Oaks R Suites Geelong

Oaks R Suites Geelong is a self-contained apartment stay in a heritage-listed 1854 building on Bellerine Street, and one of the clearer pet set-ups in central Geelong. Rather than a blanket pets-on-request policy, the hotel runs designated pet apartments with their own street access, so you can come and go without dragging a dog through a lobby.

Dogs at the Oaks R Suites

Dogs stay in specific one-bedroom Bellerine Apartments and two-bedroom Loft Apartments, up to two dogs per unit, with a $50 departure cleaning fee. The house rules are sensible: dogs cannot be left unattended in the room, they go on beds or furniture only on their own blankets, and you bring your own pet beds, bowls and towels. Reception is off limits to dogs, so the pet units use direct street or car-park entrances. One booking note: several booking sites carry conflicting pet information, so confirm a Bellerine or Loft pet apartment directly with the hotel before you pay, and plan your days around the no-unattended-dogs rule.

The vibe

These are proper apartments rather than hotel rooms, spacious and self-contained, with the loft layouts running to around 85 square metres. Expect modern fit-outs, comfortable king beds, coffee pod machines, spa baths in some units, and a private secure courtyard or balcony for each apartment. Ocean views show up from the upper floors, and the heritage shell gives the place more character than the average corporate stay.

Getting there and parking

The building is at 10 Bellerine Street, a short walk from the Geelong waterfront with secure on-site parking and direct car-park access to the pet units. Austin Park sits directly across the road, which earns its keep for early-morning toilet breaks, and Eastern Beach is about a five-minute walk.

Make a day of it

The waterfront promenade is an on-lead walk in itself, and the Barwon River trail gives you a longer riverside option a short drive south. For coffee, Kilgour St Grocer in Geelong and WYM in East Geelong both welcome dogs at outdoor tables, and Pavilion Geelong sits right on the Eastern Park foreshore.

Pepsi: A courtyard at ground level beats a tenth-floor balcony every day of the week. I do not do lifts.

More dog-friendly bases are listed in our Victoria stays guide, and the Geelong page covers the rest of the city.