8 tail-wagging tips for a dog-friendly Great Ocean Road getaway

For your furry best mate, there’s nothing better than cruising along the stunning Great Ocean Road, nose out the window, soaking in the salty sea breeze and the scent of adventure.

Here’s a tail-wagging guide of where to eat, stay and play for a paw-fect dog-friendly Great Ocean Road holiday.

1. Stay at a dog-friendly caravan park

Your furry friend is welcome at Great Ocean Road Parks as most parks are dog-friendly seasonally or all year-round. Stay on a camp site year-round at a dog-friendly caravan park at Marengo, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell, Princetown or Skenes Creek. Marengo also has dog-friendly cabins year-round where your dog can stay inside with you.

During off-peak times, Wye River, Anglesea, Lorne and Torquay offer dog-friendly campsites, and Anglesea has dog-friendly cabins, where your dog can join you inside or stay outside in the fully enclosed area attached to the cabin.

2. Discover dog-friendly beaches

The coast offers a range of on-leash and off-leash beaches where responsible pet ownership and local laws apply.

Have tail-wagging fun at these dog-friendly off-leash year-round beaches, Whites Beach at Torquay, and north of Doble Steet (W119 beach marker) in Lorne.

Beaches that are dog-friendly with on-lead or timeshare restrictions are Marengo, Skenes Creek, O’Donohue’s Beach Anglesea, Johanna and Fairhaven.

Further along, in the Bay of Islands Coastal Park, dogs are allowed year-round on-lead at Worm Bay, Sandy Cove and Wild Dog Cove beach.

3. Bring your best mate to a beer garden

The Airey’s Inlet Pub welcome dogs in their beer garden, so you can taste their award-winning beers and seasonal menu with your best-bud by your side.

The Great Ocean Road Brewhouse aim for their four-legged customers to feel comfortable too. Enjoy craft beers as you relax together in the beer garden overlooking the Apollo Bay foreshore - pats, water bowls and doggy snacks included.

4. Take your salty dog to the Salty Dog Café

As the name suggests, salty dogs are welcomed at the Salty Dog Café in Torquay, sit together enjoying the sea view whilst having coffee and bite to eat at this beachside kiosk.

In Lorne, the Swingbridge Café gets barking reviews for being paw-fect after a dog walk with its dog-friendly outdoor deck and lawn area with amazing views of the Erskine River.

5. Try wine-tasting together at Bellbrae Estate

If you prefer wine-tasting, Bellbrae Estate in Torquay, located 5 mins from Bells Beach, welcome dogs to their Cellar Door and have a shaded “Picnic Grove” outdoor space for you and your dog to enjoy, whilst sipping award-winning wines (or water bowls). 

6. Paws for the view at Teddys Lookout

Take in the stunning view together from Teddys Lookout, Lorne as dogs can join you on-lead. It’s only a few hundred metres to walk to Teddys Lookout, so if you want a longer walk with more lookouts an alternative is the Queens Park Lookout Loop taking you through bushy Queens Park to three lookouts with panoramic coastal views. 

7. Go walkies on the Surf Coast Walk

The Surf Coast Walk is a 44.3 km trail that runs from Torquay to Fairhaven along Victoria’s Surf Coast. Open year-round and stunning in any season - think coastal views, forest landscapes, surf culture and local heritage. Your best walking mate is welcome on the trail on leash. Choose a quick walk, full or multi day trek. 

8. Enjoy a doggie cone at Timboon Fine Ice Cream

Take a detour for a delicious cool treat at Timboon Fine Ice Cream, no need to share a lick of your cone, as your four-legged furry friend can have a scoop of doggie ice cream. With flavours like maple bacon and peanut butter, it’s made to taste good and be good (shiny coat anyone?). Buy a takeaway tub for the rest of the road trip!

While there are restrictions on beach and national park access along the Great Ocean Road, with some planning you’ll find dog-friendly spots where both you and your furry mate can have a woofin’ good time.

Book a holiday with your best furry friend at one of our seasonal or year-round dog-friendly Great Ocean Road Parks