Novotel Vines Resort Swan Valley

The Vines Resort, still widely known by its former Novotel Vines Resort Swan Valley name, sits on Verdelho Drive at The Vines, about forty minutes from Perth. Two 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, pools and kangaroos grazing the fairways make it a proper resort stay, and it takes dogs in a defined pocket of its accommodation rather than across the board.

Dogs at the Vines Resort

Pets are restricted to selected self-contained apartments and villas, never the standard hotel rooms, and bringing a dog without a designated pet-friendly booking is prohibited. The nightly pet surcharge has historically sat around $20, and a pet bond is taken at check-in, usually as a credit card pre-authorisation. Food and water bowls are provided, but bring your own pet bedding and crate. Dogs are not permitted in the resort's public hospitality areas, restaurants or around the pool, so plan on the villa grounds for your time together. Call the resort directly and book the pet-friendly room type by name: some booking engines list the property as no-pets when villa bookings are in fact possible.

The setup

The villas are ground-floor, self-contained units in a gated community on the resort grounds, which makes toilet breaks, feeding and luggage management far easier than a multi-storey room. Renovated rooms, balconies and the quiet, low-traffic setting get consistent mention in reviews, and the golf-and-wine backdrop does what it says on the label.

Close by with the dogs

The suburb itself suits on-lead street walks, and for a proper run the Ellenbrook (Westgrove Dr) Fenced Dog Park is a short drive away. In the valley, Lancaster Wines and Swan Valley Station are dog-friendly stops in the directory. If the pet-friendly villas are booked out, Discovery Parks - Swan Valley at Caversham is the pet-friendly park alternative.

Max: Villa or nothing. Call the resort, name the pet-friendly villa type, ask about the bond so the credit card is not a surprise.

The rest of the state is on the WA stays guide, and local wine-country options are on the The Vines destination page.