The Gladstone Hotel

The Gladstone Hotel, known locally as the Glad, is a relaxed country pub on Mary Street in Dookie, about half an hour from Shepparton. For dog owners the drawcard is a dog-friendly beer garden at a proper country pub, a natural lunch or dinner stop if you are working through the Silo Art Trail.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor beer garden and generally not permitted in the main dining room or bar, so check with staff on arrival where to settle. Leashed and well behaved is the house expectation, standard for a pub with table service outdoors. Water bowls are usually out in the outdoor areas, but bring your own to be safe.

The vibe

Reviews consistently mention generous portions, cold beer and proper country hospitality, with parmas and garlic prawns among the standout kitchen orders. The pub has a resident dog of its own, which tells you most of what you need to know about the welcome. It is popular with locals and Silo Art Trail travellers alike.

Max: keep the lead on near the car park and road, and bring a mat so your dog is not lying on hot ground in the beer garden through summer.

Getting there

Dookie sits about 25 to 30 minutes from Shepparton in Victoria's Goulburn Valley, with the pub right in the town centre. There is free on-site parking plus plenty of street parking nearby. The Dookie Rail Trail and the town silo art are close for a leg stretch before or after your meal.

Close by with the dogs

Back in Shepparton, the Shepparton Fenced Dog Park at Princess Park is the secure off-lead run, and both the Terminus Hotel and the Aussie Hotel keep their dog-friendly beer gardens going. Staying overnight, BIG4 Shepparton Park Lane Holiday Park accepts pets.

More options are on the Victoria pubs guide and the Dookie destination page.