Twisted Wonderland Café

Twisted Wonderland Cafe is the Alice in Wonderland themed cafe at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House on Strouds Road, Bonville, just south of Coffs Harbour. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor garden and cafe seating, which makes an unusual stop for a coffee, a scones-and-jam session or the Mad Hatter high tea, as long as you leave the butterflies to their own company.

The dog setup

Well behaved dogs on-leash are fine in the outdoor garden and surrounding seating. The indoor Butterfly Glasshouse is off limits for pets, and this is a biosecurity rule rather than a fussy one: residue from flea and tick treatments can be lethal to the butterflies. Accredited assistance dogs are the exception and can go almost everywhere except inside the glasshouse enclosure. Water bowls are usually out in the outdoor area, but bring your own to be safe.

The vibe and the menu

The cafe is known for handmade scones with jam and cream, specialty teas and milkshakes, all served in a whimsical, garden-themed setting with plenty to look at. It trades Tuesday to Sunday from about 10:30am to 1:30pm, closing Mondays, and the hours suit a mid-morning visit rather than a brunch run.

Getting there and parking

The site is about 10 to 15 minutes south of Coffs Harbour, just off the Pacific Highway, with free on-site parking right at the gate.

Close by with the dogs

For off-lead time afterwards, Boambee Off Dog Lead Beach is a short drive north, and Thompsons Road Reserve Fenced Dog Park covers a secure run. The Secret Garden Cafe at Boambee is a similarly garden-flavoured stop.

Wider options are on the Bonville destination page and in the NSW cafes index.