Fernglen Forest Retreat

Fernglen Forest Retreat is a collection of stone cottages and lodges scattered through Mountain Ash forest on seven acres at 10 Fern Glen Avenue, Mount Dandenong. It is a genuinely pet-friendly property: every cottage and lodge on the site accepts dogs, and several have extras built for them, including fenced side areas and pet doors for safe time outside.

Dogs at the Fernglen Forest Retreat

The property's own pets page covers every cottage and lodge, from Klara's Romantic Studio for two up to the seven-berth Jacuzzi Lodge, so you are not restricted to a single pet-friendly unit. Select cottages have a fenced outdoor area for off-lead time in a secure space. A pet charge applies, with a nightly pet fee and a refundable bond cited by booking channels, so confirm the exact figure for your dates when you book.

House rules worth planning around: bring your dog's own bedding and food and water bowls, keep them supervised outdoors so the visiting native birdlife stays safe, and observe quiet hours from 10pm to 8am. The forest setting means wildlife everywhere, including lyrebirds and wallabies after dark, so a dog that bolts at movement is better on a lead in the garden.

The vibe

Guests book Fernglen for privacy and forest quiet rather than facilities. Each stone cottage has a wood fire, a spa or spa bath, a full kitchen and streaming TV, and the cottages are spaced well apart so barking is unlikely to bother anyone. Birdlife is a running theme in reviews, with parrots and rosellas through the verandah each morning.

Getting there and parking

The retreat sits just off the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, roughly an hour's drive east of Melbourne's CBD. Free on-site parking is at each cottage, so unloading the car and the dog is a short job. The villages of Olinda and Sassafras are minutes away by car, and Kalorama is over the ridge.

Close by with the dogs

Dogs are not permitted in the neighbouring Dandenong Ranges National Park, so plan walks outside its boundaries. The Old Olinda Golf Course off-leash area is the best run in the Ranges, and Kalorama Reserve works for a lead-and-paddle stop. The Mathias Walking Track is worth checking signage on before you set out, since parts of the park system exclude dogs. For lunch, Kelly's Bar & Kitchen at SkyHigh has outdoor tables.

Before you book

Tell the retreat how many dogs you are bringing, confirm the pet fee and bond, and ask which cottages currently have the fenced area if that matters for your dog. Anyone travelling in summer should note the cottages are built for cold-weather cosiness, with wood fires rather than air conditioning as the feature.

More dog-friendly stays in the Ranges sit on the Victoria stays list, and the Mount Dandenong guide pulls the area's dog-friendly venues together.