Magnetic Cottage Port Fairy

Magnetic Cottage is an 1850s bluestone whaler's cottage at 51 William Street in Port Fairy's historic precinct, fully self-contained and sleeping up to seven, and it markets itself honestly as pet and family friendly. For families or larger groups who want the whole house rather than a single room, with the dog on the trip, it is one of the town's most characterful whole-house options.

Dogs at the cottage

Pets are allowed inside the accommodation, and booking listings generally show no extra pet charge, though pet terms can vary between booking channels, so declare your dog when you book and confirm the fee (if any) directly with the property. House rules for a rental this size apply: clean up after your dog, keep it off the soft furnishings unless otherwise agreed, and keep it quiet in the central historic precinct. A practical touch for beach days is the outdoor hot and cold shower, made for rinsing a sandy dog off before it comes inside.

The place and the vibe

This is a genuine 1850s bluestone building rather than a modern build in period dress, right in town, so the trade-off for the location is a heritage house rather than a fenced acreage. The Moyne River walk and the town's cafes are within an easy stroll from the door.

Getting there and parking

The cottage sits at 51 William Street, within the historic precinct and a short walk from the Sackville Street shops. On-street parking at the door suits a carload of people and a dog.

Close by with the dogs

Under Moyne Shire's seasonal rules, East Beach is off limits to dogs between 9am and 6pm from 24 December to Easter Monday, while the rocky stretch of South Beach west of Powling Street allows dogs off lead at all times, and Griffiths Island is strictly no dogs year round for the shearwater colony. After a beach run, Merrijig Kitchen and Bottega Toscana are the town's sit-down options, and Gardens Caravan Park by the Botanic Gardens is the dog-friendly park alternative if your group needs more room to spread.

More around town is on the Port Fairy destination page, and the full list is in the VIC stays index.

Max: the outdoor shower is the detail that matters. Rinse the salt off at the door and the bluestone interior stays on your side of the argument.