Austinmer Gardens B&B

Austinmer Gardens B&B is a self-contained two-bedroom apartment at 4 Boyce Avenue in Austinmer, on the northern Illawarra coast, that takes dogs at a modest nightly fee. It is a couple-and-dog coastal base with a balcony and a short walk to the sand.

Dogs at the Austinmer Gardens B&B

One dog of any size is welcome, with an additional fee of AU$30 per night. Your dog needs to be housebroken and well-behaved, kept off the furniture at all times, and you bring your own dog bedding. Leaving the dog unattended in the apartment is possible only by prior arrangement with the hosts, so plan outings around it. Cats are not accepted.

Max: pack the dog bed and a towel for sandy paws, the bedding rule is enforced and a tired beach dog makes apartment living easy.

The place

The apartment occupies the upper floor and sleeps up to four adults across two bedrooms, with a fully equipped kitchen, eco-cotton linen and a generous breakfast hamper waiting on arrival. A private balcony runs off the main bedroom, which reviewers regularly mention along with the location and the homely touches. Being self-contained rather than a hosted B&B room means you are not navigating shared hallways with a dog in tow.

Close by with the dogs

A stroll through Glastonbury Gardens brings you down to the coast. Little Austinmer Beach is Wollongong City Council's 24/7 off-leash beach, partly rocky but quiet, so morning swims with the dog are on the doorstep. For coffee, Saltie Dog Coffee & Crepes at Coledale is a short drive north, and the Headlands Hotel Brasserie & Bar sits above the beach in the same suburb. Travellers comparing the coast can also check Southview Boutique Guesthouse at Bulli.

More options are on the New South Wales dog-friendly stays list, and the local guide is at Austinmer.