Oasis Village

Listed here under its former trading name, this lakefront property at 140-146 Windang Road now trades as Lakeside Inn Illawarra, and it sits directly on the shore of Lake Illawarra between Wollongong and Shellharbour. The fact that decides whether dog owners book is the set of specifically designated pet-friendly rooms, which puts grassed lakefront grounds at your doorstep without leaving the site. It is a three-star, functional rather than fancy base, priced accordingly.

Dogs at the Lakeside Inn

Only designated pet-friendly rooms take dogs, such as the Pet Friendly Superior Queen Single, so name the room type when you book; standard and family rooms on the same property do not allow pets. You must inform management in advance that you are bringing a dog. Fees at last check ran to a $30 pet charge per accommodation plus a one-off $30 cleaning fee, so budget roughly $60 on top of the room rate and confirm current amounts when booking, as they change. Service animals are exempt. Bring your own bowls, bedding and food, as no on-site pet amenities are confirmed.

The place

It is a casual lakefront property mixing motel rooms and cabins that range from rustic to recently renovated, and guest feedback keeps coming back to the grassy areas by the water where a dog can stretch its legs without leaving the site. Some cabins have private decks and lake views, and pet-friendly cabins may sit at the end of rows for easier access, though those details come from aggregator listings rather than the property, so ask at booking rather than counting on them. Free parking is positioned close to the rooms for easy loading.

Pepsi: book the pet-friendly room by name and confirm the two $30 fees in the same call, because turning up with a dog in a standard room is the one way this stay goes wrong.

Close by with the dogs

Windang Dog Beach is about five minutes away for an off-leash run on the sand, which pairs well with a property that already gives you grass and water at the door. For a meal, The Fern & Anchor on Lake Illawarra is the local dog-friendly table. Windang's small town centre with its cafes and shops is within walking distance, and both Wollongong and Shellharbour are short drives for bigger outings.

More options around the suburb are on the Windang destination page, and the wider list is in the NSW pet friendly stays index.