If you’re planning a getaway to the Gold Coast but don’t want to leave your four-legged friend behind, then we’ve got good news! There’s a plethora of dog-friendly accommodation, parks, pubs, restaurants, cafes and beaches where you can holiday with your dog. Whether you’re seeking pet-friendly places to stay, locations to enjoy some time off-leash or a dog-friendly dining experience, you’ll find it in this pet friendly Gold Coast guide, which includes:
Dog-Friendly Accommodation
QT Gold Coast
QT Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise offers fur friendly stays for you and your pup (as long as they’re under 20kgs). Their Pup Yeah! rooms come with fetching features including a poochie mini bar packed with treats for whining and dining. There’s also decadent in-room dogs’ dinner menus and designer doggy bedding to ensure they’ll be reclining in absolute comfort. The dog’s life is now a 5-star affair!
Location: 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Novotel Surfers Paradise
Known for its exceptional service and beachside location, Novotel Surfers Paradise has extended a warm welcome to furry companions, allowing guests to enjoy their getaway with their four-legged friends (under 20kg). The "Pups in Paradise" rooms are Deluxe rooms situated on level 6 with private balconies and come with treats like a tennis ball, food bowl, water bowl, and a cosy bed. There’s a grassed area on Level 5 of the hotel - perfect for a play or chasing that tennis ball.
Location: 3105 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
Quest Robina
Bring your dog on a weekend escape or business trip to the Gold Coast and book into your one of the pet-friendly, serviced apartments at Quest Robina. From studios to spacious three-bedroom suites, you can be sure of a comfortable and convenient stay alongside your furry friend. There are also accessible rooms to cater to any mobility requirements.
Location: 3 Centreline Pl, Robina
Jacobs Well Tourist Park
Jacobs Well Tourist Park in Northern Gold Coast is a dog friendly caravan park right on the banks of a beautiful waterway, where furry friends are very welcome and well catered for. There’s great fishing and boating in this spot, and you and your dog can explore the sandy shores of the river on long walks together, then chill out in the shade and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Location: 1161 Pimpama Jacobs Well Rd, Jacobs Well
Cedar Creek Lodges & Woodland Glamping Tents
The kind folk at Cedar Creek Lodges know that it can be heart-wrenching to leave your pet behind when you go on holiday, so they’ve catered for canines too! Choose from two different accommodation options for a peaceful Hinterland escape with your pooch. Stay at the self-contained Creek Lodges or one of the incredible Woodland Glamping Tents complete with a private deck overlooking the rainforest and your loyal companion right by your side (not on the bed though!). There are lots of beautiful nature walks in the area which you can enjoy together too.
Location: 639 Tamborine Mountain Rd
Big 4 Gold Coast Holiday Park
At Big 4 Gold Coast Holiday Park in Helensvale they love pets as much as people, and good boys and girls can stay with you on all camping and caravan sites and a selection of dog-friendly cabins (which can accommodate two dogs). There’s a dog wash on site for puppy pampering, 32 acres of off-leash exercise area where Fido can run free and even dog kennels available in case you’re heading somewhere you pooch isn’t permitted. You can be sure your hound will be very happy at these dog-friendly digs!
Location: 66-86 Siganto Dr, Helensvale
Kirra Beach Tourist Park
With multiple camping and caravan sites and dog-friendly cabin accommodation, which features pet-proof mesh to keep pets contained, Kirra Beach Tourist Park welcomes your pooch as part of the family. There are beautiful, grassy parklands right next to the park for your puppy to get their zoomies out, not to mention kilometres of beachfront foreshore to explore the southern Gold Coast. And if your doggo returns covered in sand, you can use the park’s dog wash facility to get them fresh and clean again.
Location: 10 Charlotte St, Coolangatta
Gold Coast Dog Beaches
Our beautiful stretches of golden coastline are not just for humans to enjoy - there are many Gold Coast dog beaches where your puppy can roam free, roll in the sand and frolick in the water. There are six main off-leash dog exercise areas which cover almost five kilometres of the Gold Coast’s beaches and foreshores. Most of these locations are equipped with BBQs, toilets and cafés too, making them ideal for a day out with your pet.
Just remember that dogs are not allowed within 200m of flagged swimming areas and not all beaches are leash free so be sure to read the signage where you’re walking. City of Gold Coast has a handy interactive map where you can search for off-leash exercise areas by location. Head to these Gold Coast dog beaches for a tail-wagging good time.
