The ultimate dog-friendly guide to the Scenic Rim

There’s no worse feeling than packing for a getaway and staring into the puppy dog eyes of your pooch, tail between their legs, knowing they’ll miss out on all the fun.

What if we told you there’s a place where you can relax, recharge, and bring your fur baby, located around an hour’s drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast?

With a multitude of dog-friendly places to stay, parks, and foodie venues to explore, the Scenic Rim region has everything for man and man’s best friend.

Scrap the last-minute dog-sitter stress, kennel booking fees and tearful goodbyes to your tail-wagger, instead grab a leash, call ahead, and set the GPS for the Scenic Rim.

Read on to discover the best dog-friendly places to stay, spots to exercise and venues with your pup by your side.

For a romantic stay that lets you press paws on stress, settle into a self-contained villa or cottage at Hanoob Views, a pet’s paradise that sets tails wagging on the regular. Dogs are more than welcome inside their near-new two and three-bedroom houses, but chances are they’re too busy sniffing every centimetre of the fully fenced, grassy backyard. Hanoob’s mountaintop location not only serves rolling views out to Lake Maroon but is also a short 20-minute drive from award-winning restaurants and cafes in Boonah, perfect for a doggy day trip.

Nestled in lush rainforest beside Christmas Creek, you’ll find Wongari Eco Retreat, a.k.a pet heaven. True to its namesake, settle in with your pooch to their cosy woodland and nature cabins with peace of mind knowing Wongari’s eco-practices ensure your stay has a positive impact on the environment. Spend your days watching the spring return to your dog’s CBD-cooped-up step, as they sniff a generous array of new scents, play on the wide-open lawns and stretch happily on the decks of your accommodation. Check out their cute showreel of happy faced pups lavishing in their kennel away from home.

For the pooches more suited to stylish suites and stunning views, pamper them (and yourself) with a stay in The Cottages on Tamborine Mountain. Situated on 11 acres of land in Queensland’s Top Tourism Town of 2022, The Cottages are equipped to handle the tiniest of terriers, through to thoroughbred horses (yes, there are stables and an Olympic-sized training arena on site). Or for nature immersion and lake views, book the Crumpet WanderPod at Wander at the Overflow 1895 for you and one of your favourite four-legged good boy or big floof.

For pooches who prefer campgrounds, found on the riverbank of Canungra Creek in one of the Scenic Rim’s most postcard-worthy areas, the Sharp Park, family-operated campground, has welcomed dogs for over 10 years. Kick back in your camping chair on their powered or unpowered sites, with your puppy lounging at your feet, on leash at all times of course. Sharp Park’s convenient location also means wineries, cafes and spacious parks are all within a stick’s throw to explore.

For dogs with big farm dreams, swap the suburban backyard for a cosy farm stay on a 100-year running cattle property. Cedar Glen Estate is the hay-cay of a lifetime, letting you and your pup live and breathe the country life in the aptly named Lost World Valley. Leash up to enjoy farm activities like animal feeding, whip cracking and boomerang throwing, before returning to your Mountainview cottage or campsite to give your dog a lazy afternoon scratch.

Still looking for the paw-fect place for you and your dog? Enquiries about bringing your best fur-end to stay are also welcome at Cedar Creek Lodges on Tamborine Mountain, Moogie House at Lake Moogerah, and at Barney Creek Vineyards, the Olive View Estate, the Bilyana Cottages, at Two Rabbit Hill Country Cabins, and for the self-contained studio at The Old Church B&B near Boonah.

Note: Please call ahead to our wonderful accommodation operators and inform them you’ll be accompanied by your dog so they can have all their dog friendly features ready for you.

Nothing screams tail-wagging adventure like exploring 695 acres of expansive greenery in the Scenic Rim Adventure Park. While a 2WD will make good headway into the park, we recommend taking your other horse-powered pet out for a spin and navigate the off-roading trails deep into the park. Dogs are welcome as long as they are on leads or attached to a runner at your campsite. While your dog is enthralled by the new scents and wide-open spaces, kick back on your camping chair and speak an easy “Ahhh, the serenity”.

