The Woolshed Cabins Beechworth, Victoria

The Woolshed Cabins sit on 12 acres of fenced, wooded bushland at 12 McFeeters Road outside Beechworth, and they are about as genuine a dog setup as the High Country offers. Well-mannered dogs sleep inside the cabins at night in their own beds, dogs stay free, and the property itself is built around having a dog with you rather than merely permitting one. Ratings sit around 4.9 from 50-plus guests, who call out the quiet bush setting, clean cabins and thoughtful hosts.

Dogs at the Woolshed Cabins

A maximum of two dogs per cabin is generally permitted, and stays are at the manager's discretion, so mention your dog when booking. The one firm restriction: no pets are allowed in Woolshed 1, so check you have the right cabin. Inside, dogs are allowed at night and must stay off furniture and out of bedrooms; outside they should be under control. Cabins have large enclosed verandahs, and Woolshed 3 and Woolshed 4 add larger fenced dog snoozing zones if you want a secure space without holding a lead. Bring your dog's own bedding.

The on-site extras are what set this place apart for dog owners. There is a leash-free area with a mini-trail on the property, a seasonal dam for a swim, and pet-minding can be arranged if you want to explore dog-free parts of Beechworth for a few hours. The hosts also point guests to local dog-friendly walks of 6km or more starting close by.

Worth knowing

This is a bush retreat, not a walk-to-town base. Beechworth's cafes and shops are a short drive away, and the walking tracks through Beechworth Historic Park around the Gorge take dogs on a lead, as do the tracks near Woolshed Falls. If you would rather stay on gravel and grass, the Lake Sambell walking track on the edge of town is an easy loop with water along the way.

Getting there and parking

Turn off the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road onto McFeeters Road; the cabins are signposted a few minutes from town. Parking is at your cabin door, which makes unloading crates and bowls simple. Beechworth is roughly three hours from Melbourne via the Hume Highway.

Close by with the dogs

In town, Coffee Staines is a solid coffee stop before a Gorge walk. If the woolshed is booked out or you are travelling with a bigger rig, Beechworth Lake Sambell Caravan Park also takes up to two dogs. More options in the region are on the Beechworth destination page, and the full list is in the VIC stays index.

Max: Dogs stay free, there is a dam to swim in and a fenced snoozing zone at the cabin. Two paws up from me. Bring your own bed though, that is the deal.