Prawn Star Mooloolaba

Prawn Star serves fresh Queensland seafood aboard permanently moored timber fishing trawlers at The Wharf Mooloolaba, on Marina Berths at 123 Parkyn Parade. The venue bills itself as 100 percent dog-friendly, and it means it: dogs are welcome on the deck, right beside the table while you work through a platter of prawns.

The dog setup

Dogs sit with you on the deck and pontoon seating, which is all outdoor or undercover-outdoor and suits dogs well. The one catch is boarding: you cross a gangplank, so your dog needs to be steady on it and comfortable with a little sway once aboard, and the vessel moves gently underfoot even moored. Water bowls are often out, but bring a collapsible one to be safe, and keep the lead short and managed, since decks are busy and close to the water.

The vibe and the food

The draw is fresh, locally caught Australian seafood eaten in a rustic, social setting on the water: tiger prawns, famous seafood platters for two, local oysters, bugs, crayfish and fish and chips, all served cold and ready to eat, with a licensed bar pouring beer, wine and cocktails. It is casual and can get busy, with dogs and diners in close quarters on a small deck. Open daily from 11am to 9pm.

Getting there and parking

The trawlers sit in The Wharf marina on Parkyn Parade. Paid parking is available in The Wharf car park, with limited free parking on nearby streets. On a busy weekend, come early or plan a walk in from the foreshore.

Nearby with the dogs

The Wharf precinct and the Parkyn Parade foreshore give you easy leashed walking either side of the meal, and the Alex Headland to Mooloolaba boardwalk stretches the walk properly in both directions. Check council signage for off-leash zones and times along the beach. More ideas are on the Mooloolaba destination page and the QLD restaurants index.

Max: Size up the gangplank before you commit. A nervous or small dog may want a carry across, and a lead kept short stops any lean toward the water on the way in.

Best for a relaxed lunch by the water with a confident, sociable dog. Not the pick for a dog that dislikes crowds or unsteady footing.