Ferntree Gully Hotel

Ferntree Gully Hotel is a big family pub at 1130 Burwood Highway, at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne, drawing crowds for its all you can eat Feast buffet. Dogs are welcome in the covered outdoor courtyard, which is where you will be sitting anyway.

Max: courtyard table on a Sunday, water bowl arrived before the drinks did.

The dog setup

The courtyard is covered and roomy enough to settle a dog beside the table without people stepping over the lead. Dogs stay outside; the main bistro and buffet area is off limits, so this is a fair weather spot with a roof rather than an indoor one. Staff are used to courtyard dogs and will generally bring a water bowl on request. Aim for a quieter lunch sitting: the courtyard gets loud and busy through the weekend dinner rush, and a dog that is relaxed around noise and foot traffic will do best.

Worth knowing

This is a proper family venue. The buffet runs seven days across lunch and dinner with a carvery, salad bar and a dessert spread known for its sticky date pudding, plus a sports bar with TAB for the adults and an indoor kids play area. If the kids need burning off, the hills walks are minutes away.

Getting there and parking

The hotel sits directly on Burwood Highway with a large free car park behind the building, so parking is one of the easy parts even at busy sittings. Buses run along the highway and Ferntree Gully station is nearby.

Close by with the dogs

Make it a hills day: the on lead Glenfern Valley Bushlands at Upwey is a short drive for a proper walk, and Belgrave Lake Park gives an off lead run in the same direction. Heading up the mountain instead, the Old Olinda Golf Course off lead area is a good pre lunch leg stretch. More pubs across Victoria and around Ferntree Gully.