Motel 3858

Motel 3858 in Heyfield is what happens when a motel is actually built for dogs instead of just allowing them. All ten rooms are dog friendly, each a king-size room with modern fittings and large sliding doors opening onto its own private courtyard, and the hosts promote the pet setup up front rather than burying it in the fine print. It sits in Heyfield, the small town that bills itself as the gateway to Lake Glenmaggie in Gippsland's hinterland.

Dogs at Motel 3858

Dogs and cats of any size are welcome across all ten units, with no additional pet fee reported. The design does the containment work for you: each unit has its own fully walled, dog-proof private courtyard off the sliding doors, so there is no hunting for a safe patch of grass at 7am. Rooms are finished with surfaces that shrug off muddy paws and come with kitchen appliances, complimentary Wi-Fi and onsite private parking right at the door. It is still worth confirming your dog's stay with the motel when you book, as with any property.

Max: The walled courtyard is the real selling point if your dog is a fence-tester or a bolter. Do a lap of the gate latch when you first arrive anyway, every property's setup is slightly different.

Worth knowing

The rooms read well above the usual country motel standard, with luxurious fittings, hot tubs and modern decor, and there is an outdoor pool on the property along with an off-leash area beyond the individual courtyards. Guests consistently mention the welcoming hosts. The setup skews towards couples and travelling pairs rather than a family resort crowd. Beyond the motel, the surrounding Wellington Shire countryside has quiet rural roads for a leg-stretch walk, and Lake Glenmaggie is a short drive for a bigger outing.

Close by with the dogs

For other stays in the area, Abington Farm B&B offers a farm-style alternative and Heyfield RV Park covers the van crowd.

More options are on the Victoria pet friendly stays guide and the Heyfield destination page.