Are you ready to take an Australian vacation and looking for dog-friendly accommodation in Queensland? With Covid-19 having turned the world upsidedown, many have found themselves housebound with their pets stuck indoors for months on end.  With restrictions lifting, now is the perfect time to pack your bags and your pooch in the car, and head off into the wild blue yonder for a well-earned vacation.

Dog-Friendly Accommodation

in Queensland

You don’t have to leave your pets behind when going on a holiday to Queensland. Instead, all you need is to find pet-friendly accommodation that will accept you and your four-legged buddy. Sadly, finding these accommodations can be quite a ‘pain in the neck’ as we soon found out. So we are here to take the hard work out for you so all you need to do is make the booking!

Dog-Friendly Travel Tips

The good news is that we have some of the best dog-friendly accommodation in Queensland that you should consider when you finally make your next road trip.

When travelling with a dog make sure they are harnessed in, have a comfortable place to sit, can see out of the window, have plenty of stops for the toilet, water, food and a run etc.

Always phone accommodation in advance and check if there are any dog-related additional costs; that the size, age, breed, fur/hair of your dog is acceptable.

Please bring your own dog bed, treats, food, doggy garbage bags, food & drink bowls and ensure your dog is toilet-trained and well-behaved.

Also, remember not to leave your dog alone in the accommodation if you go out. Often a strange environment can cause your dog stress and whimpering or barking won’t be appreciated or tolerated out of respect for other guests on vacation.

Our dog Oscar is a 9-month old Cavoodle, and he loved being with us on the trip. He was great in the car and well-behaved.

Road Trip Suggestions

Our first road trip takes us from the Gold Coast inland via Ipswich (to see Pauline Hanson’s original Fish and Chip shop).  Then to Toowoomba, and next heading north to country Kingaroy (the land of peanut growing) and Nanango.

We then head east to the Fraser Coast to two lovely towns – Maryborough and Hervey Bay.

We head north as far as Bundaberg‘s coastline to beautiful luxury Bargara, driving via Tiaro (where you’ll find a great retro coffee shop).

Returning south via Noosa Heads to the Sunshine Coast staying at Mudjimba. Finishing off the trip, we pass back through Brisbane returning to the Gold Coast with a drive to Wellington Point and visiting many pretty coastal towns.

Don’t forget to eat lots of Pure Gold Pineapples when you are in Queensland – they are so good for you.

We will add to this dog-friendly accommodation in Queensland article or add new articles now we can travel once more, so keep checking back for more great places to stay with your dog.

Jolly Swagman Accommodation Park in Towoomba

Toowoomba is popularly known as Queensland’s Garden City as it is home of the yearly flower festival. It is an inland city with a rich volcanic soil that favours plant growth. It is for this reason that this inland city has some of the most magnificent parks and gardens in Queensland and Australia as a whole.

Jolly Swagman Accommodation Park is a walking distance away from Toowoomba’s city centre and is located along an easily accessible city side road. It has a great dog-friendly environment for those travelling with their four-legged friends.

There is also a wide variety of lodgings for visitors and perfect dog-friendly accommodation in Queensland inland rural area.  These include bungalows, villas, cabins, and units. Accommodations like cabins have refrigerators, microwaves, cooktops, chairs, tables and many other items to make your stay worthwhile.  We love the traditional bungalow-feel to the buildings and the fact it was a smaller sized park with no noisy guests.

There is a car park in front of the cabins and most of the accommodation facilities. The property also has a powered site for campers, caravans, and motorhomes just in case you prefer that option – but all are dog-friendly choices here. All in all, the staff are friendly and the property we found to be clean and neatly arranged.

Jolly Swagman Accommodation Park is proximal to the Margaret Street, which is popularly known for its eateries and entertainment sports so we were able to walk the dog and find somewhere to have a coffee and milkshake.

The accommodation has picturesque scenery that is created by the beautiful gardens that surround it. We also had an easy drive to the Picnic Point Waterfall and Lions Park Lookout at sunset.

Nanango Star Motel in Nanango

Nanango is one of the oldest towns in Queensland and often missed as a destination when heading off on a road trip. It is known for its murals and chainsaw sculptures, which are a symbol of the town’s rich history in farming, timber-felling, and mining. It is a vibrant town with a lot of cultural heritage even as it maintains a relaxing rural feel.

