ibis Styles Canberra Eaglehawk

ibis Styles Canberra Eaglehawk sits off the Federal Highway at Sutton, on Canberra's rural fringe, and it earns its place on a dog-friendly route through one detail: 30 acres of landscaped gardens and bushland around the hotel. For road-trippers crossing between Sydney and Canberra with a dog in the car, it is one of the few full-service hotels in the region that takes pets at all.

Dogs at the hotel

Selected rooms are designated dog-friendly, with pets of varying sizes accepted. Expect a pet fee of around $60 per pet per stay, sometimes paired with a refundable deposit of a similar amount; third-party booking sites do not always show the policy accurately, so call the hotel on +61 2 6241 6033 and request a pet-friendly room explicitly before you book. Pet rooms are a limited allocation, so locking one in early matters.

The vibe

Functional family and road-tripper territory rather than boutique: modern rooms with comfortable beds and renovated bathrooms, family configurations with bunk beds, plus a pool, tennis court and on-site bar and cafe. Some reviewers mention maintenance lapses, which fits the mid-range positioning. The gardens are the real amenity for a travelling dog.

Max: ask two questions at booking: whether the gardens are on-lead for dogs, and exactly what the refundable deposit covers. Both save a checkout conversation.

Getting there and parking

The hotel sits by the Federal Highway about 15 minutes from Canberra's centre. Parking is free and on-site, so unloading a dog and gear is easy.

Close by with the dogs

Capital Country Holiday Park is the other pet-friendly option in Sutton, with fenced caravan sites for dogs who need to roam. Across the border, Dandeleo Dog Park at Bungendore is the nearest dedicated off-leash run.

More options are on the ACT pet friendly stays guide and the Sutton destination page.