Your pet-friendly guide to the Gold Coast

Recent research from Stayz revealed over two million Aussies plan to take their pet on holidays with them in 2022 and if you’re one of them, you probably want to know where you can sleep, eat and play when you do.

The Gold Coast is well equipped for pet-friendly holidays, with a range of accommodation styles, cafes, breweries and even shopping centres opening their arms to your four-legged family members.

Use this guide to plan your ultimate pet-friendly Gold Coast escape.

Getting here

While Aussie airlines are yet to confirm whether they’re getting onboard the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s ruling that pets will be allowed to travel in the cabin, you can self-drive to the Gold Coast with your pooch in tow or hire a pet-friendly campervan for your trip.

Britz, Apollo, Mighty Campers and Jucy all provide pet-friendly hire options so you can travel and camp with the whole family.

Pawfect places to stay

There’s no need to leave your best mate at home, with pet-friendly hotels and tourist parks across the Gold Coast offering added perks like Puppy Pamper stations and off-leash areas. If camping out in nature is more your liver treat, these pet-friendly campgrounds near the Gold Coast welcome doggos with open arms.

Pet-friendly hotels

Quest Robina and QT Gold Coast both offer fur-friendly hotel accommodation (as long as fido is under 20kg). At Quest you’ll find pet-friendly rooms equipped with pet beds, food and water bowls, toys and other essentials to make the VIPs feel right at home. You’ll just need to give them a call first to discuss your pet, with a small additional cost starting at $15 per night per pet.

QT’s Pup Yeah! rooms are for those who don’t like ‘ruffing it’, offering a poochie mini bar packed with K9-friendly treats, in-room dogs’ dinner menu, a walking service and bespoke grooming.

Pet-friendly holiday homes

Renting a holiday home is a popular choice for those travelling with dogs, with the latest data showing that one in ten searches on the Stayz website is a pet-friendly one. We love the Retro Cottage at Bilinga Beach (property #7286812) and the prime beachfront position of Rigi on Currumbin Beach .

Kirra Beach Tourist Park

Plonk yourself beachfront for the ultimate family holiday on the Southern Gold Coast at Kirra Beach Tourist Park. There’s dog friendly cabins with a gate and pet proof mesh surrounds, as well as over 40 powered sites in a special area for those camping with dogs.

After a surf and a good ol’ sand roll, it’s easy to rinse off with the self-service dog wash facility, plus there’s a grassed park area next door to run off any excess energy before bedtime.

BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park and Motel | Coomera Holiday Village

You don’t have to leave your four-legged friend at home just because the kids want to hit the theme parks. Book a stay at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park and Motel in Helensvale or Coomera Holiday Village and you’ll be in prime position for visiting Warner Bros. Movie World, Australian Outback Spectacular, Dreamworld and Wet ‘N’ Wild.

You can bring up to two dogs with you – and dogs stay free inside with you – when you book one of the 20 pet-friendly cabins at BIG4, while selected campsites within the park are also pet-friendly. There’s an off-leash agility park within the 13 hectares of grounds, kennels on site if you’re headed somewhere they can’t join you, and pups are welcome at poolside cafe, Nibbles Terrace. It’s always nice to be pampered on holidays, so treat them to a wash and blow dry in the DIY Puppy Pamper Palace, too.

Those travelling with a caravan or campervan can pull into a powered pet-friendly campsite at Coomera Holiday Village, or pitch a tent on the grassy unpowered sites.

Clouds on Beechmont

If you’re looking to escape to the Hinterland, why not hole up with your hound in a converted church at Clouds on Beechmont. This stunning property in the Numinbah Valley offers a clutch of unique accommodation, ranging from the Old Saint John’s Church through to Indian and African themed safari tents and all are pet friendly (though only special exceptions will be made for small placid dogs when it comes to the tents).

