Bayplay Lodge - Groups

Bayplay Lodge is a casual, hostel-style group lodge on St Johns Wood Road in Blairgowrie, about ninety minutes from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula. It is built for groups, families and camps rather than couples seeking quiet, and it runs a dogs-stay-free policy that makes it an inexpensive base for a Peninsula trip with the dog.

Dogs at Bayplay Lodge

Dogs are allowed inside the rooms but must stay off furniture and beds. Outdoors they can use the garden area under supervision - the garden is not fully fenced, so it is not a safe space to leave a dog unattended or off-lead without watching them. Dogs are not permitted in the swimming pool area. Bring your own bedding and bowls; a basket of treats is provided on arrival, and no pet fee has been reported. Previous visitors have also noted the fencing may not contain small dogs, so keep that in mind for littler dogs.

The vibe

Think camp accommodation rather than a boutique motel: shared spaces, group energy, walking distance to the Blairgowrie township where the shops, cafes and post office cluster. Snake deterrents are installed around the grounds because of the nearby coastal bushland, which tells you this is a place to keep dogs close and leashed rather than roaming. It suits groups travelling with a well-mannered, supervised dog, and less suits a dog that needs a secure yard to roam unattended.

Getting there and parking

The lodge is at 25-29 St Johns Wood Road, Blairgowrie, with free on-site parking. A 500-metre walk through tea-tree brings you to the calm bay beach, good for an evening stroll and swim, while the Mornington Peninsula National Park coastal walking tracks start about 1.5 kilometres away.

Close by with the dogs

On the water, Dogs Head Rock is the listed Blairgowrie spot on PawScapes, and Hapi Cafe & Restaurant Rye is the dog-welcoming cafe option a short drive up the coast. If the lodge is full, Moody's Motel is the other Blairgowrie stay.

More options are on the Blairgowrie destination page, and the full list is in the VIC stays index.