The Spit, Main Beach: Between sea wall and Muriel Henchman Ave beach entrance
Tallebudgera Beach: From the Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club north to the Tallebudgera Creek sea wall
Palm Beach: South of Lifeguard Tower #13 to the Currumbin Creek sea wall and around to the east side of the lagoon (opposite the Pirate Park)
Bigger Waters Esplanade Foreshore: Marine Parade, adjacent to Quota Park
Labrador Foreshore: Adjacent to Len Fox Park
Paradise Point Foreshore: Adjacent to Paradise Point Parklands
Off-Leash Dog Parks
It’s not just the beaches where your dogs can leave the leash behind and explore freely. There are dog parks aplenty where they can run free and frolic with other dogs. You’re spoilt for choice with walks through beautiful bushland, beside pretty creeks and lakes or take the challenge with the agility courses at some Gold Coast dog parks. Here’s a list of some local favourites.
Helensvale: Discovery Park, Discovery Drive
Runaway Bay: O’Connell Park, corner Morala Avenue and Ocean Street
Southport: Musgrave Park, 120 Musgrave Ave
Benowa: Gold Coast Botanic Gardens, 230 Ashmore Rd
Varsity Lakes: Frascott Park, 12 Woollahra Court
Tallebudgera: Schuster Park, Heather Street
Elanora: Off Leash Agility Dog Island at Eddie Kornhauser Recreational Reserve
Currumbin Waters: Palmer Family Park, Noojee Street
Coolangatta: Goodwin Park, Jarvis Lane (East of the path)
Pet Friendly Cafés
These pet-friendly Gold Coast cafés are the perfect place to bring your dog for a coffee or casual meal while you're in town. Better add a puppacino to your order too!
Café Catalina
Situated within the grounds of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Café Catalina makes the perfect pitstop for you and your pup on a walk around Broadwater Parklands. With waterfront views, great wine list, fabulous food made using local produce and a chilled atmosphere, the undercover alfresco area provides dog approved dining for breakfast, lunch or dinner or a leisurely sunset session.
Location: Broadwater Parklands, 10/11 Gold Coast Hwy, Southport
Raw Espresso
Raw Espresso is Southport’s best kept secret. Come for great coffee, fresh juices and a wonderful spot to relax with your fur baby. Stop in for an acai bowl and doggie biscuit on a morning walk, or linger longer for a casual lunch. Expect excellent service and pats for your pet from the friendly staff.
Location: 1/59-73 Meron St, Southport
Paddock Bakery
Oat latte and a puppacino please! Baristas at Paddock Bakery whip up a lot of doggy treats for canine customers - it’s one of the most popular dog friendly cafes on the Gold Coast. Enjoy premium pastries, baked good and decadent breakfast in the sprawling, shady courtyard with Fido by your side.
Location: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami
The Henchman
This licensed outdoor café is the hippest place for your dog to hang out in all of Miami – and it’s not far from off-leash dog area at Pizzey Park. There’s a big outdoor area at The Henchman where you’ll catch live music on weekends, tuck in to a first class feed and spend some quality time with your furry friends.
Location: 8 Henchman Avenue, Miami
Custard Canteen
Let your pet get their zoomies out at Tallebudgera Dog Beach and then take a short stroll along the creek until you see the striped umbrellas of Custard Canteen on your left (behind Neptune Surf Life Saving Club). Find a spot at one of the outdoor tables and treat yourself to something off the beautiful breakky menu or from the amazing pastries and sweet treats on offer. Your pup will have a lovely time meeting all the other canine customers.
Location: 1525 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Dune Café
Located at Palm Beach Parklands next to the off-leash beach alongside the Currumbin Lagoon, Dune Café is a very popular spot for Gold Coast dog owners to enjoy lunch and breakfast, or a takeaway coffee after a walk and a swim. Four legged friends are always warmly welcomed, and there’s even a statue of a dog out the front to commemorate the animal heroes who served and died in war.
Location: 945 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Daark Espresso
Pooch-watch and people watch from the wrap around deck at this animal-friendly Southport cafe that’s a local favourite for dog lovers. The kitchen dishes out an excellent selection from crispy potato hash to house made raspberry pancakes. No doubt your dog will be hoping very hard for some table scraps.Location: Unit 2/41 Musgrave Ave, Labrador
Palm Springs
This popular Burleigh Heads breakfast/lunch venue serves up Co-Cal style along with amazing coffee, mouth watering breakfast/lunch menu and a great range of cocktails too. What makes Palm Springs even cooler is that dogs are invited to join in the fun. Pull up seat with your pooch in the pebbled courtyard wil local folk and hounds.
Location: 1878 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
All images except QT courtesy of City of Gold Coast.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Destination Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.