Best Dog Friendly Day Trips Brisbane – With so many beautiful islands off the coast of Queensland, is it any wonder that an island stay can be the ultimate Queensland holiday? However, most islands do not allow dogs, so check out the dog-friendly islands in Queensland.
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Great Keppel Island is one of the friendliest islands off the coast of Queensland, particularly in the tropics. With its stunning beaches, snorkeling and diving, a day trip to Great Keppel with your dog in Yeppoon makes for a great vacation. There is so much to do on Great Keppel Island!
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The easiest way to get to Great Keppel Island is by ferry Both ferry companies offer short 30-minute trips and multiple departures throughout the day Advance reservations are recommended
We traveled with Keppel Connections, who allow dogs for free Our dog did not need to wear a mask There are large free fast cats that charge $5 for small dogs and $10 for large dogs.
Big Keppel (Wop-pa) Island’s main attraction is its beautiful beaches, which are fortunately dog-friendly. There are no signs indicating whether dogs are allowed on the beach However, since the island is part of the same local government as Japan, dogs are allowed during the day, 8am and after 4pm.
Fisherman’s Beach: This is the center of the island where the ferry drops you off and near the island’s limited number of shops, cafes and accommodation. Walk south along the beach to get to the nearest beach
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Rack Beach: The next easiest beach is Fisherman’s Beach, about 5-10 minutes from the end, but the end of the trail is tough, especially if you’re wearing gear. There are rocky sections on both sides of the beach, perfect for swimming and snorkeling
Monkey Beach: For the best swimming on the island, stop at Shelving Beach and continue the long way to Monkey Beach. Unfortunately, we missed the time to visit this beach
Long Beach: This long stretch of white sand is perfect for sledding and swimming There are two hiking trails to the beach, the easy to find option at the end of Fisherman’s Beach and the inland trail that crosses the islands. East End is actually a nudist beach, but when we got there it was a full beach
There are many hiking trails on the island, but currently they are not well maintained or marked Better to keep your dog on the walk, we saw goannas, echidnas and lots of bird life in the peaceful bush. If living on the island, let us know your accommodation plans
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As part of our Keppel Connection ferry booking we added drinks to the hideaway on Great Keppel Island for lunch, which was great value and delicious. Hidden Lane Bistro is mostly open-air, dog-friendly and has water bowls. As I was leaving I saw a sign that said “No dogs over this age” but I don’t know what area it was – we just didn’t have dogs.
Other dining options on the island are Tropical Vibes Cafe in the main mall and Big Keppel Island Pizza. Both options may be dog-friendly at the outdoor tables, or you may want to head to the beach
If you just come and explore during the day, there is no need to return to Fisherman’s Wharf in the middle of the day.
Although the main resort on Big Keppel Island has been closed for years, the island has many smaller apartments and holiday homes that are renovated (and then dormant) every year.
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Most of them are not pet-friendly, but there are probably a pet-friendly option or two, such as Airbnb beach houses. Better to book in advance or take a day trip to Great Keppel Island with your dog
Another major island in tropical Queensland is Magnet Island, a 20-minute ferry ride off the coast of Townsville.
It is a much bigger island than Great Keppel Island, so you can go to Magnetic Island. If you are traveling with a dog, pets are not allowed on the islands, so it is a good idea to have your own car. However, there is also the option of renting a car, and these days there is at least one island car rental that allows pets, Arcada Beach Guesthouse and car rentals.
If you go to the magnetic island, you have to take the magnetic island back Dogs are allowed at no charge If you remove them from your car, you will not be allowed to enter the cafe except outside Booking a car in advance is very important and it is very expensive
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If you’re happy to travel, you can use the Magnetic Island Ferry car or book a fast Sealink passenger ferry. Dogs are allowed at no additional charge, but must be leashed with alcohol
Apart from the villages, dogs are allowed on most of the magnetic islands, including most of Fort Walk, except for the national park that covers most of the island.
Dogs are allowed on most beaches outside of national parks These include Nellie Bay, Geoffrey Bay, Ashwini Bay, Picnic Bay and West Point Beach. There are some beaches where dogs are not allowed, including the patrolled Alma Bay, so check the signs.
We visited Magnetic Island with our dog without a car and found our options limited Most people leave their car or take the bus upon arrival, and the island is bigger than you think!
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Our favorite part of the day was walking along the wonderful cable trail that starts near the ferry terminal and goes to Jeffrey’s Bay, then we walked along the beach at Jeffrey’s Bay.
A popular place to see the rock wall is at the end of Armand Road at the far end of Jeffrey’s Bay However, I recommend keeping your dog away from the wall – if you’re with someone on the island, take a walk around the wallabies.
Many of the cafes and pubs on Magnetic Island will allow you to join your dog for a meal out A recommendation I’ve heard from others is the Island Bar at Backpackers on Mobile Magnet Island (East Base) with a cheap lunch menu and live music.
There are many vacation rentals on Magnetic Island and many of them allow pets Search for pet-friendly accommodation on your favorite sites like Stage, Airbnb or Booking.com Check the dog rules beforehand to see if they are allowed inside
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If you want to camp, pets are not allowed while staying at the only campground on Magnetic Island, so we stayed one night. However, she now owns the Selena Hostel brand. I have directly confirmed that Selina Magnet Island Campground allows pets
Located just over an hour north of Brisbane between Moreton Bay and Sunshine, Bribie Island is a great place to take your dog for a day or longer.
Bribie Island is the easiest island to visit in Queensland, as it is connected to the mainland by a small bridge. Pick up Barbie Island on your car’s GPS!
The best attraction for dogs on Bribie Island is Brisbane’s best dog beach, thanks to its stunning golden sand. Stretching between Woorim Beach and Red Beach, the dog walk is 4km long, perfect for a beach walk at your own pace.
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Easy access to the washing area is at the end of Lowry Street in Wurim, where there is a dog washing area with a hose. Woorim Beach is known as a beach, but the waves were small on the day I visited.
You can also access the dog beach from Red Beach where the water is calmer The first parking lot is a few hundred meters to the left before reaching the dog beach
