Verandah Retreat Phillip Island

Verandah Retreat is a three-bedroom beach house on Gordon Street in Cowes, built for holidays with dogs rather than ones that merely allow them. It sits roughly 200 to 250 metres from the calm bayside sand at Cowes Beach, with the town's shops and cafes close by, and it is one of the few properties on Phillip Island that sets itself up for dogs from the ground up.

Dogs at the Verandah Retreat Phillip Island

Dogs are welcome inside the house, on durable pet-friendly furnishings and floors designed to cope with sandy paws. The house rules are the sensible ones: no dogs on the beds or indoor furniture, and no pets left unattended at the property. A dedicated dog bed is ready on arrival, and there is a spot to rinse off sandy coats after the beach.

Outside, a fully enclosed secure garden lets the dog roam without a lead. Pet fees and conditions are confirmed at booking, so flag your dog when you enquire rather than on arrival, and bring your own bowls and usual bedding.

Max: the fenced garden plus a wash-down point after the beach is the whole reason we rebook here. Keep the dog off the furniture and it is an easy stay.

The house

Two bathrooms, a full kitchen and a wood fire cover the cooler months, and the layout runs around an undercover deck. Free private parking is on site. It suits a slow-paced stay within walking distance of the water rather than a base for driving everywhere.

Getting there and out and about

Cowes Beach is a couple of hundred metres away for on-lead walks, with Bass Coast Shire signage on the access tracks marking where off-lead allowances and seasonal time rules change. Ventnor Dog Beach on the island's western side is the dedicated off-lead option a short drive west. Nearby stays include the NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park if you want pet-friendly sites and cabins, or Banyanda for another private Cowes option.

More options are on the Victoria pet friendly stays guide and the Cowes destination page.