that runs one or two days a month and quickly sells out. Just past Eastern Beach are the Geelong Botanic Gardens, located in the larger Eastern Park. Dogs are permitted on the Excursion Class carriages, at the discretion of the Station Master, but not the First Class carriages. 8) Hanging Rock Reserve. The best spot to park is on the Nepean Highway opposite Balcombe Grammar School, where theres a rough car park, rubbish bin and a double-gated entrance. We then head back to Melbourne via Olinda - one of the quaint little craft villages in the area. While your dog wont be allowed on the rides at Luna Park amusement park, instead take a walk along the pier (where dogs are allowed on a leash) and enjoy the surrounding beaches. 1. I hope I can inspire you to travel with your dog! Lakes Entrance. Undoubtedly, the main animal attraction is the fairy penguin parade, where the tiny birds return from the sea to one of the largest penguin colonies in Australia, 30 minutes . Make sure you keep your dog on a leash in the park. From the top of this granite outcrop theres superb views back towards Melbourne and across the Bellarine Peninsula. Hi! It takes about an hour to complete the full circuit around the lake, which is largely flat and just under 3km long. 2. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. The sights of Bendigo arent limited to gold mining ruins. A quick 1.5 hours away by ferry (ferry schedules willing) is San Juan Island, a PNW staple and a pawsitively grrreat day trip from Seattle. The entire property is fenced and safe for your pup to roam while you take a relaxing dip in the outdoor hot tub. Its best to book in advance, at least during holiday periods. Dogs are still not allowed off leash inside the gardens, but they are allowed to join you for a stroll on a leash. 2. Distance: 7.25km. It doesnt have to be thoughmany animals love jumping in the car and exploring. Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Its a scenic 4km ride through a narrow gorge each direction. Just double-check which attractions do and dont allow dogs. Visit the Bathing Boxes at Brighton Beach, 4. Pay attention to how often your dog usually needs to go to the toilet and plan plenty of stops along the way. More info: Read about Somerset's pet options here. 30th Noosa. Often, dogs are allowed off-leash on beaches over the winter period, but come the summer months are restricted to just early and late in the day, if at all. ; Use our free Walking Maps website to search your area and tick 'Dog off-leash area' for walks featuring a free-roaming space for your pup. Time from Melbourne: 2hr 30mins. Geelong. A trip to Melbourne isnt complete without exploring some of the citys famous yet ever-changing street art. Head to the Fairfield Boathouse, where you can rent boats, canoes and kayaks, and bring along your pup. Theres also a variety of both shorter and longer walks, including some flatter options. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! One of the nicest things about this beautiful and protected cove is the grassy reserve that borders it. Note however that dogs are not allowed to ascend to the rock itself on the Summit Walk, so stick to the lower parts of the walk or instead follow the 1.8km-long Base Walk or the 2.3km-long Creek Walk. Great Ocean Road. These local roasters take their coffee seriouslynot only making sure its delicious, but also sustainably produced. Your pooches can also be looked after during lunch or tastings if needed. This makes this one of the greatest day trips from Melbourne with dogs. The punts can hold up to six passengers, and well-behaved dogs can join you for free. Dogs must be on leash. Its easiest reached from the city with a car, just remember to pay for parking. Other dog-friendly escapes: You can book this home on Apollo Bay orthis cottage in Daylesfordfor you and your furry friend. If you have a whole day to spare, you and your dog can book in for a doggy wine tour with Gourmet Pawprints. This full-day excursion covers all the highlights, including wildlife viewing at Maru Koala and Animal Park, the Nobbies, and the famous Penguin Parade. So if youre considering setting off together, we have some suggestions for making your favourite holiday activities dog-friendly. The Mornington Peninsula. St Kilda has long been a popular day trip destination in Melbourne, and its also a terrific destination to visit with your pup. While it was a little chilly during our visit, the courtyard would also be great to relax in on warmer evenings, enjoying a takeaway meal or a few beverages. See the maps on this website. 12 Tips to Celebrate National Dog Day with a Doggie Day Trip; 10 tips for taking your dog to the lake or river; Day Trip Safety Tips. Copyright 2023 by Shandos Cleaver | All rights reserved. Roughly 140km from Melbourne's CBD is a quintessentially Aussie island escape, where wildlife and adventure awaits. The park will receive further upgrades to the toilets, picnic . Cardinia Reservoir Park. Day trips from Melbourne without the long drive Tuesday 25 January, 2022 . There are both whole home and private room options available on Airbnb that allow pets. Many of the beaches surrounding Torquay are dog friendly, and some just outside town are even off-leash, like Jan Juc and Bells Beach. I'd recommend taking at least two weeks for the road trip . Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. The island is rugged and wild, but it's not the natural scenery that draws people here, it's the wildlife. And you dont need to leave your dog behind, with Melbourne River Cruises permitting dogs on board their public Yarra River Cruises. A popular dog walk among locals, due to all the native wildlife, youll need to take care to keep your dog on-leash at all times. Tempting as it may be to exclusively explore Melbourne's tapestry of shops, restaurants, cafes, laneways and culture, there is p. 10 of the best free things to do in Melbourne. All the modcons you desire are included, including cable TV, tea and coffee facilities, and a rainwater showerhead. The gardens are home to many heritage-listed trees and avenues, as well as a new 21st Century Garden. Find out more about dog-friendly attractions on the Mornington Peninsula. Another surprise is that pets are welcome to join you in visiting the stupa, both outside and even inside. In the latest 19th century, it became the fashion that any well-to-do town in Victoria would have their own botanic garden, both for the propagation of European plant species and a place for locals to spend their leisure time. Ferns, waterfalls, gumtrees and the songs of native birds make Toolangi State Forest the perfect dog (and human) oasis. Dogs are permitted in most areas of Yarra Bend Park, although there are some areas where they are excluded. (On the dog sign-in form, dogs are permitted to be left in the room as long as you put the do-not-disturb sign on the door.). Queenscliff is 90 minutes southwest of Melbourne. Try some in-tents bonding at Johanna Beach and Lake Elizabeth, Great Otway National Park; Jerusalem Creek, Lake Eildon National Park; Shoreline Drive, Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park; Lake Hindmarsh Reserve, and Howqua Hills Historic Area, Mansfield. Travel on the safari bus through Australian grasslands to spot koalas and kangaroos. The Briars Community Forest takes off-leash dog walking in a fenced area to the next level, and is a must-visit for dogs on the Peninsula. They are most welcome on small group private tours of the best dog-friendly vineyards in the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and Heathcote. Pack a picnic and hop into your car with your pup to enjoy a country outing at any of these gardens. Many of the cafes have dog-friendly tables out the front, or else the beer garden at the Maldon Hotel is pet-friendly. 1.5 hours from Melbourne CBD. These privately owned gardens are open daily and were gorgeous on the late spring day that we visited. With these generous rules, it means that a quick getaway to the Melbourne CBD using public transport with your pet is possible from within the metropolitan area (for dogs of all sizes) or from across the state (for those with small pets). I'm Shandos Cleaver and I've travelled to 35 countries around the world with my Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel. An hour's drive from CBD, Eastern Beach in Geelong is a small, clean, and safe beach reserve. Currently under construction about 15 minutes west of Bendigo, the stupa is based on the Gyantse Stupa in Tibet and is surrounded by the Peace Park Gardens, which contains many monuments from a variety of faiths. If you keep on driving past Frankston, youll arrive at the Mornington Peninsula proper. One of the best short dog-friendly walks is the short hike up to Camels Hump, the highest point in the Macedon Ranges. When it comes to dog-friendly accommodation in Victoria, Odiyana Retreat offers the best for both. If you're not too keen on camping but you still want to be surrounded by the great outdoors, book this dog-friendly accommodation on Riparide. (Although this may change once the construction of the interior is complete.) Combine a wander on foot with your dog with a visit to a dog-friendly cafe, whether in one of the city laneways or along the banks of the Yarra. Afterwards, make use of the new dog wash-down area next to the carpark, with multiple spraying taps at different heights for all sizes of dogs. Phone +61 3 5272 5272. It sits on one side of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. Not sure where to start? Theres a wide variety of walking trails in the park, from the 200m stroll to Memorial Cross from next to the tea rooms to the 30km loop track that links all the major sites in the park. The city has a lot to offer anyone looking for a relaxed or exciting break. . The Somerset on Elizabeth manages to provide the privacy and autonomy of an apartment while still offering the hospitality of a hotel. 