Meridian Cafe

Meridian Cafe is a country stopover on George Street in Marulan, right on the Hume Highway route between Sydney and Canberra. It built a following as home to a wall of hundreds of visiting dogs' portraits, a charity fundraiser that made it a bit of a pilgrimage stop for road-tripping owners, though reports of a change in management mean it is worth confirming the wall is still up before you detour for it.

Dog access: Outdoor seating is available and generally used by travellers with dogs. It sits right on the main street, so keep leads on and dogs close, there is regular foot and car traffic by the tables.

Known for: All-day cafe classics including bacon and egg rolls, scones, burgers and gluten-free treats, plus a reputation among reviewers for friendly staff.

Getting there: On-street parking is available directly out front, an easy, well-signed pull-off from the Hume Highway (M31).

Nearby with the dogs: Tony Onions Memorial Park sits almost directly opposite on George Street, with picnic tables and open grass, a handy stretch-the-legs stop while you wait on coffee.

A quick highway pitstop rather than a destination in itself. Good for a leg-stretch and a coffee on the Sydney-Canberra run; confirm the dog-wall is still there if that is the reason you are stopping.

Sources

• Marulan dog portrait gallery raises more than $10k for charity · abc.net.au
• Meridian Cafe - Marulan Restaurants - Tripadvisor · tripadvisor.com.au
• Tony Onions Park New Playground Official Opening · goulburn.nsw.gov.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.