Barrabool Hills Retreat

Barrabool Hills Retreat is a Scottish and English style bed and breakfast at 230 Andersons Road, Barrabool, about 16 kilometres from Geelong and roughly eight minutes off the Ring Road bypass. It is a small, rural stay: three guest rooms in a shared home with gardens running down to Waurn Ponds Creek, and dogs are taken by prior arrangement with the host.

Dogs at the Barrabool Hills Retreat

The property advertises itself as dog friendly, but this is a shared-home B&B rather than a self-contained cabin, so the dog arrangement is made directly with the host before you book. Dogs must be toilet trained, and you bring your own bedding or a crate because none is supplied. No pet fee is published on the tariff page, so confirm the current terms and any limits on breed or number of dogs when you ring. Ask where the dog can go once you are inside, too, since house rules in shared homes tend to be set room by room.

The vibe

Expect rustic and homely rather than resort: cosy rooms, a fireplace, comfy beds, shared lounges and decks, and a breakfast room looking over gardens that run down to Waurn Ponds Creek. A continental breakfast is included in the tariff with a cooked option for an extra charge, and the host sets out gourmet picnic baskets on request. Reviewers keep coming back to the peaceful setting, the views across the hills and a welcoming host, and the rooms have electric blankets for the cold months. Coded entry and secure parking round out the practical side.

Getting there and parking

Set the GPS for 230 Andersons Road, Barrabool. The exit off the Geelong Ring Road puts you there in about eight minutes, and there is secure parking on site. Nothing is walkable from the gate, so plan to drive for coffee and dinner: 63 Degrees Highton is a handy stop if you are coming from the Ring Road side, and Geelong's cafe strip is about 20 minutes away. The Surf Coast beaches sit within easy reach for a morning walk before you head home.

If a whole-property setup suits you better than a shared home, Tasman Holiday Parks Geelong in Belmont is a pet-friendly alternative closer to town, and the Barrabool destination guide plus the wider Victorian stays index cover the rest of the region.

Book ahead for weekends and call the host directly to lock in the dog arrangement rather than assuming it at check-in. This one suits owners after a quiet countryside base and dogs who are settled travellers, since the setting is intimate rather than a resort spread.

Max: ring before you book, not on arrival. In a shared home like this the host sets the dog rules, and you want them agreed before you are on the doorstep.