Diamond Island Resort

Diamond Island Resort sits on the coast at Bicheno on Tasmania's east coast, right in the stretch of shoreline the town is famous for: granite headlands, clear water and the little penguin colony that has made Bicheno a stop on every east coast itinerary. The resort is positioned as a base for exactly that, with the Freycinet Peninsula and its Wineglass Bay walks up the road and the town's restaurants a short drive or walk away.

The property is best known for the penguin experience it hosts on site, which makes the grounds part of the attraction.

Dogs at the Diamond Island Resort

The resort's own accommodation page states pets are allowed on request only for an extra 30 dollars per stay, which lines up closely with the 35 dollars per pet per stay that booking platforms report. Pets on request means you clear it with management before you book, so ask about the room type, the number of animals and any size limits when you ring.

Pets stay in select self contained units rather than across the resort, from studio style rooms up to the bigger villas, many with private patios that are not fenced to dog-proof standard. Treat the patio as supervised space.

Bicheno itself is an easy town for a travelling dog: the foreshore around the blowhole and the Red Bill Beach end are the standard walks, and the town keeps its dog rules posted for the main swimming beach, so check which sections are open to dogs before an off lead plan. Keep the leash on around the resort grounds, both for the penguin wildlife and the dusk visitors.

The wildlife point is not decoration: the Redbill Beach end and the track out toward the island are penguin rookery and shorebird country, so dusk walks near the colony stay short, leashed and on the public paths. The per stay fee makes this one of the more affordable pet setups on the east coast for a week long trip.

Worth knowing

Because the resort's headline draw is the penguin experience, expect the grounds to have wildlife sensitive areas and ask at the desk where dogs can and cannot walk. Reviews describe the property honestly as a relaxed, older-style beach base, which is the trade for the price and the position.

Close by with the dogs

Up the coast, the dog exercise area at Swansea gives the dog a proper off lead run on the drive, and Selby Lakeside Cottage at Swansea is the alternative base if you want to split the trip. Browse more dog friendly stays across Tasmania for the rest of the island.

Max: Flat fee for the whole stay made the week easy, and the dog was welcome without drama.