Dog Friendly Guide to South Gippsland
South Gippsland is a very dog friendly location with a range of beaches, walks, wineries, cafes, restaurants and a variety of accommodation where dogs are welcomed. There are also some kennels and pet sitting services in the region.
DOG FRIENDLY BEACHES
- Port Franklin, Port Welshpool, Toora and Yanakie beaches On-leash, all beaches, at any time.
- Sandy Point - Ned Neals Beach (Western end of Beach Parade), the only off- leash beach. On-leash on all other beaches, at all times. Dec-April, dogs are not allowed on the beach from 9am-6pm.
- Shallow Inlet, in summer dogs must be on a leash and are not allowed on the beach from 9am-6pm.
- Venus Bay, on leash between No.1 and No.5 Beach at any time, except 1st Dec - 31st March from 9am-6pm.
- Walkerville, on-leash at all times and Dec 1St -March 31st, not allowed on the beach from 9am-6pm.
- Waratah Bay, on-leash at all times within the township beach and west to Cooks Creek, they are not allowed on the beach between 9am-6pm, from Dec 1st-March 31st.
DOG FRIENDLY WALKS
Please note dogs must be on a lead at all times
- Great Southern Rail Trail (Nyora - Alberton)
- Grand Ridge Rail Trail and Baths Road Reserve (Mirboo North)
- Wuchatsch Reserve (Nyora)
- Loch Village Walk (Loch)
- Henry Littledyke Reserve (Poowong)
- Outtrim Bushland Reserve (Outtrim)
- Olsen's Walk at Korumburra Botanic Park (Korumburra)
- Kongwak Pioneer Reserve (Kongwak)
- Leongatha Wetlands (Leongatha)
- Hammans Bush Reserve (Leongatha North)
- Mossvale Park (Berry's Creek)
- Loader Walk (Fish Creek)
- Foster Flora Reserve (Foster)
- Agnes Falls (Toora)
- Port Franklin Boardwalk (Port Franklin)
- Welshpool to Port Welshpool Shared Pathway (Welshpool / Port Welshpool)
- Old Port Trail (Port Albert)
- Roy Henderson Path (Sandy Point)
- Tarwin Lower to Venus Bay Shared Pathway (Tarwin Lower - Venus Bay)
KENNELS AND PET SITTING SERVICES
- Leongatha - Leongatha Cattery & Kennels
70 Hughes St. Ph: 0408 143 892 - Day care if pens available
- Poowong - Gippsland Paws and More
85 Garners Lane. Ph: 03 5659 2194 - Day care available
- Wonthaggi - Inverloch Dog Minding
16 Morely St. Ph: 0423 036 802 - Stay period of a few hours, overnight or longer
WINERIES
- Gippsland Wine Company
6835 South Gippsland Hwy, Loch. Ph: 0477 555 235 - dogs allowed, enquire on booking
- Djinta Djinta Winery
10 Stevens Rd, Kardella South. Ph: 03 5658 1163 dogs welcome on leash, cellar door only
- Waratah Hills Vineyard
20 Cottmans Rd, Fish Creek. Ph: 03 5683 2441 - dogs welcome on leash
- Harman Wines
612 Korumburra Inverlch Rd, Wattle Bank. Ph: 03 5611 3857 - dogs welcome outside, on leash
- Bass River Winery & Olive Grove
1835 Dalyston-Glen Forbes Rd, Glen Forbes. Ph: 03 5678 8252 - dogs only allowed outside, not in winery
- Gurneys Cidery
343 Fish Creek Foster Rd, Foster. Ph: 0400 706 612 - well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome
CAFE/RESTAURANTS
- Many cafes, pubs and restaurants with outside seating areas are happy to have dogs on leads accompanying their owners whilst they are eating/drinking.
PET FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
Visitors are advised to check with accommodation owners prior to booking, to ensure they meet the pet friendly requirements.
