Lighthouse Lodge

Lighthouse Lodge is boutique accommodation at 83 Merri Street in Warrnambool, next door to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and managed by the team at Surfside Holiday Park. The building is the historic former Harbour Master's house, set high enough to look out over Lady Bay, and well-behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement. It suits a family or group travelling with a dog who want a house rather than a cabin.

Dogs at the Lighthouse Lodge

Approval comes first: pets must be requested and confirmed with management in advance, usually by phone or email during booking, and only well-behaved dogs are accepted. A pet fee may apply, so confirm the amount with Surfside Holiday Park management when you arrange the stay. With three bedrooms, each with a full ensuite, plus a full kitchen, laundry, living area and a private outdoor entertaining area, there is room for the dog to settle without anyone tripping over bedding.

The vibe

This is a heritage building with a view as the headline: elevated, overlooking Lady Bay and Flagstaff Hill, with the kind of sunsets guests mention in reviews alongside cleanliness and comfort. The lodge has private access to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village next door, so you are effectively staying inside the historic precinct. Merri Street sits in a quiet coastal pocket of Warrnambool, walkable to the foreshore.

Getting there and out with the dog

The foreshore promenade and Lady Bay are within walking distance for on-leash walks, and some sections of the nearby foreshore and beach allow dogs, with council signage marking the seasonal on-leash and off-leash zones, so check the signs before the sand. Beaches Cafe & Bar, two doors down at 91 Merri Street, welcomes dogs on its outdoor seating with a view over Lady Bay, which makes the after-walk coffee easy.

While you're out there

For an off-lead stretch, the fenced run at Victoria Park community dog park is a short drive inland. If the lodge is booked out, Surfside Holiday Park is the manager's own caravan park nearby, and BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks runs pet-friendly cabins on Lava Street. More pet friendly stays in VIC and the Warrnambool guide cover the rest of town.

Max: Get the dog approved before you pay the deposit. This lodge checks, and an unapproved pet is a turned-away pet.