Day Trips With Dogs Brisbane – When visiting south-east Queensland, many visitors overlook Brisbane, sandwiched between the popular tourist destinations of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. However, there is plenty to see and do in Brisbane, even if you are walking your dog. Read on for pet-friendly attractions in Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, as well as the best beaches and pet-friendly luxury hotels.
Whether you prefer the city or the great outdoors and beaches, there are plenty of dog-friendly attractions around Brisbane to keep you and your pooch entertained. Consider ticking off some of these with your dog…
Day Trips With Dogs Brisbane
A great way to experience Brisbane’s city center is along the Riverwalk, a suspended walkway that hangs over the Brisbane River. Enjoy views of the Story Bridge, city skyline and suburbs in the city center on foot.
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Also known as the New Farm River Walk, the route starts at the Riverview Circuit in New Farm and then follows the eastern bank of the river to the Howard Street Pier. From there, continue walking along the riverside promenade to the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.
Best of all, leashed dogs are great for keeping you company. Although you are asked not to block popular paths shared with cyclists, joggers and regular walkers. Consider stopping by Howard Street Wharves for a drink or snack, where dogs are welcome at Felon’s Brewing and there are comfy bean bags on the lawn.
The City of Brisbane Botanic Gardens is an oasis next to the skyscrapers of Brisbane’s CBD, while historic gardens dominate the southern tip of the CBD peninsula. Unlike the larger Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, these gardens welcome loose dogs.
Highlights of the park include a lagoon with palm trees, bamboo forest and rainforest areas. It’s worth walking along the western edge of the gardens, where you’ll find the impressive colonial Parliament House and Old Government House. Although pets are not allowed to tour the interior with you, the exterior is still impressive.
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The City Botanic Gardens are easily accessible on foot from the South Bank via the Riverside Boardwalk or the car-free Goodwill Bridge. The nearest ferry terminal is Riverside Ferry Terminal.
Another popular park area in Brisbane’s city center is Southbank, across the river from the CBD in the south-west of the city.
One of South Shore’s most popular attractions is the large swimming lagoon, which is dog-free of course, and there are many museums and galleries in the area.
If you’re walking your dog instead, don’t miss the Rainforest Trail or the neighboring Nepal Peace Pagoda, which was moved here after Expo 88. And of course a walk along the river. To the north of the South Bank is the famous Brisbane icon.
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The most scenic public transport options in Brisbane are the Brisbane River Ferries and City Cats. After a successful attempt, your dog is welcome to join you as long as they follow certain rules.
Firstly, dogs are only allowed off-peak weekdays from 06:00 to 08:30 and 15:30 to 19:00. The best times to take the boat are between 08:30 and 15:30 or any time during the weekends. Your dog must be leashed and muzzled, or placed in a closed kennel and sitting outside on the deck.
In addition, this also extends to the Cityhopper service, a free ferry that runs approximately every half hour between North Quay and Sydney Street, allowing visitors to easily travel between city center attractions.
A good way to see the dog-friendly attractions in central Brisbane is to park at New Farm near the start of the Riverwalk and walk along the Riverwalk through the Botanic Gardens to South Bank, then catch the free ferry back to Sydney Street Ferry Station.
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The beautiful Mt Coot-tha Forest is just 15 minutes west of Brisbane city centre. The reserve is Brisbane’s largest reserve, with over 1600 hectares of open eucalyptus forest, making it a great destination for a day trip to enjoy nature.
While dogs are not allowed in the adjacent Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, off-leash dogs are allowed in the Mount Coot-tha Forest, which includes a popular hilltop lookout with panoramic views of Brisbane.
One of the most popular hikes is the Summit Track, which starts at the JC Slaughter Falls picnic area. This moderately graded trail is 1.9 kilometers one way and climbs below the peak overlook. Another popular walk is the shorter Simpson Falls trail, only 650m long, unfortunately the falls were completely dry when we visited.
There is no shortage of routes here, with over 50 to choose from. Double check if some of the maintenance tracks that were closed due to 2022 storm damage are now open.
Dog-friendly Road Trip
If you’re looking for another great dog-friendly day out with your pooch, head to Bribie Island, north of Brisbane. Located at the far end of Moreton Bay, the island is easily accessible via a vehicular bridge, meaning no boat is required.
One of the highlights of Bribie Island is the excellent off-leash dog beach. The off-leash training area is located between You Lam Beach and Rooistrand and is over 4 kilometers long, perfect for long beach walks. This is probably the best dog beach in the entire Brisbane area, with beautiful golden sand.
The off-leash area is easily accessible from the Lowry St end of Woorim, where there is also a dog wash station with a hose. You Lam Beach is known as a surf beach, although the waves were very light the day I went.
Alternatively, head to Rooistrand, where the waters are calmer. A few hundred meters east of the nearby parking lot is the off-leash beach, and then the start of the off-leash section. There are clear maps at the entrance and online.
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In addition to off-leash beaches, there are beach areas at Woorim Beach and Bellara, and a fenced dog park at Sylvan Beach Esplanade.
If you want a bite to eat, head to the Bribie Island RSL Club on the way to Red Beach, one of the few RSL clubs with an outdoor dining area for dogs.
Bribie Island isn’t the only dog-friendly island near Brisbane. While some islands, such as Moreton Island, which is primarily a national park, are not dog-friendly, there are several others that are easily accessible by boat with dogs.
Perhaps the most popular is North Stradbroke Island, where dogs are allowed on vehicle ferries as well as water taxis (passenger ferries). Once you arrive at Stradbroke Island, there are dog-friendly campsites and other pet-friendly accommodation options.
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Alternatively, for a quick island tour, there is a relatively hidden gem – Coochimudlo Island. The island is only a 10-minute ride on the Amity Trader ferry from Victoria Point. There were a few dogs on the boat when we visited and dogs were not required to wear masks. Vehicle ships also operate less frequently.
Once you arrive at Coochimudlo Island, there is a seasonal beach that is debauched just a 5 minute walk from the ferry terminal. Dogs are not allowed on the beach either side of the boat dock, please walk west along the walkway behind the beach. About 100m after the boat ramp there is a leash-free area that stretches for about 200m along the beautiful beach.
But please note that the rules vary every month due to the presence of migratory birds. During the winter, from May to August, dogs can be off leash all day. Dogs are allowed after 5pm and before 9am from November to February, but must be on a lead during spring and autumn.
There are plenty of dog-friendly breweries in Brisbane’s city center and suburbs.
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The easiest place to get to by taking the City Hopper ferry is Sea Legs Brewing near the Holman Street ferry terminal. They offer a range of house and guest beers on tap, as well as an extensive food menu. Please note that the brewery does not have an outside area, so dogs are confined to a small area just inside the entrance. Only a few tables at the edge of the area serve food. If you are visiting on the weekend, I recommend arriving early.
We also visited All In Brewing in Banyo, not far from the famous Nagi Dog Beach. Dogs are allowed in and out of the brewery, including at the many outdoor tables, as they are not fed on site. Instead, there will be a rotating roster of food trucks during popular times. During our visit on Sunday afternoon there was a Japanese hot dog food truck and live music.
Other dog-friendly breweries around Brisbane include Felon’s Brewing in Howard Street Quay, Hope and Anchor in Paddington, Green Beacon Brewing in Tenerife, Yard Dogs in Fortitude Valley and Scottish Brewdog DogTap in Murree.
Looking for more dog friendly places to visit near Brisbane? look at mine
