Australia, Travel Guides, Travel with Dogs

A dog owners guide to Gippsland

Since our last post, we adopted another fur baby Ollie. He is currently just shy of 4 months old and this afternoon we took him to our local watering hole to teach him how to swim since Ava is a water dog we hoped that she can enjoy the experience with her new brother. Although he isn’t quite loving water yet it got me thinking that others might want to enjoy the same experience we have when we visit the local weir in Gippsland.

Things to do in Gippsland with dogs

Jump to ↴

Off-leash areas:

Baw Baw shires regulations here.
Latrobe City shires regulations here
Wellington shire regulations here.
Bass shire regulations here.

Dog Parks in Gippsland do not really compete with anywhere else in Victoria and are more of an afterthought. In some councils, they have only just begun trialling fenced dog parks. Here are a few we have visited below:

Bert Thompson Reserve (Traralgon)
Bellbird Park (Drouin)
Dowton Park (Yarragon)

If you have made it to East Gippsland – See our list here.

Things to do in Gippsland with dogs > off leash area - Traralgon

Things to do in Gippsland with dogs > off leash area - Drouin

Activities:

If you’re after places to go while in the Gippsland area, here are a few things you can do:

Grand Ridge Trail (Boolarra)
Agnes Falls (Toora)
Toorongo Falls Reserve
Blue Pool (Briagolong)
George Bass Coastal Walk (Kilcunda)
Screw Creek Nature Walk (Inverloch)
Bass Coast Rail Trail (Anderson)

See visit Gippslands list here.

Beaches:

Gippsland due to its size and land along the coastline has many beautiful beaches and many of them allow dogs (you can find a list here) but our personal favourite is to take Ava and Ollie are the dog-friendly beach in Inverloch and beaches along the ninety mile near Seaspray.

Things to do in Gippsland with dogs >> Inverloch dog friendly beach with Ava

Mostly because they’re quiet (not school holidays) and on a good day you can have them nearly all to yourself. The beach at Inverloch does allow off-leash whereas they do require dogs to be on a leash at Seaspray.

Dog-Friendly beaches in Gippsland:

Port Albert Beach
Inverloch Beach
Golden Beach
Seaspray Beach
Kilcunda
Sandy point
Venus Bay*
Walkerville North Foreshore

*Check the full list here as some beaches have summer restrictions.

Swimming Holes:

Our absolute favourite spot in summer is Cowwarr Weir, in summer it can be packed to the brim but we always go to the quietest spot and Ava will just swim around with Leigh all day. It is requested that dogs are on a leash at all times but you will find if there are only one or two people that owners will allow their dogs to interact with one another.

However, use common sense and have respect for other swimmers near by remembering not everyone likes dogs.

Another hot tip is when you enter the gates of the weir, head straight the far side of the weir has more grassland for pooches to run around on and you will find families with younger children use the first entrance as the water is shallower so it’s nice to keep everyone happy and separate.

Another inland swimming spot is Glenmaggie Weir.

Restaurants:

I’ll be honest and say Gippsland is yet to be the friendliest bunch with dogs at their restaurants (unlike Mornington) and although it makes us sad there are a few good experiences we have previously had, especially in the Wellington region.

Avon Ridge Winery: We went for Sunday sippers here and were excited when we knew that dogs were welcome after reading “Even bring your dog” in their menu when at a local food and wine event so we were eager to visit even though it is a good 50-minute drive. It was well and truly worth it, we took a picnic blanket and enjoyed a few beverages and their amazing platters while Ava got to join us and she even made friends with the resident dog.
Food and co: Although we have only eaten here a few times, it does make my heart melt that they are so dog friendly that they even have a “Parking Bay” for your pooches and sell homemade dog treats.
Store Sixty-One: Popular coffee spot with also sit down meals. Always will see multiple dogs and their owners dining here.
Stellina: Actively promote their garden-style dining as dog friendly on their socials. Right next to the park/walking path/creek serving up great wood-style pizzas and antipasto dishes.
Main Street: Warraguls hot spot for coffee, only has 2-3 outdoor tables to sit but the staff love dogs and will always have a water bowl filled out the front for your dogs.
Cannibal Creek Vineyard