Vinbar @ The Gums

Vinbar @ The Gums sits inside the Charles Sturt University campus at 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, a casual cafe and bar open to the public. The draw for dog owners is the spacious, sheltered deck set among the campus's rammed-earth buildings and green grounds, where dogs are genuinely welcome on a lead.

The dog setup

Dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area, meaning the covered deck that connects to the indoor bar, and the region's own dog-friendly guide lists the venue. Leads are required and your dog needs to be under control and well-behaved. Water bowls may be available if you ask, but bring your own to be safe. One caveat: Charles Sturt's animals-on-campus policy otherwise restricts pets on university grounds, so check ahead before bringing a dog anywhere beyond the deck.

Worth knowing

The venue runs a lively campus social scene with a solid beer selection, cocktails, wine and coffee alongside casual food and locally sourced all-day snacks. Hours run 8am to 2pm Monday to Friday, closed weekends, and university events can shift them, so treat it as a weekday lunch stop.

Getting there and parking

Access is via Elizabeth Mitchell Drive with free onsite parking across the campus. It is roughly a ten-minute drive from central Albury, and the drive out through Thurgoona is easy even at peak times.

Close by with the dogs

Note that dogs are prohibited at nearby Wonga Wetlands to protect the birdlife, so plan your walk elsewhere: the fully fenced park at Logan Road Park is a short drive west, and the leash-free area at Oddies Creek sits close to the Murray. Green Zebra is the Albury CBD alternative for the weekend.

More of the area's dog-friendly venues are on the Thurgoona destination page, and the full list is in the NSW cafes index.