Dogs down-under: just how dog-friendly is Australia?
The UK is super dog-friendly, but how does Australia compare?
No, I’ve not taken Arty all the way to Australia — I don’t think either of us would cope with that flight! But a brand new dog-friendly travel guide has just come out in Australia and it’s all about travelling down under with dogs. I’m always excited to see new dog travel books out on the market, so I interviewed author Shandos Cleaver about her adventures with her miniature dachshund, Schnitzel. Here it is 👇
Who’s Schniztel? What’s his story?
Schnitzel is an 11 year old Miniature Dachshund. When he was young, we never travelled with him, apart from short stays with family (who also have dogs). But once we started travelling with him, we found he really enjoyed it — especially all the interesting smells, plus spending a lot of time together with myself and my husband.
We sometimes joke that we should have called him Napoleon, partially due to his short stature but he also thinks that he’s the centre of the world. He loves attention and pats from people, as well as food.
What made you decide to start travelling with your dog?
Back in 2017, my husband and I decided to head to Europe for a couple of years, and of course we couldn’t leave Schnitzel behind. We had no idea in advance how he would find travelling, or how easy it would be to travel with a dog, but we need not have worried.
We spent nearly two years travelling around Europe with Schnitzel, visiting a total of 33 countries together, everywhere from the Canary Islands to Mykonos. Luckily Schnitzel is small and can fly in the cabin when allowed.
On our way home we spent six weeks in the United States (partially so we could visit English-speaking vets to organise his paperwork for Australia). We ticked off 10 states on our road trips around the USA.
How dog-friendly is Australia? Especially compared to other places you've been.
Compared to Europe and the United States, Australia is not as dog-friendly. Dogs are not allowed inside cafes, at many attractions or on most public transport. Another difficulty are the many national parks in Australia, nearly all that prohibit pets.
However, the situation when it comes to pet-friendly accommodation is improving. Most caravan parks allow pets, although sometimes there are restrictions in peak season, and there’s a growing number of pet-friendly hotels, even luxury hotels in the major cities.
I also believe that Australia has the best dog-friendly beaches, at least once you get outside of cities, thanks to our many beautiful beaches — there’s enough to share! Our mild climate also means that sitting outside at cafes and in beer gardens is generally okay year round, or else there’s heaters for the cooler months.
Do you have to be worried about wildlife around dogs in Australia?
Wildlife is less of a threat than many people expect. For instance, I’ve never been worried about snakes around Schnitzel, partially because I’ve so rarely seen snakes during my decades of hiking.
In northern Australia, one of the biggest potential risk are crocodiles — never let your dog swim in (or even walk close to the edge of) most waterways, unless it’s definitely croc-free. There’s a reason for all the danger signs!
You also need to be cautious of cane toads up north, plus dingoes and eagles in the outback. Chasing kangaroos is also a no-no!
One of the biggest threats is a actually a bait known as 1080, used to control feral animals such as foxes and wild dogs, which is also lethal to pet dogs. Australia is one of the few countries, along with New Zealand, that uses it. Many people believe it should be banned. If you see warning signs, either avoid the area or keep your dog close on-leash, ideally with a muzzle.
Finally, tick preventative medicine is essential across much of Australia.
What's the best place in the country for dog-friendly holidays?
It’s hard to choose just one place — there’s just so many wonderful dog-friendly destinations that I’ve uncovered all around the country!
In Queensland, you can take your dog to Great Keppel Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef for the day. We lazed on the beach and took turns snorkelling, then went hiking through the bush with Schnitzel (on-leash!) where we spotted an echidna (spiny anteaters) and goanna (lizards).
In Western Australia, one of our favourite spots was Monkey Mia, famous for its daily dolphin swimming (with dogs welcome to watch from the jetty!) We went on a catamaran cruise with Schnitzel, spotting dugongs, turtles and dolphins. Even the local aquarium allows dogs.
Even close to Sydney, there are some unexpected dog-friendly destinations. The Blue Mountains National Park is world famous for its views and hiking trails. However, many of the best lookouts and some great hikes are just outside of the park, with dogs welcome to join you.
Off The Leash in Australia is out in the UK in November 2024 and is available on Amazon and all good bookshops. You can follow their adventures on Instagram here.