Bailey's on Fernleigh

Bailey's on Fernleigh is a country cottage retreat at 24 Fernleigh Road in Tintenbar, in the Byron hinterland between Ballina and Lennox Head. It sleeps around 6 to 8 guests across 3 bedrooms, with a creek and a pool on the property, and it sits beside Tintenbar Oval. The draw for dog owners: the host has previously stated on Facebook that dogs are welcome at no extra fee, though there is no formal published policy page behind that.

Dogs at the cottage

The no-extra-fee dog arrangement comes from the host's own social media posts rather than a written policy, and no size limits are listed publicly. Booking platforms broadly tag the property as allowing pets, but details such as which areas a dog can access, whether the yard is fenced, and any conditions for a working rural property need confirming. Contact the host directly on 0410 576 200 or [email protected] and get the current arrangement in writing before you book.

The setting is the selling point. Tintenbar Valley is quiet cattle-and-macadamia country, the cottage has a home-away-from-home feel, and the pool and creek give the property its character. Tintenbar Oval directly next door is open grass for on-lead walks, though it is a shared sports ground rather than a dog park, so check the signage for any council rules before unclipping anything.

Max: social-media pet policies can shift without warning. Get the fee, room allocation and any size or behaviour rules confirmed in writing from the host before you book.

Close by with the dogs

Take the Tintenbar exit off the Pacific Highway (M1) and the cottage is a few minutes from the interchange, with on-site parking. Alstonville Dog Park is the nearest dedicated off-lead space about 10 minutes away, and the Seven Mile Beach dog beach at Lennox Head is a short drive east for a proper run on the sand. In Alstonville village, Buckley's Chance is a known stop for travellers with dogs in tow.

This suits travellers who want a laid-back rural base in the Northern Rivers and are willing to verify the dog arrangements with the host first. If a published pet policy matters to you, ask for it in the booking thread; if the host confirms the no-fee arrangement, this is a genuinely good-value hinterland stay with a dog.