Bellingen Converted Church

The Bellingen Converted Church is a restored 1882 church on the banks of the Bellinger River at Fernmount, a five minute drive from Bellingen town. It sleeps up to twelve across open-plan living, loft bedrooms and a media room, set in four acres of garden with river frontage. Dogs are welcome, which makes this a rare find: a whole character building with space for the entire group, river views, and no need to leave the dog behind.

Dogs at the Bellingen Converted Church

Dogs are allowed to stay, with a pet fee of around $50 per pet per stay reported across booking platforms and the property's own terms. There is no published size limit, and the layout suits large dogs and multiple pets better than most stays. The standard house rules apply: pets cannot be left unattended at the property, you are responsible for cleaning up after them, and barking that disturbs the neighbours is a no. Additional cleaning or damage charges can apply at check-out.

The four acres of garden give a dog real room to roam, and the riverbank on the doorstep makes an easy leashed walk before breakfast. Because fees and furniture rules vary between platforms and seasons, confirm the current pet terms, whether dogs are allowed in the upstairs lofts, and any off-furniture rule directly before booking.

Pepsi: Four acres of garden and a river at the back fence. My humans got the pool table, I got the sniff of a lifetime.

The place and the setting

Inside it is Balinese-inspired and built for groups: a gourmet kitchen, hotel-quality linen, a private main bedroom with ensuite, two open lofts, a media room with extra beds, and outdoor living with a BBQ, outdoor bath and hammock. Reviews consistently call out the relaxing riverfront atmosphere and attentive hosts. Birdlife along the river is abundant, so a dog with a strong prey drive may need supervision in the garden.

Getting there and getting out

Fernmount sits between Bellingen and the coast: roughly five minutes to Bellingen town and its dog-friendly cafes, five to seven minutes to the nearest beach, and 15 to 20 minutes to Coffs Harbour. It suits groups and families who want space and a river outlook rather than a main-street address.

Bellingen Showgrounds and Bellingen Riverside Cottages are other dog-friendly stays in the area if the church is booked. See more stays in NSW or the full Bellingen guide for everything dog-friendly nearby.