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. 

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Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her 4+ years 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? South Australia and The Kimberley.
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How to spend three romantic days on Hamilton Island

(Image: Sharyn Cairns)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
    Continue
    From barefoot beach walks to moonlit dinners, this three-day Hamilton Island itinerary will have lovebirds swooning.

    Few Aussie destinations do romance quite like Hamilton Island. Set in the dreamy Whitsunday Islands, this popular honeymoon destination combines luxury retreats, palm-fringed reefs and spectacular dining with the easy rhythm of tropical living. Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, anniversary or spontaneous couples’ weekend, here’s how to spend a loved-up three days on Hamilton Island.

    Day 1

    Morning

    A serene ocean-view room overlooking endless blue horizons.
    Let picturesque ocean views welcome you the moment you check in. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Nothing kills the holiday buzz faster than waiting at the baggage carousel. Luckily, our arrival couldn’t have been smoother. Staying at the boutique, adults-only Beach Club Hotel means VIP transfers are included, so the moment we land, a staff member greets us and whisks our bags straight from the baggage claim to our room. We don’t have to lift a finger.

    Occupying a prime piece of real estate on Catseye Beach, Beach Club is a peaceful retreat just steps from sugar-white sand and a turquoise lagoon. Within 10 minutes of stepping off the plane, we’ve arrived and are switched into holiday mode.

    We check into our room, immediately delighted by the sight of several wallabies grazing in the garden just in front of our private terrace. Beyond, picturesque ocean vistas stretch across the horizon. The room’s mini bar is stocked with bespoke sweet treats; the bathroom with premium Aesop amenities that add to the luxury.

    After we’ve checked out the resort’s beachside infinity pool – plotting the lounge chairs we’ll no doubt return to later – we head out to explore the island. Families glide by on hire bikes and chirping rainbow lorikeets dot the foliage. We decide to hike up to Passage Peak – one of the most scenic walks on Hamilton Island – which takes about 40 minutes one way and boasts panoramic Whitsundays views that will stick with you for long after you leave.

    Afternoon

    A romantic beachside lunch as champagne is served.
    Recharge with a laid-back lunch at Beach Club Restaurant. (Image: Nikki To)

    After working up an appetite, Beach Club Restaurant is the perfect place to snap up a light lunch. Think barramundi, nourish bowls, Wagyu beef burgers, brown butter toasties and Queensland chilli prawns. For those who don’t want to move from their prime perch on the beach or by the pool, there’s also the option to order bites via QR code from the resort’s lounge chairs.

    After our fill, we plunge into the hotel’s incredible infinity pool, its surface blending near seamlessly into the blues of Catseye Beach. Quiet and tucked away from the island’s hum, it feels illegal to do anything but relax here.

    Evening

    A curated flatlay of dishes from Catseye Pool Club.
    Celebrate your first evening over beautifully plated coral trout. (Image: Nikki To)

    There’s truly nothing more satisfying than a little R&R (rest & robe) time in your hotel room after spending the day in the sun. Fresh from a shower, we watch the ripe tangerine sun slowly dip below the palm-framed horizon from our plush terrace daybed. Two wallabies are still grazing on the grass. It’s a magical setting; I find it hard to believe I am only a few hours away from home.

    Come dinnertime, we zip over to nearby Catseye Pool Club, which is a short buggy ride from the hotel or a five-minute walk. A chic new haunt from Sydney-based pair Josh and Julie Niland, the restaurant is all about reconnecting over flavour-rich share plates using high-quality Aussie ingredients.

    We sit in a corner overlooking Catseye Beach – arguably the best seat in the house – with mini table lamps casting a soft glow about the contemporary indoor-outdoor setting. What comes next is pure delight; grilled prawns served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a Thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Then, elegantly plated coral trout served with kasundi and zucchini. We savour it all slowly, the conversation flowing easily between bites and sips while the moonlight transforms the ocean into molten silver.

    Day 2

    Morning

    An 18-hole golf course set against sweeping ocean views.
    Tee off side by side against a backdrop of sweeping ocean views. (Image: Andrea Francolini)

    A la carte breakfast is complimentary for guests of Beach Club, and we take full advantage of the fact. Barista-quality coffee and pressed juice – today it’s carrot, melon, orange and pineapple – arrive alongside pastries baked fresh this morning. For the larger meal, I treat myself to the buttermilk pancakes with praline butter.

