Bushman's Motor Inn

Bushman's Motor Inn sits on Peakhill Road in Parkes, the central west town built around the railway and the radio telescope, and it positions itself a notch above the standard highway motel. The room mix runs up to two bedroom apartments and king suites, guest feedback highlights the comfortable beds, large bathrooms and free laundry, and a quietness that comes up repeatedly in reviews. Parkes' trade is wide: travellers on the Newell Highway run, visitors for the annual Elvis festival in January, and people in town for the telescope or the gold operations.

Dogs at the inn

Per the inn's own pet policy page, prior notification is required so a suitable pet friendly room can be assigned, the pet fee is a nominal $15 per stay, pets are leashed in public areas, must not be left unattended in rooms, and clean-up responsibility sits with the guest. That is a fully published pet policy, rarer than it should be: tell them before you arrive, pay the fee, keep the dog on the lead outside, and never leave it alone in the room.

The no-alone rule is the operative constraint for daytime plans, so build your Parkes itinerary around what the dog can join.

The grounds give the dog what a highway motel usually does not: grass out the back for the relief run, plus a covered BBQ zone where you can cook dinner with the dog at your feet.

Pet rooms are a limited subset of the stock, and they sell out ahead of standard rooms through the Elvis festival week and long weekends, which makes the advance call part of the booking. The rooms open to shared walkways rather than private courtyards, so toilet breaks are on-lead walks out to that back grass.

Worth knowing

The room range is the practical advantage: a two bedroom apartment gives a travelling family and a dog proper separation, and the king suites work for couples. Guest feedback also flags some dated bathrooms, the honest trade at this end of the market.

Parkes' summer heat makes the air conditioning and free laundry worth more than they sound, and the Elvis festival period books out the town months ahead, so lock in the pet room early for that week.

Close by with the dogs

For mornings, the Bridge to Bridge Loop gives the dog a proper walk along the water, and town coffee is easy from Margot Espresso Bar or Walter Cafe. If you are pushing on along the Newell, browse more dog friendly stays in NSW for the next stop, or rest a night at the The Jetty end of town if an evening meal is the priority.