For early morning dog walkers, prick your ears up for the perfect place to hit the steps goals while enjoying lush eucalypt forest, wildflower fields and rolling views. Travel on foot and paw into Plunkett Conservation Park. With walks to caves, peaks and creeks criss-crossing through the conservation park, there are enough trails to warrant an overnight holiday for you and your pet, while giving you both plenty of exercise.

Did you know that a dog’s nose has up to 300 million olfactory receptors? That’s around 50 times as many as humans. Good news, the Canungra Village Markets will test most of them! Held on the second Sunday of each month, grab the leash and head out for a fun day at a country market filled with local produce, artisan crafts and gifts for all (you’re smack-bang in the middle of the food bowl of south-east Queensland of course).

Note: Bringing your beloved pet on a hike or camping trip seems like a great way to bond and enjoy the outdoors together. However, it’s important to remember that not all parks and forests welcome dogs and other pets. In Queensland, pets are welcome in some conservation parks, State forests, and recreation areas, but dogs are not allowed in national parks. This is to protect the native plants and animals that call these parks home. Before planning your next adventure, please be sure to check the specific rules and regulations of each park or forest you plan to visit. Keep in mind that certain areas within the park may have designated areas for dogs, and certified guide, hearing, and assistance dogs are typically permitted in all public areas. For more information on which parks and forests in Queensland welcome dogs on a leash, visit the Queensland Parks info on dogs.

A trip to the Scenic Rim wouldn’t be complete without a tasting tour – peppered throughout our region are charming cafés which turn the flavoursome produce of our local farms into award-winning meals and make puppucinnos that are to roll-over for (so we gather from the happy yaps of our visiting K9s).

For pups that prefer to stop and smell the flowers, spread out in an insta-worthy setting at the Scenic Rim Farm Shop and Café.

Can’t get enough of their local brew and fresh food? Bring some Scenic Rim garden goodies home from their Farm Shop stocked with local produce. You’ll also find fresh food, delicious brews and a place for your pup to sit by your side at the outdoor areas of VK Everydays Café in Beaudesert, on the decks at Picnic Real Food Bar and Spice of Life on Tamborine Mountain, and The Flying Bean Café in Beechmont (which backs onto a jaw-dropping view of Springwood’s rolling plains).

For those willing to pass the title of responsible adult onto their pal with paws, why not bring your pup on a tour of our dog-friendly wineries and distilleries? With expansive open spaces for your dog to roam while you sip back and relax, call ahead to book and follow this itinerary …

Starting at Sarabah Estate Vineyard in Sarabah, swirl their signature shiraz and nibble a woodfired pizza, before introducing your dog to the other resident four-legged friends, the house alpacas.

After a cruisy 30-minute drive north, you’ll find yourself on Tamborine Mountain, crowned Queensland’s Top Tourism Town in 2022, and home to all things delicious, with the drops of the next three stops being no exception.

Settle under shady umbrellas at the Witches Falls Winery and prepare your palate to taste their locally vinified whites, reds and rose poured by the wineries’ knowledgeable staff and snack on local cheeses and other delicacies (with cool water for your pup, on a leash, of course).

To add some more gin-teresting venues to the tour, call into Cauldron Estate Distillery. Tire out the pup on the neatly clipped lawns around the distillery, before entering the red building to explore the home of Five-to-Five Gin.

After a taste or two, set a route to Tamborine Mountain Distillery. As the 2022 Queensland Tourism Awards winner of the Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries, savour their range of artisanal distillations and sip to discover hints of native flora in the flavour. Round out the paw-fect tour with a cocktail, grab a bottle for later and let your dog lap up the love and attention from the friendly staff.

• Bring plenty of water.
• Always call ahead to check availability of dog-friendly accommodation/experiences before booking.
• Keep your pup on a leash, unless signed otherwise.
• Do not leave pets in unattended vehicles.
• Please read the restrictions around dogs in SEQ waterways and national parks.

📷 @georgethedashie at Witches Falls Winery