Dooleys Springsure

Dooleys Springsure is the tavern-and-motel combination at the foot of the Minerva Hills in Springsure, a cattle town where Virgin Rock leans over the main street. It is a proper country pub with rooms attached, and the car park handles everything from utes to caravans and work trucks, which matters when the rig and the dog travel together.

Dogs at the Dooleys Springsure

As at their Capella sister venue, pets are welcome in the pet-friendly areas of the alfresco dining deck at the Tavern, so dinner happens with the dog stretched out under the table. The deck fills with travellers at the dinner rush, so an early table keeps the space, and on a rainy night the choice reverts to the room.

As at their Capella sister venue, pets are welcome in the pet-friendly areas of the alfresco dining deck at the Tavern, so dinner happens with the dog stretched out under the table. The deck fills with travellers at the dinner rush, so an early table keeps the space, and on a rainy night the choice reverts to the room.

Two practical notes for dog travellers: the pet quota is small enough that event weekends and peak season leave standard rooms open while pet rooms are gone, so book days ahead rather than rolling in hopeful, and there is no fenced run on site, so the after-drive stretch is a leashed walk. Road trains work the highway at all hours, so if your dog is a reactive sleeper, ask for a room back from the road frontage when booking.

The vibe

Springsure is a small town with a big sky: the Minerva Hills sit right above the main street, and the town's heritage trail gives you reasons to walk the dog on leash around history rather than just past it. The pub is the social centre, and the motel rooms sit far enough back that the front bar noise does not follow you to bed.

Close by with the dogs

Emerald is the nearest big service town, about forty minutes north: Pepis Land Dog Off Leash Area for the off-lead run and the Railway Dog for another dog-friendly pub on the same corridor. For a quieter stay option, Glenview Retreat Emerald works well.

Max: Garlic prawns lived up to the talk, and having the dog with us on the deck made the overnight easy.