The Dunes Ocean Grove

The Dunes sits at 30 Surf Beach Road on the Ocean Grove shoreline, looking straight out over the sand, with a takeaway kiosk below and a restaurant above. For dog owners on the Bellarine it is the classic walk-and-dine stop: come straight off the beach path, settle on the deck and eat with the surf in view.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on the outdoor deck and verandah, which has bench tables under shade umbrellas. The enclosed main restaurant is off-limits to pets, so on a cold day it is the deck or nothing. This is one of the more genuinely dog-friendly setups on the coast: water bowls are provided, and the kiosk next door often has a free treat for visiting dogs. Access is straight off the beach path, so sandy paws are the norm rather than the exception.

Max: Come off the beach path, grab a kiosk treat for your dog and take a deck table. Everything here is built for sandy visitors.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs modern Australian plates from breakfast through dinner, with barramundi, fish and chips and the squid among the usual orders, and the kiosk handles quicker takeaway. Opening times shift through the week, starting from midday on most days and earlier on weekends, so check the board on the door if you are timing a late breakfast.

Getting there and parking

There is a free beachside car park directly in front of the venue on Surf Beach Road. The beach out the front has seasonal dog rules, so check the posted signs on the day for where leads are required.

Make a day of it

Ocean Grove's dog beach is the designated stretch for an off-lead run, and the coastal trail to Barwon Heads makes a proper pre-lunch walk. Further around the peninsula, Hounds of the Vine is the boutique winery that welcomes leashed dogs inside and out.

More coastline options are in the guide to dog-friendly restaurants in Victoria, and the local page for Ocean Grove covers the town.