Dog Friendly Tropical Vacations – With countless beautiful islands off the Queensland coast, is it any wonder that an island stay is the best Queensland holiday? But most islands do not allow dogs, check out some dog-friendly islands in Queensland.
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Dog Friendly Tropical Vacations
One of the most dog-friendly islands off the coast of Queensland, especially in the tropics, is Great Keppel Island. Take a day trip with your dog from Yeppoon to Great Keppel thanks to its spectacular beaches, swimming and diving. There is so much to do on Great Keppel Island!
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The easiest way to get to Great Keppel Island is by boat. There are two ferry companies that offer short 30-minute trips and multiple departures throughout the day. Reservations are recommended.
We traveled with Keppel Links, which carried dogs for free. Our dog does not need to wear a muzzle. There is also a large Freedom Fast gate that charges $5 for small dogs and $10 for large dogs.
The main attraction of Great Keppel Island (wop-pa) is its beautiful, dog-friendly beaches. There are no signs on the beaches indicating whether dogs are allowed or not. But the island is part of the same local government area as Yeppoon, so there are default rules that allow dogs to be walked during the day, as well as before 8am and after 4pm.
Fisherman’s Beach: The center of the island, this is where your boat drops you off and is close to the limited number of shops, cafes and accommodation on the island. Stroll along the beach at its southern end at the beginning of the passage to the nearby beach.
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Shelving Beach: The next easiest beach to visit is a 5-10 minute walk from the end of Fisherman’s Beach, although the last part of the path is quite rough, especially if you are wearing a thong. It is popular for swimming and diving, with reef areas on either side of the beach.
Monkey Beach: Considered one of the best places for diving in the island, leave the turn at Shelving Beach and go down the long road to Monkey Beach. Unfortunately we did not have time to visit this beach.
Long Beach: This beautiful stretch of white sand is great for paddling and swimming. There are two paths leading to the beach, the last of which starts at the end of Fisherman’s Beach and is easy to find, while there is also an inland path that skirts the tip of the island. The east end is actually a nude beach, although we had almost the entire beach to ourselves when we visited.
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There are many footpaths on the island, although they are currently not well maintained or signposted. It is a good idea to keep your dog on a leash during the walk as we saw a kona, an echidna and many birds in the quiet bushes. If you are staying on the island, it is recommended to inform your accommodation about your bushwalking plans.
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As part of our ferry booking with Keppel Connects we included lunch and drinks on the Great Keppel Island Hideaway which was great value and delicious. The Bistro Hideaway is mostly outdoor and dog friendly, with plenty of water bowls. On the way out I saw a “no dogs beyond this point” sign, but I did not know which area it was referring to – we were not the only ones with dogs.
Other dining options on the island include Tropical Vibes Cafe and Great Keppel Island Pizza at the main outlet. Both options can be dog-friendly at the outdoor tables, or ask for takeaway and takeout on the beach.
If you’re going for the day and want to spend the day exploring, it’s best to bring your own picnic lunch so you don’t have to return to Fisherman’s Beach midway.
Although the main resort on Great Keppel Island has been closed for years, with redevelopment plans released every few years (and then dormant), the island has many smaller accommodation options and holiday homes.
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Most of these are not pet-friendly, but there may be pet-friendly options for one or two at any given time, like this beach house on Airbnb. It is best to book in advance or go ahead and visit Great Keppel Island with your dog on a day trip.
The other main island in tropical Queensland that you can visit with your dog is Magnetic Island, a short 20-minute boat ride from Townsville Beach.
You can take your car to Magnet Island which is bigger than Great Keppel Island. If you are traveling with a dog, it is best to have your own transport as pets are not allowed on the buses on the island. However, there are also car rental options, which these days allow at least one island, Arcade Beach Guest House and car rental.
If you are taking your car to Magnetic Island, you will need to take the Magnetic Island Ferry car ferry. Dogs are allowed on the ship at no extra charge. If you take them out of your car, they must be on a leash unless they are allowed in the cafe area, except in the outside seating area. Reservations are required for cars and they are quite expensive.
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If you’re happy to walk, you can also use the Magnetic Island Ferry car ferry or book a Sealink fast passenger ferry. Dogs are allowed on the ferry at no extra charge, although they must be on a lead and muzzle or alternatively travel in a pet carrier.
Dogs are allowed on most of Magnet Island except for the National Park, which covers most of the island outside the villages, and includes the popular Castles Walk.
Outside of national parks, dogs are allowed on leashes at most beaches. These include Neely Bay, Jeffrey Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Picnic Bay and West Point beaches. There are some beaches where dogs are prohibited, such as patrolling Alma Bay, so check the signs.
We went to Magnet Island with our dog without a car and found our options limited. Most people leave the buses or catch them as soon as they arrived, and the island is bigger than you might expect!
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Our favorite part of the day was walking the spectacular boardwalk that starts near the Jeffrey’s Bay ferry terminal, and then walking on a leash to Jeffrey’s Bay beach.
At the far end of Jeffrey’s Bay, at the end of Armand Way, is a popular place to see the resident rock wallabies. However, I recommend keeping your dog away from the wallabies – if you are visiting the island with another person, walk towards the wallabies.
Most of the cafes and pubs on Magnetic Island with outdoor dining areas will allow your dog to join you. One recommendation I’ve heard from others is the Island Bar at Nomads Magnetic Island Backpackers (first floor), which has a cheap lunch menu and live music.
Magnet Island has a large selection of vacation homes available for rent, some of which are pet-friendly. Whether it’s Staycation, Airbnb or Booking.com, find a selection of pet-friendly accommodations on your favorite site. Check all the rules for dogs in advance, including whether they are allowed inside.
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If you want to camp, the only campground on Magnetic Island during our visit didn’t allow pets, so we opted to stay the night. However, it has now been acquired by an upscale hotel brand, Selena. I have confirmed first hand that Selena Magnetic Island allows pets in their campsite.
Located an hour’s drive north of Brisbane between Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast, Bribie Island is a great place to stay for a day or more with your dog.
Bribie Island is the easiest island to visit in Queensland as it is connected to the mainland by a narrow bridge. Select Bribie Island in your car GPS and go!
One of the main dog-friendly attractions on Bribie Island is this amazing dog beach, possibly the best dog beach in the entire Brisbane area due to its beautiful golden sand. Stretching between Woorim Beach and Red Beach, the off-leash dog exercise section is 4km long, perfect for a beach walk with your pup.
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The easiest place to access the off-leash area is at the end of Lori Street in Voorim, where there is also a convenient dog washing area with a hose. Woorim Beach is known as a surfing beach, although the waves were small the day I visited.
You can also access the off-leash dog beach from Red Beach, where the waters are even calmer. To the east of the first parking lot, there is an off-leash area only initially for a few hundred meters before you reach the off-leash dog beach.