Nanango Star Motel is an affordable country-style accommodation located right in the heart of the CBD. This central location makes it easier to access the attraction sites, eateries, and entertainment spots within or proximal to the town centre whilst walking your dog.

It has clean ensuite rooms, comfortable beds and all the amenities that you might need for your stay.

These include a fridge and microwave, TV and Free Wi-Fi, table, chair, hot shower, bottled water, and a kettle for making your tea or coffee. Your face might be lightened up by the free lollies, cookies, or fruits left in the rooms as part of the welcoming package. The staff is always ready to help you with any other thing that you might need.

Hopefully, you will enjoy the airconditioned rooms. It is definitely a value for money dog-friendly accommodation in Queensland.

McNevins Maryborough Motel in Maryborough

Historic Maryborough (named as it is on Mary River) is known for its extraordinary art and statues, memorials, heritage buildings, and museums. It is located three hours from Brisbane and takes you back to Australia rich past since it was once one of the country’s largest port towns and is located on the river. It was one of the producers of naval ships, railway rolling stock, and naval ships in the late 19^th Century as it is a sheltered port that is accessible through the heads and between Kangaroo and Turkey Islands.  I’d definitely add Maryborough to your road trip.

McNevins Maryborough Motel is the best accommodation for leisure and business travellers alike. It is a walking distance from the Maryborough CBD and can easily be accessed as it is located close to a road but far from the noise.

You’ll find this dog-friendly accommodation in Queensland are large, spacious, with free internet, hairdryer, iron box, comfortable chairs and beds as well as lovely fluffy soft towels. This accommodation has a pool and an onsite restaurant that serves a variety of meals. We hope you will enjoy some sumptuous poolside meals during your stay. It is worth the price tag and of course, it also has dog-friendly rooms.

Can you see Oscar and I hiding under the sign?

The Grange Resort in Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay is a major gateway to Fraser Island, which happens to be the world’s largest sand island so it’s not surprising this is our third visit here to this pretty coastal town in a year. It is an excellent vacation destination for those looking for a serene and peaceful location for their getaways. Hervey Bay is particularly loved as it is a perfect location for those who would like to view the magnificent humpback whales during their annual migration to the north mid-year.

The Grange Resort offers affordable 4-star accommodation that consists of one, two, and three-bedroom Townhall style Villa apartments – some (not all) of which are dog-friendly.

The facility is well-maintained with manicured lawns and beautiful walkways. Rooms are clean and are serviced by hospitality staff. The rooms are also far from the busy roads where most activities occur. This is to give you the peace that you might desire while in holiday relaxation mode here at Hervey Bay.  It feels good to wake up to the sound of chirpy birds in the morning as some have created a home on the lovely trees in this resort-style facility.

The Grange Resort is perfect dog-friendly accommodation in Queensland that will relax and inspire you.

Absolute Oceanfront Tourist Park in Bagara

Bagara is a stunning seaside town located approximately thirteen Kilometers away from Bundaberg and worth of adding to your road trip. It has numerous parks and beaches with many luxury homes along the coast. It also has perfect weather that might make you think that you are in Hawaii. Many are amazed by the palm trees along the shores and rush their road trip to explore the expansive Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Absolute Oceanfront Tourist Park is a pleasant boutique-style tourist park with all the amenities you might need for a lovely stay right on the coastline. You can book enough space for the entire team you are travelling with if you want to set up camp or book a dog-friendly cabin like we did that has absolute oceanfront location, and a safe picket fence at the front to keep our beloved Exploradog safe and sound.

We love the fact that this Bargara tourist park is constantly being improved to make it more attractive and welcoming. It is now levelled with fairly new slabs, electrical wiring, and plumbing etc.  The cabins have also been renovated and painted in a gorgeous blue, and are strategically position nearer to the ocean for stunning coastal views.

The grass is growing nicely to provide the natural feel to Absolute Oceanfront Tourist Park. A stunning new open-air protected kitchen has been built at the camp for those who need any kitchen items, fridge, BBQ or just social dining space. This is adjacent to the new refreshing tropical swimming pool.

