Holmwood Guest House & Spa Cottages

Holmwood Guest House & Spa Cottages is a boutique stay at 37 Chapel Street in Cowes, Phillip Island's main town, offering self-contained spa cottages a short walk from the beach and the Thompson Avenue shops. Dogs are welcome, but in the detached cottages rather than the main guest house, which is the detail that decides whether this works for you.

Dogs at the Holmwood

Dogs are permitted in the self-contained spa retreats and cottages, not the main house. Several cottages have fenced courtyard gardens, which is the practical win for keeping a dog secure while you eat or head out. Small to medium, well-behaved dogs are generally accepted, and listings often note no additional pet fee, though this varies. Because dog access is limited to specific cottages, ring ahead rather than booking online and assuming the dog is covered, and ask which cottage has the fenced courtyard if that matters.

The place

Spa cottages with private courtyards, clean and comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and a small garden on the property. The setup suits couples who want the dog in a private, contained space rather than a shared building, with the town and foreshore on foot.

Close by with the dogs

Cowes Beach allows on-lead walking, with off-lead areas nearby subject to seasonal signage from Bass Coast Shire. For a proper off-lead run, the San Remo Dog Beach and Ventnor Dog Beach are both short drives off the island's back roads, and Thompson Avenue's cafes do dog-friendly outdoor seating.

Max: the Penguin Parade and Seal Rocks are no-go for dogs, so plan your island days around the beaches and let the cottages' courtyards do the containing.

Getting there

Chapel Street sits just off Thompson Avenue in central Cowes, about two hours from Melbourne via the Monash and South Gippsland highways, with street parking at the property.