The Aston Motel – Tamworth

The Aston Motel sits on the New England Highway at 999 Armidale Road, Nemingha, about six kilometres north of central Tamworth, and it is one of the more practical dog stays in the region. The setup is built around dedicated pet rooms with their own enclosed patios, so you are not juggling a lead in a car park at the end of a long highway day.

Dogs at the Aston Motel

Pet-friendly rooms are a specific booking category rather than a blanket policy: look for the Queen Room pet friendly, the pet friendly Executive Queen, or the older style Family pet friendly option, each with a fully enclosed patio attached. Under the motel's health regulations, dogs are not permitted inside the carpeted indoor area of the room; the secure patio is their space. A limit of two pets per room generally applies, and the motel's grounds give you room to exercise a dog off lead between drives. The number of pet rooms is limited, so confirm at booking that a pet room is actually being held for you, and ask which room you have, since patio sizes vary.

Max: get the room number, not just the room type. The patios are not all the same size and knowing which one you have settles whether a big dog will be comfortable.

The vibe

The motel runs modern and comfortable, with a swimming pool, barbecue area and the licensed Restaurant 999 on site, so dinner does not mean repacking the car. Parking sits close to the rooms, which makes unloading a dog and its gear straightforward. This suits a one or two night stopover with a dog that is happy to settle on a patio rather than roam a room.

Getting there

The motel is right on the New England Highway, an easy pull-off for northbound or southbound travellers. Central Tamworth is a short drive south for supplies, parks and dog-friendly tables.

While you're out there

George Street Dog Park on the western side of Tamworth is the closest fenced run for a proper off-lead session. For a coffee run, Humble Espresso in East Tamworth works, and The Pig & Tinder Box is a solid dinner option in town.

More options are on the New South Wales pet friendly stays guide and the Nemingha destination page.