Dog Friendly Tropical Vacations – With so many beautiful islands off the coast of Queensland, is it possible that an island stay is the best holiday in Queensland? But since most islands don’t allow dogs, check out some of Queensland’s dog-friendly islands.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using the link.
Dog Friendly Tropical Vacations
One of the dog-friendly islands off the coast of Queensland, particularly in the tropics, is Great Keppel Island. A trip to Great Keppel in Yeppoon with your dog can make for a wonderful day of beautiful beaches, swimming and snorkeling. There is so much to see on the big island of Keppel!
Tips For A Cross Country Road Trip With Dogs
The easiest way to get to Great Keppel Island is by boat. Both ferry companies offer short trips of 30 minutes, with multiple departures throughout the day. Advance booking is recommended.
We travel with Keppel Konnections, who welcome dogs on board for free. Our dogs do not need to wear a muzzle. There are also larger Freedom Fast Cats that charge $5 for small dogs and $10 for large dogs.
The main attraction of the large island of Keppel (Wop-pa) is the beautiful beach, which is fortunately dog-friendly. In fact, there is no sign on the beach about whether or not dogs are allowed. But the island is part of the same local government area as Yeppoon, so let’s say the default rule is to keep dogs off leash during the day and before 8am and 4pm.
Fisherman’s Beach: The heart of the island, close to where your ferry departs and the island’s limited shops, cafes and accommodation. Walk south from the beach to start the nearby beach walk.
The Best Dog Friendly Beaches In The Us
Shelving Beach: The easiest beach to visit, it’s a 5-10 minute walk from the end of Fishermans Beach, although the last part of the path is a little tricky, especially if you’re wearing gold. Popular for swimming and snorkeling, there are reefs on both sides of the coast.
Monkey Beach: Considered one of the best snorkeling spots on the island, don’t turn off at Shelving Beach and follow the longer path to Monkey Beach. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to visit this beach.
Long Beach: This long stretch of beautiful white sand is perfect for dog paddling and swimming. There are two footpaths to the beach, the easy to find one starts at the end of Fisherman’s Beach and there is also a dry path through the deserts of the island. At the eastern end is a nudist beach, although we had almost the entire beach to ourselves when we visited.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pigs-exuma-beach-bahamas-ANIMALISLANDS1218-65d7cd0317914743bb6c8800290336fc.jpg?strip=all "Dog Friendly Tropical Vacations")
There are many hiking trails on the island, although they are not well maintained or marked. It is best to keep your dog on a leash when walking as we saw goans, echidnas and lots of bird life in the peaceful bush. If you are on the island, we recommend that you notify your accommodation of your hiking plans.
Pet Friendly Parks And Beaches In Uae
We added lunch as part of our ferry booking with Keppel Konnections at the Great Keppel Island Hideaway including drinks, it was good and tasty. Hideaway Bistro is mostly outside and dog friendly with plenty of water bowls. On my way out, I noticed a ‘no dogs beyond this point’ sign, but I didn’t know which area it meant – we weren’t the only ones with dogs.
Other eateries on the island include Tropical Vibes Cafe in the main store and Great Keppel Island Pizza. Both options are dog-friendly at outdoor tables, or order takeout and head to the beach.
If you’re visiting in just one day and want to spend the day exploring, it’s best to bring a picnic lunch so you don’t have to return to Fisherman’s Beach during the day.
Although Great Keppel Island’s main resort has been closed for years, with development plans popping up (and then disappearing) every few years, there are plenty of smaller accommodation and holiday home options on the island.
A Pet Friendly Coronado Hotel
Most of these are not pet-friendly, but there may be one or two pet-friendly options available at any given time, such as Airbnb’s beach houses. It is best to book in advance or simply visit Great Keppel Island on a day trip with your dog.
Another top island in tropical Queensland to visit with your dog is Magnet Island, a short 20-minute ferry ride off the coast of Townsville.
A larger island than Great Keppel Island, you can drive to Magnet Island. If you’re traveling with a dog, it’s worth having your own shuttle, as no pets are allowed on the island’s buses. However, it is also possible to hire a car, and at least one car hire on the island currently allows pets, Arcade Beach Guest House & Car Hire.
If you are taking your car to Magnetic Island, you will need to take the Magnetic Island Ferry. Dogs are allowed on the ferry at no extra cost. They must be on a leash when you take them out of the car and cannot enter the cafes except for the outdoor seating. Booking the car in advance is necessary and quite expensive.
Pet Friendly Vacations: The 34 Best Destinations For 2024
If you want to cross on foot, you can use the magnetic island ferry or book the faster Sealink ferry. Dogs are allowed on the ferry at no extra cost, although they must be on a leash and muzzle or travel in the pet carrier.
Dogs are allowed in most areas of Magnet Island, with the exception of the National Park, which covers most of the island outside the towns and includes the popular Forts Walk.
Outside of national parks, most beaches allow dogs on leashes. These include Nelly Bay, Geoffrey Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Picnic Bay and West Point Beach. There are some beaches where dogs are not allowed, including the one guarding Alma Bay, so check the signs.
We visited Magnetic Island with our dog without a car and found it limited our options. Most people drive or take the bus once they arrive, the island is bigger than you think!
Dog Friendly Sunshine Coast, Qld: Visiting With A Dog
Our favorite part of the day was walking along the beautiful Gabul Road, which starts near the ferry port and leads to Geoffrey Bay, followed by a rope walk from Geoffrey Bay Beach.
At the far end of Geoffrey’s Bay, at the end of Armand Way, is a popular place to see the stone figures. However, I recommend that you keep your dog away from dogs; If you’re visiting the island with others, make the trip to the wallabies.
Most Magnet Island cafes and pubs with outdoor dining will allow your dog to accompany you. A recommendation I’ve heard from others is The Island Bar at Nomads Magnetic Island Backpackers (former base), which offers a cheap lunch menu and live music.
There are many vacation rentals on Magnesis Island, and some pets are allowed. Find pet-friendly accommodation options on your favorite website, Stayz, Airbnb or Booking. Check the dog rules beforehand, including whether they are allowed.
Pet Friendly Hotels For Staycations With Your Furkid
If you want to camp, when we visited the only campground on Magnetic Island didn’t allow pets, so we stayed overnight. But now Selina, the top Brandhost, has taken over. I confirmed directly with the property that Selina Magnetic Island allows pets in the campsites.
Just over an hour north of Brisbane, between Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast, Bribie Island is a great destination with your dog for a day or more.
Bribie Island is the easiest to visit in Queensland, as it is connected to the mainland by a short bridge. Select Bribie Island on your car GPS and you’re off!
One of the main dog-friendly attractions of Bribie Island is the exotic dog beach, probably the best beach in Brisbane because of its beautiful golden sand. Between Woorim Beach and Red Beach, the off-leash dog exercise section is more than 4 kilometers long and is suitable for dog walking on the beach.
Top 10 Pet Friendly Resorts And Hotels Near Manila: Batangas, Zambales, Bataan
The easiest way to access the off-leash area is at the end of Lowry Street in Woorim, where there is a convenient dog wash with a hose. Woorim Beach is known as a surfing beach, although the waves were small on the day I visited.
You can also access the off-leash dog beach from Red Beach, where the water is calmer. East of the first parking lot, it’s only a few hundred yards at first before you reach the dog beach.
Tropical winter vacations, dog friendly vacations near me, dog friendly beach vacations, dog friendly vacations midwest, dog friendly vacations california, best budget friendly tropical vacations, best family friendly tropical vacations, best dog friendly vacations, luxury tropical vacations, budget friendly tropical vacations, family friendly tropical vacations, dog friendly winter vacations
