Australia was made for road trips.

Long coastlines. Country towns. Bush walks. Beach mornings. Weekends that start with throwing a few things in the car and seeing where you end up.

Even better when your dog gets to come.

The slightly complicated part?

Finding out where they're actually allowed.

Dog-friendly beaches can have different hours. A walking track might allow dogs while the national park next door doesn't. Accommodation advertised as "pet-friendly" can have its own set of rules.

And those rules change from state to state - and often council to council.

So we've pulled together some useful resources for planning a dog-friendly holiday in Australia, from places to stay to parks, beaches and walks.

Bookmark this one for your next adventure.

Australia-Wide Dog-Friendly Travel

Not sure where you're going yet? Start here.

Travelling Around Australia With Your Dog

The Australian Government has information about travelling interstate with dogs, including biosecurity considerations that may apply when moving dogs between certain states and territories.

Australian Government - Travelling With Your Dog in Australia

One thing to remember when planning an Australian road trip: national parks aren't automatically dog-friendly.

Rules vary between jurisdictions and individual parks, so always check the relevant parks authority before building a walk, campsite or attraction into your itinerary.

Then pick your state.

New South Wales

Beach weekend? Country escape? A few days driving the NSW coast?

There's plenty to explore with your dog - but check individual destinations before you go.

Find Dog-Friendly Accommodation in NSW

Visit NSW has a dedicated collection of pet-friendly stays around the state, from coastal accommodation to country escapes.

Visit NSW - Pet-Friendly Accommodation

Check NSW Park Rules

Dogs generally aren't permitted in NSW national parks and other protected lands, although designated dog-walking areas exist in some regional parks.

Check the official rules before planning your walk.

NSW Environment - Pets in Parks

Finding Dog-Friendly Beaches in NSW

This is where your local council website becomes your best friend.

Dog access to NSW beaches and parks can be determined locally, so search the council website for your destination and look for its current off-leash areas, beach access and permitted hours.

DOG GO tip: Don't just search "dog-friendly beach near Byron Bay". Once you find somewhere you like, confirm the current rules with the local council before you drive there.

OUR FAV - We are Sydney based, and LOVE taking our dog Koda up and down the NSW Coastline. Our favourites include Bayview Dog Park (Sydney Northern Beaches), Avoca Beach (Central Coast) and Manyana Beach (South Coast NSW). 

Victoria

Victoria makes planning a dog-friendly getaway refreshingly easy.

Its official tourism website has an entire section dedicated to travelling with dogs.

Start With Dog-Friendly Victoria

Find dog-friendly destinations, walks, accommodation and places to eat across Melbourne, Gippsland, the High Country, Yarra Valley, Grampians and beyond.

Visit Victoria - Dog-Friendly Victoria

Find Dog-Friendly Parks & Walks

Parks Victoria has a dedicated dog-friendly parks guide, including places to walk and camp with your dog.

Parks Victoria - Dog-Friendly Parks

Dogs generally aren't permitted in Victorian national parks, so check the specific park before adding it to the itinerary.

DOG GO tip: Victoria is a great place to start if you want to build an entire weekend around your dog rather than simply find somewhere that tolerates them.

Queensland

Queensland gives you plenty of reasons to pack the car.

But before you plan that rainforest walk or national park stop, check whether your dog can actually come.

Find Parks, Forests & Camping Areas That Allow Dogs

Queensland Parks has a dedicated guide explaining where dogs are permitted.

Dogs aren't permitted in Queensland national parks, but they are welcome in some conservation parks, State forests and recreation areas.

The guide also lists a selection of camping areas where dogs can stay overnight.

Queensland Parks - Dogs & Pets

Finding Queensland's Dog-Friendly Beaches

Beach access is often managed by local councils.

Once you've picked a destination - Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Noosa or further north - check that council's website for designated dog beaches and off-leash areas.

And check the hours.