    If you prefer an active start to the morning rather than lying in, you’ll find plenty of options. Perhaps tee off at the 18-hole golf course, where the views are as much of a drawcard as the sport itself. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, the course is integrated into the ridged landscape of Dent Island.

    Afternoon

    Artfully paired wines and bites from the Talk & Taste experience.
    Uncover new favourite wines together. (Image: Sharyn Cairns)

    For wine-curious couples, Beach Club’s new Talk & Taste experience is a must. Held several times a week for up to eight guests, it’s an intimate tasting of Aussie drops paired with curated bites – all guided by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher.

    We opt for the white wine and seafood option, enjoying pours from Eden Valley to Launceston while Courtenay shares her knowledge and passion for the intricacies of wine making.

    Later, we drive our golf buggy up to One Tree Hill. This is one of the most popular spots on the island for sunset, but we chose to come a little earlier so we have more space to ourselves. We enjoy afternoon wine and cheese, admiring the 360-degree views of the island and its impossibly blue waters.

    Evening

    The moody, atmospheric interiors of Bommie Deck.
    Dress up for a romantic evening at Bommie Restaurant. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Since we are, after all, on holiday, we continue the tipples at Bommie Deck. Suspended above Hamilton Island’s marina, this architectural monument is a fabulous place for a sunset spritz.

    Just a few steps inside is Bommie Restaurant, the contemporary Australian fine dining establishment headed by chef Ryan Locke. Of anywhere on the island, this is the place to frock up and celebrate a special occasion – especially if theatrical culinary experiences take your fancy. The tasting set menu is a whirlwind of native Australian flavours and creative plating – with highlights including the cured venison wrapped in wattle seed seasoning. For dessert, a clever take on white chocolate and lemonade ends the night on a high.

    Day 3

    Morning

    A couple gliding across calm waters on SUP boards together.
    Ease into the morning with a paddleboarding adventure. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Another low-key morning means another blissful breakfast at Beach Club. This time, it’s smashed avo toast topped with Persian fetta, dukkah and poached eggs – a deliciously fueling start to the day.

    The weather today is perfect for a paddle, so we walk straight from our room onto the sand of Catseye Beach to pick up some SUP boards. Guests of Beach Club receive complimentary non-motorised water sports equipment, spanning everything from mini catamarans to snorkel gear and kayaks. Finding our balance on the boards is a fun challenge at first, but before long, we’re gliding across the glassy water like naturals.

    Afternoon

    A helicopter soaring above the iconic Heart Reef.
    Add the ultimate highlight with a Heart Reef flight together. (Image: Hamilton Island)

    No couples’ retreat is complete without a touch of pampering. Located in the resort area, Spa Wumurdaylin offers everything from body wraps and facials to de-stress massages using natural Australian products. The Soul Temple treatment begins with a heavenly feeling sugar scrub, followed by a Vichy vertical shower and underwater massage. I leave in a daze.

    If you prefer adventure to relaxation, there is an abundance of day trips from Hamilton Island, from snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays helicopter tours – all of which make for unforgettable experiences that will bring you and your partner closer.

    Evening

    A couple standing at qualia, gazing out over the endless ocean horizon.
    Close your journey over a beautiful dinner by the sea. (Image: Sharyn Cains)

    Enjoy an elevated evening at qualia’s tranquil Pebble Beach restaurant, where a private beach setting complements the thoughtful, seasonal menu. Or perhaps continue relaxing at Beach Club, feasting on roast lamb and seafood at the poolside restaurant or soaking in ocean views from your room with in-house room delivery. And don’t forget the champagne – a weekend of love, fun and restoration is worth toasting.

    Getting there

    Hamilton Island has its own airport called the Great Barrier Reef Airport, which makes it fuss-free to get to. Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar offer short, direct flights from most major Australian cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns. This means you’ll spend less time travelling and more time enjoying each other’s company.

    Visit hamitlonisland.com.au for more couples’ retreat ideas.