The best pet-friendly stays around Australia

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
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For a stay that is not only luxurious for us, but for our furry friends too, look no further than these pet-friendly stays.

We all love our pets and when booking a holiday, trying to figure out where our pets will stay is the most complicated part. Well, not anymore. We’ve found the best pet-friendly accommodation options all across Australia so your pet can come and unwind with you.

Pet-friendly accommodation NSW

Four Seasons, Sydney

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney ’s Paw-fection package pampers all furry friends, providing exclusive perks including a plush dog bed, gourmet treats, an Aussie-themed toy, and natural dog bath amenities. Plus, the team can provide dog-sitting or dog-walking services highlighting the best pooch-friendly parks in the area.

A dachshund in between pillows at Four Seasons Sydney. (Image: Four Seasons Sydney)
The pawfect escape. (Image: Four Seasons Sydney)

The Langham, Sydney

If you wanted to treat yourself to a luxury night or two away, you no longer have to choose between that and your beloved pet! Guests at the Langham Sydney can bring their pooch (up to 20 kilos) or cat for a stay. With Langham Sydney’s Pampered Pets Staycation your pet will receive their own plush bed to match yours! Pet-sitting and afternoon teas for you and your pet are also available.

A King Charles Cavalier lies on bed with a pink dog bowl that says The Langham. (Image: The Langham)
The Langham offers a luxurious stay for your pet. (Image: The Langham)

Pier One, Sydney

Pier One welcomes canine guests into its Water View rooms with the Puppy Package , where they will enjoy their own bed, food bowl and water bowl, plus a $5 donation to the RSPCA is included in the price. For even more luxury, opt for a doggy minibar loaded with dog-friendly snacks or take your pup to The Gantry Restaurant for a doggy degustation. There is no weight limit for the dogs, and you can bring two!

A schnauzer sits on a bed at Pier One. (Image: Pier One)
$5 of your stay will go to the RSPCA. (Image: Pier One)

InterContinental, Double Bay

Let your puppy live its best life with InterContinental Double Bay’s Pet Stay package . With a dog bed in the lounge room, and water and feed bowls in the bathroom, they will be relaxing just like you. Plus, there is a fancy pet-friendly menu if you want to go that extra mile.

A dachshund stands outside the InterContinental Double Bay.(Image: InterContinental Double Bay)
Taking a walk… (Image: InterContinental Double Bay)

Bannisters, Mollymook and Port Stephens

Both Bannisters by the Sea in Mollymook and Bannisters Port Stephens have pet-friendly rooms that will have your pup loving life. Not only will you get to indulge in the luxurious Bannisters, but you’ll also be accompanied by your little best friend.

Classic pet-friendly room at Bannisters by the Sea. (Image: Bannisters Mollymook)
Classic pet-friendly room at Bannisters by the Sea. (Image: Bannisters Mollymook)

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Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Blue Mountains

Don’t just enjoy the stunning Blue Mountains surrounds with your human friends, bring your furry friend along too! At Spicers Sangoma Retreat, the Pooch Package gives your dog a plush dog bed, lead, doggie bags, water bowl, food bowl, blanket and dog treats in the luxury Bush Suite.

Overlooking the sunset at Spicers Sangoma Retreat. (Image: Spicers Retreat)
What a view for you and your pup! (Image: Spicers Retreat)

Pet-friendly accommodation Victoria

Zagame’s House, Melbourne

Zagame’s House is a boutique hotel in Carlton where fur babies are just as welcome as you with the Fur Friendly package! They’ll be treated to a bag of goodies upon arrival and a free ‘Furry Movie of the Month’.

Dog and owner getting their nails painted at Zagame's House. (Image: Wasamedia)
Nothing better than relaxing with a mani. (Image: Wasamedia)

Plus, experience the seasonal menu of culinary dishes designed by renowned chef, Chris Bonello. If it’s your pup’s cup of milk, there are also bonding sessions available with Zagame’s Dog of the House, Hugo the Groodle – what a treat!

Two dogs sit on armchairs by a fireplace at Zagame's House. (Image: Wasamedia)
Warming ourselves up. (Image: Wasamedia)

Mount Sturgeon Cottages, Dunkeld

Once home to the station’s shearers and cooks, these renovated cottages , owned and operated by the two-hatted Royal Mail Hotel down the road, offer all the outdoor space your small friend could want… plus wooden floors so they’re allowed inside, too.