All amenities, including the kitchen, laundry area, and bathroom, are clean. Laundry services are offered at a fair price, and so there is no need of breaking your back or getting stressed over dirty laundry.

The park is a walking distance away from Kelly’s Beach, from where you can have a perfect view of the sea and engage in countless fun activities or a sunset walk as we enjoyed in the cool of the evening. It is also proximal to a convenient store and other essential services that ensure that you have a memorable stay. What’s exciting is that you even have access to TV cables within powered sites just in case you’d like to watch free to air channels on your TV.

Mud Shack in Mudjimba

Mudjimba is a Sunshine Coastal suburb in Queensland that is mostly loved for its beaches and famous for Old Woman Island off the coast. It has a perfect transport system that connects it to neighbouring towns. However, Mudjimba is a quiet and peaceful suburb as it doesn’t witness the crazy and noisy traffic seen in major towns. It has a beautiful village feel to the beach cafe area too.

Mud Shack Mudjimba is a separate self-contained apartment on private property with everything that you might need for a nice dog-friendly stay. This awesome beach-themed property has one bedroom, two beds, and enough space for three guests. (However, more guests can be accommodated at your request in the main house which also has a separate guest area opposite).

Visitors have their own secure gated driveway, plus a shady outdoor sitting area in the tropical garden. Guests also have access to a large pool off of the main house which boasts a retro-themed cabana-style surf bar, plus a patio relaxation area off of the main house.

Other amenities include an outdoor shower off the main house, a stainless steel fridge, free WiFi and NETFLIX, microwave, Nespresso machine, toaster, oven, cutlery, crockery, linen and pineapple and beach eclectic decor. I know you will enjoy sleeping in the stunning 4-poster bamboo queen bed (I so fell in love with this comfortable bed!) provided in the master bedroom. The single/day bed is in the separate living and lounge room which is a great space for a teenager.

 

We loved that Oscar (Exploradog) could run freely in the garden with the owners Shihtzu, Dougall who played beautifully together. They were also kind enough to doggy-sit Oscar whilst we went out to breakfast one morning, and again to the pub for dinner one night.

You could easily stay here at the Mud Shack for several days as there is so much to see and do. Base yourself here for road trips, relax at the beach, take sunrise beach walks, or enjoy the stunning dog-friendly off-leash beach that our hosts kindly took our Cavoodle and me for a lovely one-hour walk at sunset.  We finished walking through mangroves along the riverside – it was a really special time.

The good part about this luxury tropical paradise is that you can use the outdoor shower or jump into the pool together with your dog(s) then laze about in the sun or shade afterwards sipping a cocktail.

Ovolo Inchcolm at Brisbane

Brisbane is Queensland’s capital and is found on the Brisbane River. Among its attractions include Mt. Coot-tha which hosts most of the city’s botanic gardens. There is also the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Museum and Sciencentre. These are famous South Bank cultural institutions and precincts in Brisbane.

Ovolo Incholm is a stylish and clean boutique hotel with stunning facilities. Their VIP Pooch service is highly recommended and is well worth pampering both owners and pooches alike.

The rooms are spacious with beautiful views. Suites are also super-quiet with no noise from the outside thanks to treated windows. Also, your accommodation at Ovolo has a unique touch that makes you have a different experience next time you book a different uniquely-styled room.

You have an Apple TV for entertainment, and a tablet specifically meant for any needed hotel service. There is also enough lighting in the rooms – both natural and artificial. Breakfast is included when booking, and you have access to gym, minibar, washing machine and dryer. There is a happy hour in the evening when visitors get free drinks in the bar area.

The hotel is strategically located in Brisbane, with many attraction sites, entertainment joints and eateries being in close proximity. The staff is friendly and always willing to help. We love the retro lift which you’ll find just off the reception area and lobby.

So – what are you waiting for?

Isn’t it time to plan your dog-friendly vacation in Queensland?

If you stay at any of the above locations, make sure you tell them “Exploramum sent you”, and they’ll be sure to treat you like a VIP guest!

Heading Back To Gold Coast

We stopped off at Cleveland Point Recreation Reserve & Linear Park as well as Wellington Point as we headed back to the Gold Coast. If there is no need to rush home, take some time and explore the stunning marinas and coastline.

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