Shoalhaven Heads Hotel

The Heads Hotel is a waterfront pub-hotel at 51 River Road, Shoalhaven Heads, looking straight down the Shoalhaven River. Upstairs is 3.5-star motel accommodation with designated pet-friendly rooms; downstairs is a bistro, two bars, a bottle shop and a beer garden, which makes it an easy one-stop base for a South Coast trip with a dog.

Dogs at the Heads Hotel

Only some rooms are pet-friendly, so call ahead on (02) 4448 7125 and book one of those specifically rather than assuming. No pet fee or size limit is published, and guests report dogs staying comfortably inside the rooms, but confirm both when you book, along with whether dogs can be left unattended, which pub-hotels commonly disallow. Check-in runs from 2pm with checkout at 10am. Ground-floor access is worth asking about if stairs are a problem for an older dog.

Worth knowing

The big advantage is the bistro: Hedy's Bistro takes dogs on its covered river terrace, so dinner does not mean leaving anyone in the car. The beer garden and riverside terraces are the social heart of the hotel, especially on weekends, and the rooms are straightforward pub-motel stock rather than a resort experience. It is a working pub, so weekend noise is part of the deal; ask for a room away from the beer garden side if your dog is a light sleeper.

Getting there and out with the dog

Shoalhaven Heads sits at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, about 20 minutes east of Nowra off the Princes Highway. Free parking is on site. From the door you can walk the riverfront path, and the 24-hour off-leash stretch of Shoalhaven Heads Beach is a short stroll away. Two fenced dog parks are close by: Shoalhaven Heads Off Leash Dog Park and Gaffer Atlas Dog Park.

If the pub is booked out, Werri Beach Holiday Park at Gerringong is the nearest listed dog-friendly alternative. More options are on the New South Wales pet friendly stays guide and the Shoalhaven Heads destination page.