Stringybark Hills Retreat

Stringybark Hills Retreat is a secluded bushland property at 81A Stock Road, Mylor, in the Adelaide Hills, and its headline for dog owners is simple: dogs of any size stay at no extra charge. Koalas, kangaroos and emus are regular visitors on the grounds, which makes it one of the more genuinely rural dog-friendly stays within reach of Adelaide.

Dogs at Stringybark Hills Retreat

The pet policy is unusually generous. Dogs of any size, including big dogs, are welcome with no pet fee, two or more animals can be accommodated, and dogs are permitted inside the units. The retreat supplies a dog bed plus food and water bowls, so you can travel lighter. Cats may also be considered on request. The main condition is management: dogs stay on a leash outside on the property, and keeping them off furniture and beds is the expected standard.

The leash rule matters more here than at a suburban motel. The property is genuine hill bushland with stringybarks and frequent wildlife moving through, so a dog with strong prey drive needs active management and solid recall. Guests come for exactly that wildlife: regular kangaroo sightings, koalas in the trees and views over the hills. It is a quiet rural property rather than a manicured resort, and the quietness is what guests consistently mention.

Close by with the dogs

Hahndorf is less than twenty minutes by car and pulls its weight for dog owners: German Arms Hotel and Wunderbar Dog Haus both feed dog-accompanying diners, Same But Different Cafe covers coffee, and Discovery Parks - Hahndorf is the fallback stay if the retreat is booked out. Mylor itself is a small village with the Heysen Trail country all around it.

Max: emus and kangaroos through the property means recall is not optional here, practise it before you arrive and keep the lead on near the units.

Getting there and parking

Mylor sits off the Onkaparinga between Aldgate and Echunga, about 35 minutes from the Adelaide CBD. Stock Road leads to the property, with free parking for guests on site.

Worth knowing

An easy pick for a quiet Adelaide Hills base with a dog of any size at no extra cost, provided your dog can behave itself around wildlife. Confirm room specifics at booking, and if a fenced yard matters for your dog, ask the property directly before you commit.