Alara Motor Inn Mackay

The Alara Motor Inn is a 4-star motel at 52 Nebo Road in West Mackay, right on the Bruce Highway as it comes into town, and it is one of the few Mackay properties with genuinely dedicated pet-friendly rooms rather than a loose dogs-on-request policy. For a road-trip overnight or a longer stay while you work, it takes the friction out of travelling with a dog through central Queensland.

Dogs at the Alara Motor Inn

Small to medium dogs and cats are welcome by prior arrangement, and pets are strictly restricted to the designated pet-friendly ground-floor rooms, so you must book those specifically rather than asking at the desk on arrival. The motel's own page describes them as small to medium sized pets; booking aggregators list a guide weight limit around 22kg, so confirm the current threshold when you ring. The rooms are non-smoking and sanitised thoroughly between pet stays. Guests report the practical touches are covered too: a water bowl, treats and clean-up supplies, with undercover parking right outside the ground-floor door. Call the motel directly before you lock in the booking to guarantee a pet room is free.

Pepsi: ask for a pet room on the grassed edge of the car park. It makes the last walk of the night and the first one of the morning a thirty-second job instead of a production.

The place

Pet-friendly rooms come with a queen bed, en suite with walk-in shower, smart TV, bar fridge and air conditioning, with free wifi across the motel. Jimmy D's Grill & Bar operates on site at the front of the complex, serving an a-la-carte dinner menu through the week with alfresco seating on the verandah, and room service is available. Free undercover parking sits under the rooms, which matters when you are unloading a car full of dog gear in the wet season.

Getting there

The motel is on Nebo Road between the airport and the Mackay CBD, about two minutes from Mackay Base Hospital. An IGA is within walking distance for supplies, and the riverfront and city centre are a short drive south.

While you're out there

The Mackay Off Lead Fenced Dog Park in the north of town is the secure option for a proper run, and Gooseponds Dog Park sits alongside the Gooseponds waterways for a more scenic session. Closer to the motel, the Botanic Gardens Cafe seats dogs at the edge of the gardens for a morning coffee stop. More options are on the Queensland dog-friendly stays guide and the West Mackay destination page.