MOTELS
- Leongatha Motel
18 Turner Street, Leongatha. Ph: 03 5662 2375 - cleaning fee applies, bring pet's own bed & bedding
- Meeniyan Motel
110 Whitelaw Street, Meeniyan. Ph: 03 5664 0030 - no extra cleaning fees, call to make arrangements
- Prom Central Foster, Korumburra Tourist Park, Sandy Point Holiday Park, Venus Bay Caravan Park, Tarra Valley Caravan Park are all campsites only.
- Long Jetty Foreshore CP (at Port Welshpool) are campsite and outside the cabins
- Wilson's Prom Holiday Park, Yanakie - campsite and outside cabins
- Shallow Inlet CP and Waratah Bay CP are campsite/own vans/on leash only
- Shallow Inlet Camping Reserve and Loch Memorial Reserve Camping are on lead at all times.
- Toora Tourist Park allows pets in 2 designated cabins, en-suite sites and powered sites
- Best Friend Holiday Retreat in Tarra Valley is ideal for dogs. They are allowed in cabins, luxury and budget cabins are securely fenced, and caravan and tent sites are individually fenced. There are 6 large fenced off-leash areas, a dog playground and Giant Dog ball run. Doggie Spa (hydro-bath) and luxury day-use kennels.
- Yarram Holiday Park - designated pet friendly cabins and sites only.
- Leongatha Caravan Park - Pet friendly
KARDELLA SOUTH
- Citrus Grove, Stevens Road, Kardella South, 3950. Ph: 0418 372 309 (self-contained)
- The Wine Farm Cottage, 370 Inverloch Road, Koonwarra 3954. Ph: 0417 336 734 (self-contained)
- Tessy's Run Farm Stay Cottage, 990 Nerrena Road, Meeniyan 3956. Ph: 0428 114 699
- Odiyana Retreat, 815 Amey's Track, Foster 3960. Ph: 0402 723 999 (self-contained)
- Sandy Point Getaway, 1 Ash Avenue, Sandy Point. Ph: 0410 801 635 (self-contained but dogs not allowed in the house)
- Shellback, 265 Cape Liptrap Road, Walkerville 3956. Ph: 0428 688 263 (self-contained, dogs outside ONLY)
- Shearwater, 39 Acacia Street, Walkerville 3956. Ph: 0428 688 263 self-contained, indoor & outdoor pets by arrangement)
- Mt Singapore Villas, 170 Foley Road, Yanakie 3960. Ph: 0423 299 721 (self-contained, dogs allowed indoors but not on furniture)
- Liptrap Loft, 16 Boags & McBurnie Road, Tarwin Lower 3956. Ph: 0428 688 263 (self-contained, dogs allowed indoors but not on furniture)
- Dune Haven, 91 Atherton Drive, Venus Bay 3956. Ph: 0407 375 616 (self-contained, max. 2 dogs, allowed indoors but bring bedding & bowls)
- Captain's Cottage, 11 Juno Road, Venus Bay 3956. Ph: 0407 375 616 (self-contained, pets allowed inside on hard floors areas ONLY, BYO bedding & bowls)
- Lavender Cottage, 31 Jupiter Blvd., Venus Bay 3956. Ph: 0438 986 774 (self-contained, dogs allowed inside but not on furniture)
- The Boathouse, St Ives Crescent, Venus Bay 3956. Ph: 0409 413 758 (self-contained, pets indoors but not on furniture, property fencing not secure)
- Beach Haven, 29 Lewis Street, Port Welshpool, 3965. Ph: 0434 308 879 (self-contained, pets not allowed indoors)
- Hill View Appt, Welshpool, David Smith. Ph: 0409 425 109 (1 bedroom appt with kitchen)
- The Anglers Arms Cottages, 19 Wharf Avenue, Port Albert 3971 Ph: 0402 125 564 (3 self-contained cottages, all pet friendly)
Note: This information was last updated by the South Gippsland Tourist Information Centres on 31/7/24.