Lake Macquarie Motor Inn

Lake Macquarie Motor Inn is a straightforward motel at 798 Pacific Highway, Marks Point, about 20 to 25 minutes south of Newcastle and 90 minutes north of Sydney. It is a working stop for dog travellers rather than a destination: rooms are clean and affordable, dogs up to 10kg stay in designated rooms for AU$20 per stay, and the lake's best off-leash ground is a short drive up the shore.

Dogs at the Lake Macquarie Motor Inn

Dogs and cats are accepted up to 10kg, two pets per room, with a AU$20 pet fee per stay. Service animals are exempt. Pets stay in designated guest rooms, some with parking right outside the door, and they cannot be left alone in the room, so plan outings around your dog or book days where the dog comes too. Confirm the pet allowance for your specific room when booking, since not every room is open to pets.

Max: the 10kg cap is firm here, so this is a small-dog motel. Big dogs need to look further up the highway.

The stay

The setup is practical: free Wi-Fi, workspaces, an outdoor pool, EV charging and free self-parking directly outside the rooms. On the dog side there is a designated grass patch on the property with poo bags supplied for comfort stops. The motel's amenities are geared to human guests, so bring your own bowls, bedding and treats.

Close by with the dogs

Marks Point itself has a dog exercise area on the water for an on-lead or timed off-lead leg stretch, and Billycart Coffee in the suburb does a morning stop. Thomas H Halton Park at Croudace Bay, a few minutes north, is a large fully fenced off-leash dog park with agility equipment and water stations. Nine Mile Beach has dedicated off-leash sections a short drive away, and the lake foreshore suits long on-lead walks.

Croudace Bay's fenced dog park is the best off-leash run nearby, Marks Point's dog exercise area works for a quick stretch, and Billycart Coffee covers the local caffeine stop.