3. All over Geelong, dont miss spotting the colourfully decorated bollards, with over 100 installed in between Limeburners Point and Rippleside Park. What it is: Gorgeous Rugged Coastline road trips. If you feel like heading out and exploring, there's a shallow river nearby that's safe for your pup to splash around in. While Walhalla is closer to 2.5 hours drive from the centre of Melbourne, like I mentioned above, its well worth the slightly longer road trip, as the historic train rides arent the only dog-friendly attraction in this historic gold mining town. Check out the wide variety of lessons offered by SUPS for Pups, both at Bayside and the Mornington Peninsula. Keen to take a break but dont want to leave your best mate at home? Amber Karras and Adam Lacy take in the views at the Organ Pipes National Park in Keilor, 25 kilometres north of Melbourne . 2.6 Grampians National Park. It's only a short drive from the city centre at under an hour away and is easily accessible via public transport too. Rutherglen (3 hours from of Melbourne CBD) Along the Murray River, Rutherglen is known as one of premier wine regions in Victoria. The entire track is 2.2km long and takes about an hour, passing through beautiful rainforest. 16 Nov 2022. Just like most places in Australia, the majority of shops in Melbourne wont be happy if you try and take your dog inside. Treat your pup to a doggy day bed and a puppa-cino from their menu. Lake Jubilee/Daylesford. Punt for a lazy 30 minutes by day or choose an evening hour-long tour. While walking along the street, keep an eye out for the Paw-on-the-Door stickers indicating pet-friendly businesses. On the menu are a range of treats for your dog, from pugichinos to muffins and cookies. I also highly recommend the nearby ACDC Lane and Duckboard Place, which are generally less crowded. To explore more of Bendigos gold mining heritage, head to the Victoria Hill Historic Mining Reserve. Best time to visit: Low season (autumn and winter) to avoid the crowds, but for beach fun in the sun, spring or summer is best.. Don't miss: The 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Bells Beach, Apollo Bay, Otway National Park, Port Campbell, Port Fairy . No matter how many breaks you take, most dogs will struggle with a whole day of driving. Contributed by Natalie & Steve from Curious Campers. Search for the Community Forest Fenced Dog Park pin on Google Maps. Itll help them get comfortable and associate the car with good things. For starters, both Welcome to Brunswick and Welcome to Thornbury, over-size beer gardens with a roster of food trucks, are also welcoming to dogs. Out the back are couches for canines, while there is also an indoor off-leash relaxing room. However, during the rest of the year dogs are allowed all day long on this wonderful ocean-facing beach. Before you set out, make sure your dog is microchipped and your contact details are up to date. They even offer dog swimming lessons for less confident pups! Fur real. As the name suggests, this cafe is part of the Collingwood Childrens Farm so its great for pets and people who love all sorts of animals. Theres multiple superb wine regions on the doorstep of Melbourne, but one of the best and the most dog-friendly is the Yarra Valley, the oldest wine region in Victoria. Even more incredibly, they lay claim to being home to the worlds first caf-style dog beveragethe famous Pupaccino. The journey from Melbourne to Phillip Island takes only about 2 hours by road. At Malmsbury, dont miss the views of the grand Malmsbury Viaduct, located at the southern edge of the gardens. Baits had been recently laid at the Punchbowl Road end when we visited in November 2021, although there were no signs at the other end. Otherwise stop off at one of the cafes along Acland Street for coffees and cake. If visiting on a Sunday, check out the market along the Esplanade. 7) Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. Take a short detour down to Central Springs Reserve, where theres an historic hand pump you can use to fill up your bottle, or stop at the Wombat Flat Mineral Spring. See snow near Melbourne at Mt Donna Buang. Its also within the free tram zone, meaning you can easily get around the city with a small pet in a carrier bag for free. Either head to the Shelley Beach Carpark just off the Bass Highway at Kilcunda or to the end of the unsealed Punchbowl Road near San Remo. As I mentioned above, dogs are welcome in the Royal Botanic Gardens and Carlton Gardens. 5. In the decades since, theyre worked hard at perfecting a pet paradise, and now offer gourmet dog biscuits too. Highlights: 12 Apostles, Great Otway National Park, Loch Arch Gorge, Lower Glenelg National Park, Mount Gambier. Another on-leash option within the city is Flagstaff Gardens. Daylesford. Plus, its proximity to the Yarra River and Burnley Park's off-leash area makes it a perfect stop on a dog day out. Over the 2022-23 summer, Paddle and Brunch runs on multiple days per month, a mixture of Saturdays and weekdays. Canova Dog Beach Canova Beach Park in Indialantic, FL, is home to Brevard County's only dog-friendly beach. , passing through beautiful rainforest permitted on the late spring day that we visited sits one. Street art the perfect dog ( and human ) oasis of native birds make Toolangi Forest. 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