Fireplace at Mount Sturgeon Cottage. (Image: Emily Weaving)
Cosy up with your pet! (Image: Emily Weaving)

Pet-friendly accommodation Queensland

Ovolo The Valley, Brisbane

Ovolo The Valley’s V.I.Pooch takes care of both you and your dog. Offering an indulgent experience, complete with amenities (and treats!) to pamper you and your pooch like a true VIP. The V.I.Pooch holiday accommodation package provides a doggy bed where your furry buddy can snuggle and relax like a real boss, an eating/drinking mat and food bowl so they can feast in style, a doggy bag with specially designed dog toys and treats, and dog-friendly staff on hand to provide assistance when you need it.

Dog on the bed at Ovolo The Valley (Image: @bozzie.the.aussie)
Just hanging out at Ovolo The Valley. (Image: @bozzie.the.aussie)

Crystalbrook Bailey, Cairns

Fur babies deserve to enjoy life’s little luxuries just as much as we do. The dog-friendly Crystalbrook Bailey Residences are located on the first floor, with access to a courtyard or balcony, so your four-legged pals can stretch their legs and soak up some tropical Queensland rays.

Just a short walk to the Cairns Esplanade, there are plenty of grasslands and parks for you to explore so now you can enjoy a guilt-free holiday with your best mate.

A dog sits in a suitcase with snorkel gear nearby in Cairns. (Image: Crystalbrook Bailey)
Ready for a day on the reef. (Image: Crystalbrook Bailey)

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Quest Robina, Gold Coast

Quest Robina has six exclusive pooch-friendly apartments  on the ground floor, decked out with pet futon, food and water bowls, lounge cover, treat on arrival, and their very own outdoor terrace to roam and play in, these apartments are a slice of doggie heaven. There is even a personalised pooch guide available to help you find all the top local spots that are pet-friendly.

Dachshund with sunglasses and a hat at Quest Robina's pool. (Image: Quest Robina)
Soaking in those Gold Coast rays! (Image: Quest Robina)

Pet-friendly accommodation SA

Hilton, Adelaide

Pups are welcomed with open arms at Hilton, Adelaide – as long as they weigh less than 35 kilograms. They must also be on a lead or in a carrier whenever in public areas and mustn’t be left unattended. The ‘Dog-Friendly Package’ must be booked, and the hotel will charge you a $500 refundable deposit in case of any accidents that may occur – so allow for plenty of outside walks.

Dog receiving hotel breakfast at Hilton Adelaide.(Image: @sesamesuperhiro)
Room service breakfast for a King. (Image: @sesamesuperhiro)

Mayfair Hotel, Adelaide

The Mayfair Hotel’s Luxe Pets program offers five-star treatment for your four-legged friend. Available in the Deluxe King Rooms or Superior Queen Access Rooms, a Luxe Pets stay includes a comfy pet bed, food and water bowls, pet food and snacks, and a cheeky toy too. Maximum 2 pets per room. 20kg weight limit applies, but larger dogs may be allowed at management’s discretion.

Pet-friendly accommodation WA

QT Perth

QT Perth says Pup Yeah! to doggy visitors under 20kg. The pet-friendly rooms come with fetching features, including a mini-bar packed with treats, and decadent in-room dogs’ dinner menus designed by QT Head of Treats Andrew Barkham. It also has bespoke pupQ grooming leaving your bestie washed and looking gorgeous!

Pet-friendly accommodation ACT

Mercure Hotel, Canberra

Mercure Canberra accepts pets of all shapes and sizes, and the pet-friendly rooms feature a private courtyard accessible via your own French doors making nighttime bathroom breaks for your pet a breeze.

A small, black dog is covered in flowers as it stands beside the pool at Mercure Canberra. (Image: Mercure Canberra)
Pippa being pampered by the pool. (Image: Mercure Canberra)

Prior to booking your stay, be sure to contact the hotel first so that they may approve your pet. Note that bringing your pet may also incur extra fees for the dog-friendly amenities and services offered by these hotels. 

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

    Angela Saurine Angela Saurine
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    From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet. 

    Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it. 

    Budj Bim cultural landscape  

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is on Gunditjmara Country. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim , ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas. 

    eel tank
    The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour 

    Dumawul walkingtour
    Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance.  The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.  

    Kooyoora walking tour
    Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Kingfisher Cruises  

    Kingfisher Cruises
    Cruising the Murray with Kingfisher Cruises. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises . Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.  

    wawa biik 

    Taungurung leaders
    Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik. 

    Bataluk Cultural Trail  

    Bataluk Trail
    Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.  

    Healesville Sanctuary  

    echidna at Healesville Sanctuary
    Get up close with a resident echidna at Healesville Sanctuary. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm. 

    The Grampians 

    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians
    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.