Friends At Mclaren Vale BnB & Tours

Friends at McLaren Vale is a small, fully hosted bed and breakfast in the middle of the McLaren Vale wine region, and it takes dogs of any size, generally by request and usually at no extra charge. Food and water bowls are set out for four-legged guests, which tells you how routine canine visitors are here. Host Peter also runs personalised tours of the region, which is where the Tours in the name comes from.

Dogs at the Friends at McLaren Vale BnB

Dogs are permitted inside the accommodation on request, with no extra pet fee in most cases, and cats may be allowed by arrangement. The garden is fenced and secure, so the dog has a safe yard while you relax after a day of cellar doors. House expectations are the standard ones: well-behaved animals and your own bedding, to keep dogs off the furniture. Mention your dog's size and confirm the pet arrangements and the exact street address directly when booking, since the listing is a hosted home rather than a signposted hotel.

The stay

This is personal-host territory: reviewers give it a 4.9 from a small number of reviews, with bushland views and the host's local knowledge singled out. Free private parking is on site, and Adelaide's CBD is 45 minutes to an hour away. The dog-friendly tours are the distinguishing feature: rather than drawing straws for the driver, you can book a guided run around the region's cellar doors with the dog along.

Out with the dog

The Shiraz Trail runs through the valley on an old rail corridor and makes an easy on-lead walk from the area, and many cellar doors keep outdoor areas where dogs are welcome on a lead. Maslin Beach is a short drive south when the weather suits. Several cafes and the local pub in the town centre are used to dogs at outdoor tables.

Close by with the dogs

McLaren Vale Cabin & Caravan Park is the practical fallback if the B&B is booked out, Sam I Am Cafe is a town-centre coffee stop, and the McLaren Vale Hotel anchors the main street for a drink with the dog nearby.

This suits dog owners who want a small personal base with a fenced yard and the option of guided, dog-welcoming winery days rather than a large hotel.