A beach that's gloriously off-leash at 7am might have very different rules later in the day.

South Australia

South Australia is particularly handy for finding somewhere dog-friendly to stay.

Find Pet-Friendly Accommodation

The official South Australia tourism website lets you explore pet-friendly accommodation around the state, including hotels, cottages, cabins, caravan parks and campsites.

South Australia - Pet-Friendly Accommodation

Find Dog-Friendly Parks & Walks

Unlike some other Australian states, dogs are permitted in certain South Australian parks.

The state's environment department has a guide to parks where you can walk your dog, including a collection of dog-friendly parks around Adelaide.

South Australia - Dog-Friendly Parks & Walks

Rules still vary by park, so check before setting off.

DOG GO tip: SA can be a great option if your ideal trip involves a combination of road tripping, dog-friendly accommodation and walking.

Western Australia

Western Australia is big.

Really big.

Which makes checking where your dog can stop along the way even more important.

Find Parks & Campgrounds That Allow Dogs

Explore Parks WA explains where pets are permitted and provides information about dog-friendly areas and campgrounds.

Explore Parks WA - Pets in Parks

Dogs aren't permitted throughout all parks, so don't assume a campsite or walking area is dog-friendly simply because it's on your route.

For beaches and local off-leash parks, check the website of the relevant WA council once you've chosen your destination.

Tasmania

Tasmania looks like the ultimate place to pack the dog into the car and disappear into nature.

There's just one important catch.

Dogs are generally not permitted in Tasmania's national parks and reserves, although there are exceptions.

Check Where Dogs Are Allowed

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania maintains information about travelling with dogs and lists some reserves where dogs are permitted.

Tasmania Parks - Dogs in Parks

For other dog-friendly beaches, walks and reserves, check the relevant local council.

DOG GO tip: If Tasmania is on the road-trip list, check dog access before building your itinerary around national parks and nature reserves. It could significantly change where you stay and what you do.

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra has plenty of green space, but dog access varies between reserves.

Fortunately, ACT Parks makes the rules relatively easy to check.

Find ACT Parks Where Dogs Are Allowed

The ACT Parks guide identifies reserves where dogs can be off-leash, on-leash or aren't permitted.

ACT Parks - Dogs in Parks

It's a useful page to check before deciding where your Canberra walk will be.

Northern Territory

Travelling through the NT with your dog requires a little more forward planning.

Dog access to parks and reserves can be limited, and even where dogs are permitted, they may only be allowed in specific designated areas.

Check NT Park Access Before You Go

The Northern Territory Government provides information about pets in parks and which areas dogs may access.

Northern Territory Government - Pets in Parks Guide

If you're planning a longer NT road trip, check every major park or attraction individually before building it into your route.

This is definitely not the state for assuming that "we'll find somewhere to walk the dog when we get there."

The One Rule We'd Use Everywhere

There are some brilliant dog-friendly travel websites, Facebook groups, blogs and Instagram accounts out there.

Use them.

They're often how you discover the places you never would have found otherwise.

But before you pack the car, follow one simple rule:

Discover it online. Confirm it with the authority responsible for it.

Found an amazing dog beach on Instagram?

Check the council.

Found a bush walk in a Facebook group?

Check the parks authority.

Found "pet-friendly" accommodation?

Read the property's actual pet policy.

Dog access can change depending on the season, time of day, area of the beach, wildlife activity or local regulations.

Two minutes of checking can save a very disappointing arrival.

Before You GO

Once you've worked out where you're going, do one final check.

Can your dog go?
Check beaches, parks, walks and attractions.

Can your dog stay?
Read the accommodation's full pet policy.

Can your dog comfortably get there?
Plan your route, rest stops and back-seat setup.

Have the rules changed?
Check the official source again shortly before you leave.

Then comes the good bit.

Pack the lead. Pack the water. Pack their bed.

Load the car.

And GO somewhere worth getting muddy.