Heathcote Retreat Motel

Heathcote Retreat Motel sits right on High Street in the middle of Heathcote, in the heart of the shiraz country of central Victoria, and it takes dogs subject to published conditions that are unusually specific for a small country motel. It works as a stopover on the Northern Highway or a base for the Heathcote wine region.

Dogs at the Heathcote Retreat Motel

The motel's own terms spell out the deal: pets stay at management discretion, so declare your dog when you book. You must bring your own pet bedding, pets are strictly prohibited from getting on the furniture, and you are responsible for cleaning up completely after your pet, including hair. A $50 bond is required at booking and is refunded after departure provided there is no damage and no extra cleaning. The property offers standard motel rooms, two-bedroom self-contained units and a larger three-bedroom house rental, and approval depends on the room and the manager, so confirm which room type your dog is approved for before paying.

The place

Guests mention clean bathrooms, tidy rooms, linen supplied, a barbecue area and cabins at reasonable rates, with an accommodating host regularly called out. The host being across the details helps when you are sorting where the dog can and cannot go.

Close by with the dogs

The motel is walking distance from High Street's pubs and cafes, and the Heathcote Dog Park is a short drive for an off-leash run. The Coffeehouse covers the morning coffee in town. The O'Keefe Rail Trail heads out of Heathcote for a long leashed walk.

Max: the $50 bond and the furniture ban are printed in the motel's own terms, so bring a dog blanket and skip the argument at check-in.

Getting there

The motel is at 257 High Street, Heathcote, about an hour from Bendigo and ninety minutes from Melbourne's northern edge, with parking at the door.