Moody's Motel

Moody's Motel is the practical pick for a dog trip to the Mornington Peninsula: a long-running motel on Point Nepean Road in Blairgowrie with dedicated pet rooms, sitting across the road from the calmer bay beaches between Rye and Sorrento. It is simple and budget-friendly rather than a boutique stay, and the fenced courtyard is what sells it.

Dogs at the motel

Dogs stay in the designated Pet Friendly units, which are specific rooms rather than a blanket policy across the motel, so book the pet room explicitly. Each one comes with a private, fully fenced courtyard, and a dog house and water bowl are usually provided. Pets stay at no extra charge according to booking listings. House rules are the standard two: do not leave your dog unattended in the room and keep them off the bedding. Bringing your own dog bedding as a backup is sensible in case the courtyard extras are not stocked.

The rooms and the location

Rooms are clean and modern with comfortable beds and good showers, and free off-street parking is included. The location is the real asset: the bay beach and the foreshore path near the yacht squadron are walkable, the Blairgowrie village shops and cafe strip sit about 500 metres away, and some of the cafes have outdoor seating where dogs fit in. The bay beaches have seasonal off-leash times, typically restricted during peak summer hours, so check the signage.

Pepsi: Book the pet room by name, not just any room. It is a single dedicated unit and the fenced courtyard is the whole point.

While you're out there

The rocky headland at Dogs Head Rock in Blairgowrie is minutes away, and the Rye Beach dog off-leash area gives a proper run a short drive down the road. For a fenced session, the Lawson Park fenced dog park at Rosebud is the closest option, and Kanasta Caravan Park at Rye is the fallback if the pet room is booked out.

More options are on the Victoria pet friendly stays list and in the Blairgowrie guide.