The Orchard Luxury Accommodation

The Orchard Luxury Accommodation is a one-bedroom studio apartment, the Apple, set on a ten-acre rural property in Red Hill South on the Mornington Peninsula. Small dogs are welcome, which is rare at this end of the market, and the Red Hill winery strip and coastal walks sit within a short drive of the gate.

Dogs at The Orchard

The Apple Apartment takes small dogs, and the host's own site lists a cleaning and pet fee of $50 per stay. Dogs are welcome inside the apartment but not on the furniture or beds, so bring your own pet bedding and bowls. The useful outdoor feature is a shady, fenced courtyard deck running off the master bedroom, which gives your dog a secure patch of outdoors.

Max: only the courtyard deck is fenced. The wider ten acres of lake, meadows and forest are not dog-proofed, so clip the lead on anywhere beyond the deck and do not rely on the grounds to hold a wanderer.

The vibe

This is a quiet couples retreat rather than a family park: a luxury one-bedroom apartment with a spa bath and a private balcony looking across the lake and rural paddocks, down a country lane away from the main tourist roads. It suits one small, well-behaved dog and owners who want a calm base between winery lunches. It is a poor fit for a large or high-energy dog that needs a fully fenced yard, and booking channels are not always consistent about pet terms, so confirm your dog's size and the fee with the host before you pay.

Getting there and parking

Red Hill South sits at the high, cool end of the Mornington Peninsula, roughly an hour and a half from central Melbourne by car, longer on a summer Saturday. Free onsite parking is included, and the surrounding Arthurs Seat and Red Hill roads are the region's main winery corridor.

Close by with the dogs

Several nearby cellar doors welcome dogs on leash in their outdoor areas, including Avani Wines and Tucks on the same winery roads as the property. Ring ahead on long weekends, when outdoor tables fill first. For a proper leg-stretch, the Red Hill Rail Trail runs along the old rail reserve a short drive away, and Shoreham Beach has dog-friendly hours a few minutes further down the hill. Always call cellar doors before you arrive to confirm their current pet rules.

More bases for the peninsula are on the Victoria dog-friendly stays guide and the Red Hill South destination page.