Bidwell Cottage (Daylesford Country Cottages)

Bidwell Cottage is one of the Daylesford Country Cottages, a secluded, self-contained one-bedroom cottage at 29A Fulcher Street on a quiet no-through road, within walking distance of Lake Daylesford and the town centre. It is one of the rare Daylesford stays that charges nothing extra for dogs, which makes it an easy pick for a weekend away with the dog.

Dogs at Bidwell Cottage

Dogs stay free and are welcome inside the cottage and in the securely fenced private garden, which is the headline feature for owners of escape artists. Dog bowls are provided by the hosts. The one firm rule is furniture: dogs are not allowed on the sofas or beds unless you bring your own blankets to protect the furnishings, so pack a throw if your dog is a couch sleeper. No size limit is published and the cottage is described as suitable for family pets, but confirm if your dog is very large.

The cottage

Inside it is set up for a private, fireside weekend: a wood-burning heater with firewood supplied, a well-equipped kitchen, a Smart TV with Netflix, split-system heating and cooling, and a gas BBQ on the west-facing deck. It suits a couple and one dog better than a big group, and guests regularly single out the decor, the kitchen and how clean the place is kept.

Out with the dog in Daylesford

The Lake Daylesford loop is an easy 40-minute on-lead walk from the door, and the dog-friendly Tipperary Track continues through old goldfields country towards Hepburn Springs if you want a longer outing. Afterwards, The Farmers Arms Daylesford pours in the town's oldest pub building with a dog-friendly beer garden, and the Tipperary Spring via Blowhole Circuit is a longer forest option for a second day. If the cottage is booked out, Jubilee Lake Holiday Park & Cafe is the lakeside alternative worth trying.

Daylesford sits about 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne, close enough for a Friday-night dash. For more options, browse dog-friendly stays in Victoria or plan around Daylesford.