Harvest Farm

Harvest Farm is an 18-acre farm stay in Badger Creek, five minutes from Healesville on the quiet side of the Yarra Valley, with two self-contained two-bedroom cottages that take dogs for a $50 fee per stay. The appeal for dog owners is simple: a whole cottage to yourselves, country gardens to wander and wine country at the door, without the usual no-pets fine print.

Dogs at Harvest Farm

Well-behaved dogs are welcome with advance notice at booking, and listings state dogs of any size are accepted, with cats considered by request. The $50 fee applies per pet per stay. Pets are permitted inside the cottages, but confirm the house rules for your specific cottage before arrival, particularly around bedrooms and furniture.

The two cottages, Harvest House and Dairy House, each sleep four with two bedrooms, open-plan living and a wood fire for cold valley nights. The property sits on a north-facing slope with wide views, guests can pick from the kitchen garden, and there are farm animals about, including a resident dog, Bo.

Max: a resident dog and free-ranging chickens means lead on until introductions are done. Ask the hosts where your dog can be off lead before letting them loose in the garden.

Location and nearby

The farm is about an hour from Melbourne with free parking on site. Healesville Sanctuary is up the road but dogs are not allowed in, so plan around it. In town, the Healesville Showgrounds off-leash area covers the morning run, My Little Kitchen Cafe & Bar and Cherry Tree Cafe do dog-friendly coffee, and cellar doors like Payten & Jones welcome dogs at outdoor tables.

When to go

Yarra Valley weekends book out well ahead, so midweek is the easy win, and autumn brings the best mix of mild walking weather and quiet cellar doors. Give notice about the dog at booking, not at check-in. Good for couples or a family who want farm space rather than a caravan park.