Goorambat Railway Hotel

The Goorambat Railway Hotel is a renovated 1880s country pub in Goorambat, a small township on the North East Victoria silo art trail between Benalla and Dookie. For travelling dog owners it has a specific niche: free backyard camping behind the pub, where well-behaved dogs are welcome to stay the night with you in your van or tent.

Dogs at the Railway Hotel

Dogs are welcome for the backyard camping, which covers caravans, campervans and tents, and on leads around the pub's outdoor areas while you eat. There are no indoor rooms, so this is a camping-only proposition: your dog sleeps where you sleep, in your own setup. Well-behaved is the operative word, since rigs park close together in the shared backyard and there is regular foot traffic in and out of the pub.

Max: a patch of grass behind a country pub, a counter meal within sniffing distance, and no site fee. The trade is good manners on lead.

The pub itself

Inside it is a proper country local: newly renovated, cold beer on tap, gluten-free options on the bistro menu, and staff with a reputation for accommodating travellers. The arrangement for campers is refreshingly simple, parking is free and the pub suggests you square it by buying a drink or a meal. Goorambat sits on the silo art circuit, so most guests are passing through on that trail rather than settling in.

Worth knowing

This stop suits self-contained travellers. You are relying on your own facilities for the night, and the close quarters of a pub backyard mean keeping your dog on lead in shared spaces and never leaving them unattended at the van. Book nothing, ring ahead if you want to confirm space on a busy long weekend.

While you're out there

For a proper fenced run the next morning, Churchill Reserve Dog Park in Benalla is about 15 minutes south. If you would rather a caravan park base, Benalla Tourist Park is the established option, and Clement House covers the bed-and-breakfast end of town. You can compare more pet friendly stays in Victoria or browse Goorambat.