The Duck House

The Duck House is a cosy self contained cottage on Queen Street in Burnie, a north west coast town that most travellers know as the port for the Spirit of Tasmania freight and the start of the drive west to Stanley. The cottage has the kind of historic charm you do not get from a motel strip, with a garden the hosts clearly enjoy and hospitality that shows up in reviews as the recurring theme.

It suits couples on a north west coast loop and travellers wanting a proper base rather than a one night stop.

Dogs at The Duck House

Per the venue's own site, the cottages are listed as pet friendly on both The Duck House and Amelia's Cottage pages. Pet listings report dogs of any size stay free with no pet fee.

You get the whole self contained cottage rather than a room, which simplifies everything with a dog: a private kitchen and lounge, a garden at the door, and no corridors.

The back garden is shared with Amelia's Cottage next door, so coordinate with hosts Lynne and Tich if your dog likes to roam; guests are welcome to pick herbs and lemons from the beds. Off street parking sits a few metres from the front door, which makes unloading a wet dog simple.

The penguin observation point and the coastal track are a short walk away, and that is the one place for strict leash discipline: little penguins come ashore in season and dogs and penguins do not mix. Locals take the quiet rear cut throughs to the water rather than the main roads.

Boundaries inside a heritage cottage stay a conversation rather than a page of rules: bring the dog's own bedding, keep paws off the antique upholstery, and ask the hosts directly about anything unclear.

The vibe

Guests use words like cosy, and mention the herbs from the garden, the historic character and the penguin connection. Burnie's little penguin observation point is on the coast nearby, and evenings here have the sound of the sea rather than the highway.

The hosts' hospitality comes up repeatedly, the kind where local tips actually change your itinerary.

Make a day of it

The coast either side of Burnie is the draw: dog friendly sand at South Burnie and Cooee Creek, the boat harbour at Boat Harbour Beach, and the drive west through Wynyard to Stanley's The Nut. Cafes in town and along the coast make easy stops with the dog.

Walk the dog at South Burnie Dog Beach or Cooee Creek Dog Beach, grab coffee at Fleur by Forbidden Sweets, and browse more dog friendly Tasmanian stays for the next stop.