BENILATO AT The Old Pacific

Benilato at The Old Pacific is an authentic Italian gelato cart set among the artisan collective at 15 Old Pacific Highway, Newrybar, the single-street hinterland village about 15 minutes south of Byron Bay. It is a small, part-time operation rather than a full cafe, and that is part of the charm: family-recipe gelato scooped in a rustic courtyard off the old highway.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas and courtyards of The Old Pacific, with room to settle near the entrance while you order. The artisan shops themselves are people-only, so plan to stay outside. Water bowls are sometimes about but not guaranteed, so bring your own, and keep the lead short: the cart sits directly off the Old Pacific Highway with roadside parking, so traffic awareness matters more than usual.

Worth knowing

The gelato is made from family recipes, with pistachio, hazelnut, Sicilian cassata, sea-salted caramel and mango among the regular mentions, plus macadamia and white chocolate for a local twist. Coeliac visitors get a proper deal: scoops are washed for gluten-free service, and dairy-free options run alongside. Trading is limited and variable, currently midweek afternoons rather than seven-day service, so check Benilato's Instagram or Facebook before you build a trip around it.

Getting there and parking

The collective sits on the Old Pacific Highway as it winds through Newrybar, an easy detour between Byron Bay and Ballina. Street parking runs along the highway with small gravel pull-offs in front of the shops, so arrive with a plan for where the dog stands while you scoop.

Close by with the dogs

For a full sit-down nearby, Woods Bangalow is a few minutes up the hill and Clunes Cafe serves the village next door. For a beach run after the gelato, Belongil Beach South Dog Exercise Area in Byron Bay is the off-lead payoff.

More options are on the NSW dog friendly cafes guide and the Newrybar destination page.

Max: this one is a bonus stop, not a plan. Call the Wednesday window a lucky extra if it is running, and let Belongil be the reason for the drive.