Acre of Roses

Acre of Roses is an adults-only wellness retreat on a biodynamic rose farm on Bowen Street in Trentham, and dogs are welcome in one specific spot: The Potting Shed, a garden studio with French doors opening straight onto the rose beds. If you want a quiet country base where the dog stays in the room with you, this is a considered choice rather than an afterthought.

Dogs at the Acre of Roses

Dogs stay in The Potting Shed only, and you need to flag it at the time of booking so the host can prepare the space; guests are also asked to give notice before stepping out, because dogs cannot be left alone in the studio and pet-sitting may be able to be arranged through the team. Size limits and pet fees are not published anywhere public, so confirm both when you book. The retreat is adults only throughout, so this is a couples-and-dog escape, not a family booking.

The farm itself runs to more than 1,700 heritage rose bushes, and The Potting Shed leans into its garden-shed roots: a corrugated tin roof, French doors, an outdoor clawfoot bath and a cosy snug. Reviews point at a hot tub, steam shower, fresh-baked bread and a quiet, restorative feel, and the property also hosts small elopements. Parking for Potting Shed guests is beside the woodshed.

While you're out there

The town centre is an easy walk away, so a morning coffee run with the dog in tow is simple. Trentham Off-Leash Dog Park covers the proper exercise, and the Domino Trail makes a gentle on-lead walk from town. Trentham Falls on Trentham Scenic Reserve Road is a short drive, with dogs on lead at the lookout, and the Quarry Street reserve near the lake has water bowls and on-leash walking tracks.

In town, the outdoor seating at Trentham General on High Street is reliably dog-friendly and RedBeard Historic Bakery's wood-fired sourdough comes with a verandah your dog can share. For dinner, The Cosmopolitan Hotel is the local pub option.

Pepsi: the Potting Shed is the only pet-friendly space here, so say it at booking and ask the host about pet-sitting before you plan a day in Daylesford without me.

Worth knowing

Arriving after dark, have your directions ready: Bowen Street is a quiet, low-lit country road, though private parking is marked beside the woodshed. If you would rather compare pet-friendly stays nearby first, Akyra Lodge is the other Trentham listing, and the VIC dog friendly stays page covers the wider region around Trentham.