Horizons part of Blue Fin Holiday Homes

Horizons, part of Blue Fin Holiday Homes, is a pet-friendly holiday house in South Australia's southernmost town, Port MacDonnell. What sets it apart from most short-stay listings is a specific pet policy rather than a vague pets welcome line, which takes the guesswork out of booking with a dog.

Dogs at the house

The rules are clear. A pet fee of 10 dollars applies to the stay, and a 20 dollar cleaning fee may be charged if you leave pet hair or mess behind. Dogs must stay off the beds and furniture for the whole visit, and you need to bring your own pet bed and bowls because none are supplied.

As with any short-stay listing, confirm the policy in the booking platform (it appears on Stayz) before you pay, since details can change between listings and seasons. Check that the pet fee at checkout matches what was advertised.

The vibe

This is a proper holiday house rather than a cabin or caravan site, so you get space to spread out with a dog drying off after the beach. Port MacDonnell itself is a small crayfishing town on the Limestone Coast with a working jetty, a rugged foreshore and long stretches of beach walking at the doorstep.

Getting there and out with the dog

The house sits in Port MacDonnell, about half an hour south of Mount Gambier. The town's foreshore is an easy walk, and the dog-friendly strip on Sea Parade covers coffee and meals: Tide Espresso Bar for the morning run and Salt Cafe & Bar for a seafood lunch. If you would rather camp, the Port MacDonnell Foreshore Tourist Park takes pets right on the beach side of town, and Hastings Cunningham Reserve's fenced dog park in Mount Gambier breaks up the drive in.

More options are on the South Australia pet friendly stays guide and the Port MacDonnell destination page.