Dont also miss exploring the gold ruins adjacent to the township, within the Maldon Historic Reserve, including around the Beehive Mine Chimney immediately to the north. While the Best Western Melbourne City was the first hotel in Melbourne City to allow pets to stay in some of its rooms, an increasing number of hotels in Melbourne are becoming pet-friendly, from luxury hotels through to many apartment hotels, both in the city centre and in the suburbs. Its best to book in advance, at least during holiday periods. Here in regional Victoria, there's space to chase waves and frisbees, and there's sticks and balls to fetch. Close to Federation Square, Pilgrim Bar is another riverside spot that is dog-friendly, serving up tapas-style plates and gourmet toasties. For more details on surrounding beaches, see below. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach for the whole weekend. Known for its picturesque intertwining lakes, amazing camping grounds, and the famous Ninety Mile Beach - it's a popular spot for families and nature seekers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Book the best day trips from Melbourne, Australia directly on Tripadvisor and take the stress out of planning. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria. Dont let your dog wander around the car. Great Ocean Road comes in at number 5 on our list of the best day trips from Melbourne. Try Tasmania! Theres even an Instagram account devoted to the dogs on the punt tours! Explore Victoria with your pup on a tour on a dog-friendly chauffeured bus. 6 Best Day Trips from Melbourne 1 | Daylesford. 10 Best Day Trips from Adelaide, Australia. Flickr/Richard Elzey. So if youre considering setting off together, we have some suggestions for making your favourite holiday activities dog-friendly. Places to Stay. The outdoor tables at the tea rooms are also dog-friendly. Where: Lorne - Port Fairy. 10 Best . Plus its easy to get around the city with smaller pets. Its a moderate hike through bushland with beautiful views from the lookout at the summit, across to Hanging Rock and the surrounding countryside. Check out Harlow Bar in Richmond, which welcomes dogs both in their beer garden and on the rooftop, accessible from the stairs in the beer garden. Have a picnic among the trees. The rules for whether dogs can access beaches are up to the individual councils. While dogs are not surprisingly not permitted on the underground mine tours, theyre welcome to join you on leash in exploring the surface of the former gold mine for free, including ascending halfway up the poppet head along the trestle way (if they can be carried up the stairs). Here are my top five recommendations. Highlights include the sprawling Paradise Bookshop, the atmospheric Convent Gallery and artist David Bromley's spectacular . Car parking is on the side of Mount Macedon Road and can be difficult on busy days. Werribee Open Range Zoo. Make sure you bring cash for the entry fee, plus also respect the owners of the property, keeping your dog on a leash and cleaning up after it. End point: Mount Gambier. Famous for its food and dog-friendly caf culture, the highlight of a Melbourne trip is often eating. Try another? 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. Mornington Peninsula. On each tour, there is a charge per human, plus a small charge per dog up to $25. As well as large fenced grass expanse, theres also a dog agility course. Interested in taking your pup out on the river? Its also possible to visit Maldon on the pet-friendly Victorian Goldfield Railways departing Castlemaine (see #12). Daylesford is a popular weekend destination from Melbourne, but its also close enough for a day trip, with the drive from the centre of Melbourne taking about 80 minutes. Take the Monash Freeway (M1) to either South Gippsland Freeway (M420), Clyde Road (C407) or Koo Wee Rup Road (C422) exit. The Somerset on Elizabeth manages to provide the privacy and autonomy of an apartment while still offering the hospitality of a hotel. While Melbourne doesnt have any surf beaches like my home city of Sydney (instead head to the Great Ocean Road for the nearest surf beaches to Melbourne), it does still have some decent beaches along the shores of Port Phillip Bay, great for visiting with a dog thanks to their calm waters. Find local inspiration and start planning your next road trip with our simple interactive journey planner. The best day trips from Melbourne. Table for two PAW-lease! The Yarra Valley is known for its Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc varietals. This beach is also conveniently fenced, great for excitable pups. Start point: Melbourne. Great Ocean Road Extended to South Australia. A dog enjoying brunch at the Farm Cafe. The punts depart from the landing in front of the Terrace Cafe. Travel on the safari bus through Australian grasslands to spot koalas and kangaroos. This huge bushland reserve on the edge of Mount Martha is entirely fenced and contains multiple walking tracks, even a creek swimming spot. The goal of taking a day trip with your dog is to share a stress-free adventure together. Theres plenty of ocean-side outdoor seating, but the best part is that the beach right in front has an off-leash play spot. Perhaps head here after a visit to Miss Drews Bakery and Dog Cafe (see #3)? Our dog-friendly lodging pick: While there is no shortage of pet-friendly lodging options in the Dells, our recommendation is Baker's Sunset Bay Resort, where you can bring up to two pets for $15 a day per floof. In the mood for a rooftop bar? Over the 2022-23 summer, Paddle and Brunch runs on multiple days per month, a mixture of Saturdays and weekdays. The Great Ocean Road is difficult to beat for Melbourne road trips by automobile. While I didnt find this popular weekend destination on the edge of Melbourne that dog-friendly (most of the beaches dont allow dogs, especially during summer), it is home to a superb off-leash dog park. Ideally suited for a weekend drive or maybe a long weekend away, Mornington Peninsula is only an hour away from Melbourne and is the place to be for lavish . Visit the Nobbies on Phillip Island. Hate leaving your pup at home while you go to work? Onsite is Oliviers Cafe, open for breakfast daily or for an early lunch. There are also a number of off-leash areas check the signage, and make sure you always carry a leash. The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, USA. Even more incredibly, they lay claim to being home to the worlds first caf-style dog beveragethe famous Pupaccino. Book Now. Dogs are also allowed in the park in designated on and off-lead areas. 