Healesville Holiday Cottage

Healesville Holiday Cottage is a self-contained holiday house on Steel Street in Healesville, a couple of streets from the town centre, and it is unusually generous by dog-stay standards: dogs of any size are welcome by prior arrangement, there is no additional pet fee in the listings, and the property supplies a kennel, a dog bed and food and water bowls so you travel lighter.

Dogs at the cottage

The arrangement comes with conditions worth planning around. Dogs must be agreed in advance with the host, they can be inside only under direct supervision, they cannot be left unattended in the cottage, and they stay strictly off the furniture and out of the bedrooms. Cats are not allowed. In exchange there is a fully fenced garden for off-lead time, and provided pet gear that includes the kennel and bowls. If your dog is used to the couch or needs hours alone in the house, this is a poor fit; if your dog is house-trained and travels with you everywhere, the rules cost little.

Max: the fenced yard does the hard work. Check the gate latches before the first unsupervised sniff, then relax.

Who it suits

Couples or families wanting a private whole-house base in the Yarra Valley rather than a shared building or a motel room, with the entire town on foot. The house has an expansive yard and garden beds, and the small number of guests who have stayed rate it highly.

Close by with the dogs

The Healesville Showgrounds Dog Off Leash Area is the designated off-lead space in town and an easy walk from the cottage. On the way back through town, Cherry Tree Cafe is a dog-friendly coffee stop, and Payten and Jones adds a cellar door option for the human half of the group.

Flag the dog when you book to lock in the prior-arrangement requirement. More options are on the Victoria pet friendly stays guide and the Healesville destination page.