Pet-friendly things to do on the Gold Coast

Hit the markets and shops

If you’re visiting the Gold Coast on a weekend, you can bet there’ll be a market near you worth a browse. Every Sunday, you’ll find a pet-friendly Art & Craft Market running at either Broadbeach, Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads or Paradise Point.

Friendly dogs are welcome on a lead at The Village Markets in Burleigh Heads – held on the first and third Sunday of each month – while you browse local designer threads and homewares and grab a bite from one of the food stalls before kicking back to listen to live tunes.

You’re also welcome to walk your dog on a lead through the mall areas at Harbour Town but will need to check with individual shops and food outlets about access.

Brewery & Distillery hop

If there’s one thing the Gold Coast is known for, it’s the plethora of craft breweries and distilleries dotted throughout its suburbs, many of which are open to K9 guests.

Wildflower Distillery & Bar in Varsity Lakes is dog-friendly – you’ll even be greeted by Ghost, a Great Dane cross Bull Arab – so drop in for a tasting or book ahead for one of their masterclasses to blend your own gin from over 50 botanicals. Buy a bottle of their Rescue Gin and you’ll be helping to make a contribution to those pups not as fortunate as yours, with $10 from each bottle going to the Animal Welfare League Qld.

Burleigh Barrels Brewery, Distillery and Smokehouse is a 10-minute walk from James Street and its pet-friendly beer garden is a top spot for a frosty ale or two, and perhaps a Moreton Bay bug roll or some spicy Korean chicken wings.

Hire a boat or join a cruise

BYO music, food and drinks and help pup find his sea legs with a morning or afternoon on the water. Duffy Down Under Boat Cruises & Tours offer both self-drive and skippered electric boat hire from Main Beach and dogs of all sizes are welcome to join in the fun. If you want the 411 on the Gold Coast waterways, join their morning or sunset cruise, or enjoy the canals at your own pace with hire options starting from one hour.

Dog-friendly beaches and parks on the Gold Coast

When it comes to beaches, the Gold Coast is a bit of a show-off. And with over 70 kilometres of golden sands to share, there’s plenty of room for fido to frolic, race and chase – just as long as it’s on one of the designated off-leash dog beaches.

For the best dog beaches on the Gold Coast, head here.

If you’re looking for more socialising opportunities for your furry friend, check out one of the city’s best off-leash dog parks:

• Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens – Ashmore Rd, Benowa
  
• Southport – Musgrave Park, Musgrave Ave
• Helensvale – Discovery Park, Discovery Drive
• Runaway Bay – O’Connell Park, corner Morala Avenue and Ocean Street
• Tallebudgera – Schuster Park, Heather Street, Schuster Road
• Currumbin Waters – Palmer Family Park, Noojee Street
• Coolangatta – Goodwin Park, Jarvis Lane (East of the path)

Pet-friendly cafes on the Gold Coast

Elk Espresso

This Broadbeach cafe is a hot address for those who are partial to a boozy bottomless brunch, but also for dogs who enjoy long sunny naps under the table as you dine alfresco.

Daymaker Espresso

Daymaker Espresso in Miami isn’t just known for slinging top-notch vegan-friendly fare and Melbourne’s Alix coffee, but its #dogsofdaymaker hashtag is full of the who’s who in dogtown. With puppyccinos on the menu and organic dog cookies on the counter, it’s little wonder this is such a popular pet-friendly spot.

BSKT Cafe

This health-focussed cafe in Mermaid Beach prescribes to the doctrine that life is all about balance, which is why there’s a fitness studio upstairs and puppyccinos come sprinkled with cookie crumbs for your loyal furry friends. You’ll find puppy-friendly tables with water bowls to welcome you.

Daark Espresso

Tucked into Chirn Park in Southport, this cosy cafe is a top spot for puppy parents to catch up over Supreme Roasters coffee and eats than span Cinnabon inspired French toast to spanner crab eggs benedict topped with nori hollandaise and caviar.

Check out more dog-friendly cafes on the Gold Coast.

For more of the best pet-friendly holidays in Queensland, click here.