Boat O'Craigo, Yarra Valley

Boat O'Craigo is a family-owned, single-vineyard winery at 458 Maroondah Highway on the edge of Healesville, with an award-winning cellar door, a relaxed restaurant and a popular outdoor deck looking across the vines. Dogs are welcome outside, which makes the deck the place to be for a tasting, a pizza or a weekend lunch with the dog settled under the table.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas, the deck, patio and lawns, on a leash and supervised at all times. They are not allowed inside the cellar door or the indoor restaurant, so this is an outside-table visit regardless of the weather. There is shade on the deck, and the recommendation from regulars is to bring your own water bowl and treats for the dog. If you are planning a peak-time weekend lunch, book ahead and say you will have a dog so you get an outdoor table.

The vibe

The estate pours cool-climate varietals: Pinot Noir is the headline act, with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Gewurztraminer alongside it. The kitchen runs pizzas and cheese and grazing boards, and the deck hosts tastings and live music on weekends. It is busier than a quiet farm-gate cellar door, but the setting over the vines keeps it relaxed.

Getting there and parking

The winery sits on Maroondah Highway between Coldstream and Healesville, with ample on-site parking directly in front of the cellar door and easy access straight off the highway. Doors open from 10am, closing at 5pm most days, with a later 10pm close on Saturdays and Tuesday and Wednesday as the closed days.

While you're out there

Give the dog a proper stretch before the tasting at Healesville Showgrounds dog off leash area. For a second cellar door on the same run, Maddens Rise at Coldstream is back down the highway, and Payten & Jones sits just over in Healesville itself.

For more options across the region, browse dog friendly wineries in Victoria or plan from Healesville.