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. Melbourne has no shortage of restaurants, cafes and pubs that welcome dogs all over the city, from laneway cafes to trendy pubs to brunch spots. 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. Try break up the trip with overnights in pet-friendly hotels or campsites. For pet owners, watching your furry friend's tail droop as you pack your bag for a weekend away makes it hard to even consider leaving home. Many of the walks in the Otways are dog friendly on-leash (just check the signs at the start of the trail) or, if you're looking for some off-leash fun, Marengo Beach nearby is dog off-leash all year round. 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). Meaning you can turn your beach day into a park day without having to get back in the car. However, during the rest of the year dogs are allowed all day long on this wonderful ocean-facing beach. With a scenic Central Highland setting and a healthy dose of style, Daylesford makes for an easy day out. For an arty dog-friendly experience on the edge of Melbourne, head to McClellands Sculpture Park near Frankston. Want more opportunities to learn paddleboarding with you pup? Naturally, plenty of photos are also taken! Finally, it goes without saying, but NEVER leave a dog in a car by themselves. Here are my top five recommendations. Theres multiple historic train rides located not that far from Melbourne where you can enjoy a ride with your dog. Try the Tipperary Walking Track from the picturesque Lake Daylesford to the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. Especially considering its a full-time off-leash spot. Purchase a bone or occupier treat for them to chew on across the trip. A cute destination to visit on a weekend day trip from Melbourne, that your pup will simply love, is Miss Drews Bakery and Dog Cafe on the Mornington Peninsula. 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. Note that there is a small admission charge, which covers both the sculpture park and the galleries. And spending a few hours exploring it on foot is actually a fabulous activity to do with your pup. 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. Offering some of the most magnificent countryside in Victoria, experience the Dandenong Ranges in full as you enjoy a ride on the Puffing Billy steam train. Daylesford, founded during the 1860's Gold Rush (and, hilariously, originally named' Wombat'), is a popular spa town to the north-west of Melbourne, where visitors can take a load off and enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation. In the decades since, theyre worked hard at perfecting a pet paradise, and now offer gourmet dog biscuits too. 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. Fur real. Starting from Torquay, the four-hour drive culminates at the famous Twelve Apostles standing tall amidst the roaring ocean. Many of these are still wonderfully-maintained, and also welcome leashed dogs to join you. Which one of these fun ideas will you next tick off with your pup? How to Get There: Follow signs to Geelong and join the Great Ocean Road just past Anglesea. Let us suggest a mosey up Australias east coast, taking in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane as you go. While you're there: Salty Dog Fish and Chippery ( directions ), Aireys Pub ( directions ), Conservation Ecology Centre ( directions ), Otway Fly Treetop Adventures ( directions ), Surf World Museum ( directions ), Qdos Arts ( directions ). With a walled front courtyard, beautiful interior, and great coffee, Patch has something for everyone. Plus make sure you detour over to Grey Street and visit Chez Misty. Rutherglen (3 hours from of Melbourne CBD) Along the Murray River, Rutherglen is known as one of premier wine regions in Victoria. With a culinary culture that's second to none, world-class wineries on its doorstep and one of Victoria's great drives within its reaches, Healesville and the wider Yarra Valley really is the perfect day trip from Melbourne (or weekend getaway, if you're that way inclined!). However, Mount Macedon is also worthwhile to visit anytime of year with your dog, thanks to the dog-friendly Forest Glade Gardens. View the original change rooms, blacksmiths shop and engine room, although staff ask you to minimise time in the museum with your dog. Stay here:Lavender Farmin Healesville allows pets to stay on their six-bedroom rural property by prior arrangement. Melbourne is deservedly world famous for its street art. 3. As winter looms, wine country calls complete with a roaring fireplace and a case of newly acquired booze. The return transfer coach departs from Sovereign Hill at 3.25 pm on weekdays and 3.50 pm on weekends. Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in Melbourne. Phone: 1300 339 463. | Lincoln and Gandhi. Organise a restraint your dog is comfortable with (pet shops offer a wide range). 2. This Melbourne based company offers curated hikes, walks, picnics, high teas, wine tours, and even truffle hunts designed to be enjoyed with your pets. Theres a wide variety of walks on offer in the park, from the 850m-long Bushland Circuit Trail to the 9.5km-long combined Dights Falls Trail and Westfield Extension. Source: SAKARET / shutterstock. Theres some great burgers options on the menu, and if youre visiting during the week make sure you arrive before 6:30pm to nab the Happy Hour drink specials. Copyright 2023 by Shandos Cleaver | All rights reserved. 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