Dog Friendly Motel Yeppoon – A great beach to visit with your Japanese dog, right in the heart of the Kite Coast. Just 30 minutes from Rockhampton and less than 8 hours north of Brisbane, find out what you can do when you visit Japan with your dog in Queensland.
One of the main attractions of Japan and the Okinawan coast is the many beautiful beaches spread across Japan and Emu Park in the south.
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Fortunately, Livingstone Shire’s standard beach rule is that dogs are allowed on all beaches, as well as before 8am and after 4pm. So almost all the beaches in the area are dog friendly!
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In my research, I couldn’t find any beaches in North Bifield National Park where dogs are not allowed, although they are actually restricted.
When I visited in 2021, the local tourism website stated that dogs are not allowed at Japan Main Beach, Emu Park Beach, and Koe Bay Beach. However, I can confirm that Koe Bay Beach has signs allowing dogs outside before 8am and after 4pm, while Japan Main Beach or Emu Park Beach have signs prohibiting dogs. In the latter two, dogs may be allowed to run, but stay away from protected areas.
There are two beaches with different rules: Farnborough Beach in Bangalow and Fisherman’s Beach in Emu Park. Dogs are allowed on both beaches all day, but not on weekends or holidays, when they must be kept off-leash.
The off-chain Farnborough Beach Bungalow is situated between the boatyard and Barwells Creek, with easy access to Hinz Street and adjacent 4WD. Fishing begins on the beach, 150 meters north of the reef, and chain access is permitted before this point.
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Although crocodiles are not a problem this far south, the tides can be dangerous during the summer months, so watch out for the turtle hatching season from October to March. If turtles are nearby, keep your dog away from the mud or beach completely.
Aside from visiting the local beach, consider some dog-friendly ideas for your Japan holiday…
One of the main attractions of visiting Japan is visiting Great Keppel Island. With beautiful beaches, swimming and snorkeling, it’s a fun day out for the whole family, and luckily dogs are welcome to join you too.
There are two boat options for visiting Great Keppel Island, both dog-friendly. We traveled with Keppel Connection, which allows dogs on board for free. Our dogs must not be muzzled, unlike on the ferry to Magnet Island.
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There is also a Liberty Speedway for big cats, $5 for small dogs and $10 for large dogs. Both ferries operate at the same time taking 30 minutes.
Upon arrival at Great Keppel Island, you will notice that there are no signs on the beach as to whether or not dogs are allowed. However, the island is part of Livingstone Shire, the same as Japan, so dogs are allowed to roam the beach, and may be off before 8am and after 4pm. Great Keppel Island is not mentioned on their website.
The boat will drop you on the sands of Fisherman’s Beach, the center of the island. I recommend walking south of the beach, where a short trail starts to nearby beaches such as Shelving Beach.
Shelving Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island and is definitely easy to get to if you don’t have your own boat. It’s a 5-10 minute walk, although the last part of the trail is rough, especially if you’re in gear like us! There are rock formations on the beach. We chose a site on the left, accessible downstream.
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If you bring a picnic lunch, I recommend doing the circuit at Shelving Beach, Monkey Beach, and Long Beach. Monkey Beach is said to have better sleeping spots, but we didn’t have time to visit. However we arrived at Long Beach, a long and quiet beautiful swimming beach. We had the beach to ourselves (and maybe let our dog loose). The eastern side is a bare beach, although it was empty when we visited.
Note that the roads around Great Keppel Island are not well maintained as the old resort on the island has been closed for years. It may be best for fishermen to stick to the trail that starts at the end of the beach or ask local staff for directions.
If you take the Keppel Connection ferry to the island, you can add lunch and drinks at the Great Keppel Island Hideaway. Great value and our burgers and chips are delicious. However, it takes a while to walk to the bistro on the north side of Fisherman’s Beach.
The Bistro at Great Keppel Island Hideaway is open and dog friendly, with plenty of water bowls. Although I noticed that no dog had crossed the sign when I went – I had no idea what area it was pointing to.
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Unfortunately, most accommodation on Great Keppel Island doesn’t allow dogs, so it’s best to just take a day trip. If you plan to stay a night or two, check to see if the resort currently allows dogs.
If you want to enjoy the area’s beautiful beaches without getting your feet wet, Japan’s Foreshore has popular walks for people and dogs. Take your time, there are plenty of picnic chairs and umbrellas along the way, not to mention beachside cafes, often dog-friendly.
Dogs must always be pooped, there are lots of treats to pick up after your dog, and lots of litter and poop bags. Please note that dogs are not allowed in Japan Lagoon (but it is okay to walk behind it) and Keppel Kraken Water Park.
Unfortunately, many of the other coastal areas in the area, such as the Bluff Point Scenic Walk and Fan Rock Trail, are in a small section of Capricorn Coast State Park.
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Emu Park is a 15-minute drive south of Japan. In addition to Fisherman’s Beach, which is still open, there are two other historical sites. On the hill above the pier is the Song Ship statue, a memorial to Captain Cook built in 1970. Hear her singing in the wind.
Adjacent to the singing boat is the modern Anzac Memorial Walk. The memorial and short section of the boardwalk were built to mark the centenary of the First World War and are a fun place to visit. Underneath the main shelter is a plaque detailing important battles, as well as local Queenslanders taking part.
Although respectful of the area, dogs with leashes are welcome on the boardwalk and in the surrounding park.
If you’re interested in history, it’s also worth a trip inland to Rockhampton. One of the oldest cities in central Queensland, it has some amazing old buildings.
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Some of the important buildings to visit are the Customs House, the Standard Hotel, Rockhampton Post Office and several council buildings. Most of the heritage buildings are located on River Quay Street, while the Post Office and Council House are located on East Street.
Riverside Station near Quay Street has recently been renovated and is a great place for a walk along the Fitzroy River, with its many shade trees. Just pet your dog.
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed at the Botanic Gardens in Rockhampton, and surprisingly, there is also a free zoo nearby. However, head to Kershaw Park in North Rockhampton where dogs are welcome.
The highlight of the park is the waterfall area, which has many artificial waterfalls flowing into a pool below, surrounded by lush palm trees. The waterfall area is very close to the High Street car park.
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Unfortunately, parts of the park, such as the wetlands, still need to be repaired after the park was heavily damaged by Typhoon.
Dogs are allowed to run in Kershaw Park. There is an area near Dowling Street Car Park that we didn’t get a chance to explore, and there is also a small protected area with artefacts at Charles Street Car Park.
There is a dog park at Olive Garden on Clayton Road in Lammermoor in the Yeppoon area. It has three separate enclosures, one of which has an anti-skid device. The other two areas have plenty of shade and seating.
If you’re visiting Rockhampton, there are a variety of dog parks dotted around the city, some of which are fenced.
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The streets of Japan are dotted with restaurants with outdoor dining areas, most of which are happy for your dog to join you.
Near the beach you will find Lore
