Lighthouse Hotel Motel

The Lighthouse Hotel Motel is a classic coastal pub at 66 Zunker Street in central Burnett Heads, and its big undercover beer garden is where dogs are welcome. Listed on PawScapes as a stay, it is in practice a pub first and a motel second: the outdoor areas are the dog-friendly part, and the motel rooms are a separate question to raise with management before counting on them.

Dogs at the Lighthouse Hotel Motel

Dogs are generally welcomed in the undercover beer garden and alfresco areas, on lead and under control, not inside the bar or restaurant. Popularity matters: on busy nights the outdoor space fills up and dogs are more practical on a quieter session than a packed Saturday dinner, so time your visit accordingly. Water bowls sometimes appear but bringing your own is safer. For the motel rooms, pets are typically not permitted inside, and any exception appears to be case-by-case, so ring ahead before planning an overnight stay with a dog rather than assuming the listing makes it pet-friendly.

The vibe

A classic, lively coastal pub known for generous, well-priced counter meals, a kids' play area and a courtesy bus, popular with families and boat crews alike. It sits minutes from the Port of Bundaberg and the departure point for Lady Musgrave Island tours, which makes the beer garden an easy last stop after an afternoon on the water or the foreshore.

Getting there and parking

Burnett Heads is about 20 minutes' drive northeast of Bundaberg. Zunker Street is the town's main strip, with a free on-site car park plus street parking. After lunch, walk the foreshore and marina paths on lead, or give the dog a proper run at the Burnett Heads Dog Park. Kellys (By the Sea) on the same street is the relaxed dog-friendly cafe option for mornings.

Staying the night nearby

If the motel side cannot take your dog, Burnett Heads Holiday Park is the local caravan base, while over at Bargara Discovery Parks - Bargara offers dog-friendly cabins and sites and Bargara Beach Motor inn runs designated pet-friendly rooms. Further along the coast, Moore Park Beach Inn is notably pet-welcoming, with some rooms featuring portable outdoor dog runs. The wider set is on the Queensland dog-friendly stays page, and the Burnett Heads destination guide covers the town.

Plan for the beer garden, keep your dog leashed and settled, and treat the motel rooms as a maybe only after a phone call.