Top of the Lake Holiday Units

Top of the Lake Holiday Units sits on the Princes Highway at Millingandi, the small settlement just north of Pambula on the NSW far south coast, and it is that rare find: a genuinely pet-inclusive holiday property rather than one that merely tolerates dogs. The units are self-contained, guests describe them as clean and comfortable with friendly hosts, and the location puts you minutes from Pambula River and the beaches either side of Merimbula.

Dogs at Top of the Lake Holiday Units

Per the property's own units page, the dog policy is unusually generous. There is no size restriction, dogs are allowed inside the units, and pets stay free.

Each unit has an enclosed courtyard and balcony, there is a fully fenced communal yard, and the only real limit is a courtesy rule: dogs left inside should not have access to the bedrooms. For anyone who has fought the usual battle of dog-must-stay-outside accommodation on a cold south coast night, that inside access is the whole difference.

The leave-and-go arrangement is the part regulars lean on: a dog settled in the enclosed courtyard while you take lunch in Merimbula needs no dog-sitter, only the bedroom door shut. Big dogs are part of the deal here too, with greyhound owners among the guests who single out the secure fencing.

There is a lake at the bottom of the property: private access to Merimbula Top Lake runs through a small jetty and boat ramp, good for kayaks, standup paddleboards and shallow-bottom boats, with room to park the trailer. For a water-loving dog it is a calm place to wet the paws well away from surf, though the lake edge draws water birds at dusk, so high-prey-drive dogs stay on the lead down there.

Worth knowing

Millingandi itself is quiet, which is the point. You are five minutes from Pambula's cafes and IGA, and Merimbula with its boardwalk, dog-friendly patios and off-lead beach areas is about 10 minutes north.

South, Eden and Ben Boyd National Park make a strong day trip, and Tathra is a scenic run up the coast. Laundry facilities on site make longer stays workable, which matters for anyone touring the coast with a sandy dog in the car.

Two practical notes for dog weeks: after heavy south coast rain the grassed grounds go soft and paws come up muddy, so a towel at the unit door earns its keep, and in school holidays the handful of units book out well ahead. Book early or travel off-peak; the property runs stay-and-pay deals in the quiet months.

On the coast side, more dog friendly stays in NSW are listed if the school holiday dates fall through.