Billabong Falls

Billabong Falls is a private, self-contained holiday house in Olinda in the Dandenong Ranges, set in established native gardens with views across the ranges. Once home to award-winning landscape designer Phillip Johnson, the property leans romantic: guests rate it around 4.8 and single out the gardens, the views and the attention to detail. Dogs can stay, but strictly by prior arrangement.

Dogs at Billabong Falls

Pet sleepovers must be discussed and approved before your stay; do not assume a dog is fine just because the listing promotes the property as pet-friendly. Public listings do not publish a size limit or pet fee, so raise both when you first enquire and get the house rules in writing. As a private rental the whole house is yours, which makes settling a dog in simpler than a hosted B&B: no shared lounges, no other guests' dogs. Book through an authorised channel such as Airbnb or the house's own site so the pet arrangement is on the record.

Worth knowing

The house is fully heated and air-conditioned with outdoor decking over the gardens, comfortable in any season. Inside it leans couples and small groups rather than big families. One planning note that matters more here than most places: dogs are not permitted in the core Dandenong Ranges National Park, including Sherbrooke Forest and the 1000 Steps, so plan walks around the village, the arboretum and dedicated dog areas instead.

Getting there and parking

Olinda sits along the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road about an hour's drive east of Melbourne's CBD. The property has off-street parking, and the Olinda village shops and cafes are minutes away.

Close by with the dogs

The pick for an off-lead run is the Old Olinda Golf Course Dog Off Leash Area on Olinda-Monbulk Road, with open space and valley views. For an on-lead walk, the Mathias Walking Track suits the gardened side of the hills. After a walk, Olinda Tea House and Restaurant is the village dining stop. More options are on the Olinda destination page, and the full list is in the VIC stays index.

Max: Ask first, that is the house rule, and skip the national park because I am banned there. The golf course dog park down the road is my kind of garden.