Best Dog Friendly Day Trips Brisbane – With countless beautiful islands off the coast of Queensland, is it any wonder that an island stay is the ultimate Queensland holiday? While most islands don’t allow dogs, check out Queensland’s dog-friendly islands.
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Best Dog Friendly Day Trips Brisbane
One of the most dog-friendly islands off the Queensland coast is Great Keppel Island, a particularly tropical island. A day trip from Cape Town to Great Cape with your dog makes for a great getaway thanks to its beautiful beaches, swimming and ice cream. There are so many things to do on Great Cape Island!
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The easiest way to get to Great Cape Island is by ferry. There are two ferry companies that offer a short 30-minute journey with several departures throughout the day. Advance booking is recommended.
We traveled with Keppel Etisalat, which accepts dogs for free. Our dogs were not required to wear a muzzle. There are also large Freedom Fast cats that charge $5 for small dogs and $10 for large dogs.
Big Keppel (Woop-pa) Island’s main attraction is its beautiful beach, which is fortunately dog-friendly. There is no sign that dogs are actually allowed on the beach. But the island is part of the same local government area as Japan, so dogs are allowed during the day, before 8am and after 4pm.
Fisherman’s Beach: Central to the island, where your ferry will drop you off and close to the island’s limited shops, cafes and accommodation. Walk south along the beach to start the nearby beach walking trail.
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Shillong Beach: The easiest beach to get to is a 5-10 minute walk from the end of Fisherman’s Beach, although the beach is rough, especially if you’re wearing a bra. Popular for swimming and ice cream, the beach has sections of reef on each side.
Harbor Beach: For the best ice cream on the island, leave Schilling Beach and continue down the road to Harbor Beach. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to visit this beach.
Long Beach: This long stretch of white sand is perfect for dog walking and swimming. There are two hiking trails along the beach, an easier option at the end of Fisherman’s Beach, as well as an inland trail that runs through the island’s desert. The East End is basically a bare beach, and we had the entire beach to ourselves when we toured.
There are several hiking trails on the island, but currently they are not well maintained or signed. Best for walking your dog as we saw guana, echidna and lots of bird life in another quiet bush. If you are staying on the island, it is recommended that you inform your accommodation about bushwalking plans.
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As part of our ferry booking with Keppel Connections we included a drinks lunch at the Great Keppel Island Sanctuary which was great value and lovely. Secret Bistro is primarily outdoor and dog-friendly, with plenty of water bottles. I saw a sign on the road that said “no dogs after this point” but I don’t know which direction it meant – we were dog only.
Other dining options on the island include Tropical Vibes Cafe in the main shop and Big Keppel Island Pizza. Both options are dog-friendly at the outdoor tables or ask to sit on the beach and watch.
If you’re just doing a day trip and want to spend the day exploring, it’s a good idea to bring a picnic lunch so you don’t have to head back to Fisherman’s Beach in the middle of the day.
Although the main resort on Big Cape Island has been closed for years, with plans for redevelopment appearing (and then closing) every few years, the island also has a variety of residences and vacation homes.
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Most aren’t pet-friendly, but there’s always a pet-friendly option or two, like this beach house on Airbnb. It is best to book in advance or take your dog on a day trip to Great Cape Island.
Another big island in tropical Queensland that you can visit with your dog is Magnet Island, a 20-minute ferry ride off the coast of Townsville.
A larger island than Great Cape Island, you can drive your car to Magnet Island. If you’re traveling with a dog, it’s best to have your own vehicle, as pets are not allowed on island buses. However, there is also the option of renting a car, at least one island car rental these days allows pets, Orchid Beach Hotel and car rental.
To take your car to Magnetic Island, you need to take the Magnetic Island Ferry car ferry. Dogs are allowed on board at no extra charge. If you take them out of your car and are not allowed to sit outside in a cafe, they need them. Advance reservations are required for cars and are expensive.
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If you prefer to cross on foot, you can use the Magnetic Island Ferry car ferry or book the Selinc fast passenger ferry. Dogs are allowed on board at no extra charge, or must be rented, leased or otherwise travel in a pet carrier.
Dogs are allowed on most of the island, except for the national park, which covers most of the island outside the village and includes the famous Fort Walk.
Dogs are allowed on beaches outside national parks. These include Blue Bay, Jeffrey’s Bay, Horse Bay, Picnic Bay and West Point Beach. Some beaches, including patrolled Apple Bay, prohibit dogs, so check for signs
We visited Magnet Island without a car with our dog and realized our options were limited. Most people go or catch the bus when they arrive, and the island is bigger than you might expect!
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My favorite part of the day is walking the beautiful Kabul Way boardwalk, which starts near the ferry terminal and goes to Jeffrey’s Bay, followed by a beach walk at Jeffrey’s Bay.
The rock wall shelter at the end of Jeffrey’s Bay is a popular spot for walleyes at the end of Armand Way. However, I recommend keeping your dog away from the walls – if you’re going to the island with someone else, go around the walls.
Most of the cafes and pubs on Magnet Island with outdoor dining areas will allow you to join your dog. One recommendation I’ve heard from others is Nomad Magnetic Island Backpackers (formerly Base) Island Bar, which has a cheap lunch menu and live music.
Magnet Island has many vacation homes for rent, and many allow pets. Find pet-friendly accommodations on your favorite site, whether it’s Stayz, Airbnb, or Booking.com. Check the dog rules, including whether dogs are allowed inside.
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If you prefer to relax, the only campsite on Magnet Island on our visit did not allow pets, so we opted not to stay overnight. However, it has now been taken over by the most popular hosting brand, Selina. I have confirmed directly with the property that Selena Magnet Island allows pets in the campsites.
Located an hour north of Brisbane between Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast, Bribie Island is a great place to walk your dog for just a day or longer stay.
Para Island is the most accessible island in Queensland as it is connected to the mainland by a small bridge. Just select Bribie Island on your car’s GPS and off you go!
One of Bribie Island’s dog-friendly destinations is the best dog beach in the Brisbane area thanks to its beautiful golden sand. The 4km long dog run between Worim Beach and Red Beach is perfect for a walk in the sea with your dog.
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The easiest access to the recreation area is at the end of Lowry Road in Worem, where there is also a dog wash with a hose. Worim Beach is known as a surf beach, although the waves were low on the day I visited.
You can also access Dog Dog Beach from Red Beach, where the water is calm. Just east of the first parking lot, there is a bumpy road a few hundred meters before you reach the first dog beach.
