Day Trips With Dogs Brisbane – Looking for ideas for a fun day out with your dog in the Brisbane area? Whether you want the beach or the mountains, the Gold Coast, the Sunny Coast or closer to home, I have tons of ideas for fun day trips with your dog, all within 2 hours of downtown Brisbane. How many of these have you tested with your dog?
The best dog-friendly beach you can visit in Brisbane (without taking a boat) is undoubtedly South Woorim Beach on Bribie Island. This beautiful stretch of golden sand with gentle waters is only a 90-minute drive from central Brisbane and is easily connected to the mainland by bridge.
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At Wurim Beach South you can simply relax on the sand and swim with your pet in the water, or if you’re feeling adventurous, go for a long walk. The off-leash section of the beach stretches for 4km between Woorim and Lowry Street in Red Beach, making for an extra long walk with your dog if you want to come back after it’s all over!
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I recommend parking at the end of Lowry Street, where there is a small access road to the start of the off-leash section of the beach, as well as a convenient wash bay, when you park at Red Beach, the beach is there. Just a curb. Start your day on the beach with a lunch of fish and chips from Bribie Island’s takeaway shop or visit the Bribie Island RSL restaurant with its dog-friendly dining room.
If you’re looking for a dog-friendly walk near central Brisbane, look no further than Mount Coot-tha Forest, just 15-minutes west of Brisbane’s CBD.
In particular, one of the most popular dog-friendly trails in the park is the Summit Walk, which starts at the Jesse Slaughter Falls Picnic Area and then climbs 1.2 miles to the Summit Lookout.
The summit lookout on Mount Coot-tha offers spectacular views of Brisbane. There is also a cafe – a perfect place to grab an ice cream or coffee and enjoy the view before heading back to your starting point.
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The Summit Walk is a moderate grade trail with some uphill and downhill sections, but can be completed in less than 2 hours at a leisurely pace. If you’re looking for something a little different to fill your day, there’s no shortage of other hiking trails in the Mount Koot-tha Forest – more than 50 to choose from.
Although dogs are not allowed on most public transport in Brisbane, dog-friendly options are Brisbane River Ferries and City Cats. While there are some rules that must be followed, especially wearing a leash and avoiding the morning and afternoon peak hours on weekdays, spending time with your dog is still a great experience.
While there are many ferry routes to choose from, one of the most convenient sightseeing cruise options is the Cityhopper service. It runs approximately every half hour between North Quay and Sydney Street, and best of all, the service is free!
I recommend parking near the Sydney Street Ferry Terminal where there is easy street parking. The journey to North Quay takes 40 minutes, after which you can wait on board for the return journey, making the total journey time 90 minutes. You can get off the road and go for a walk with your pet.
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The ferry is perfect for a stroll along the New Farm Riverwalk or Southbank, or to combine with a visit to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
Another dog-friendly cruise option less than 2 hours from central Brisbane is the Noosa Ferry. Unfortunately, this cruise option is limited to small dogs that can sit on your lap, although a muzzle is not required. Dogs are also not allowed on sunset cruises.
On a sunny day, it’s a beautiful trip along the Noosa River, sitting on the upper deck in the open air with your pup on your lap. Ferries run between Teventin and Noosa Heads approximately every half hour. A $28 (or $22 after 1pm) ticket allows you to hop-on and hop-off for the full length, or $16.50 for a journey between Noosaville and Noosa Heads. Dogs ride for free.
It is possible to stay on the boat for the entire return journey, which takes about 90 minutes. Or you can land at Noosa Heads and stretch your legs. Walk along the boardwalk to Noosa Spit Reserve, where you’ll find an off-leash exercise area and the popular Noosa Spit dog beach.
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If you’re looking for another great beach trip near Brisbane on a sunny day, consider heading to Palm Beach on the Gold Coast instead. Just over an hour south of Brisbane city, Palm Beach is home to the extremely popular off-leash dog beach, Palm Beach.
In Palm Beach, you can choose to paddle your dog in the calm waters of Currumbin Creek or head to the beach overlooking the ocean. Dogs are allowed on a lead all day on the north side of the entrance to Currumbin Creek and then near Lifeguard Tower No. 13 – check the handy sign in the large car park nearby.
Then a 10-minute drive down the highway to the dog-friendly Burley Brewing Company. Enjoy a paddle at an open, outdoor table on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, perhaps with a burger or tacos from the Burly Eats stand. I especially recommend the wildflower beer!
While there are many dog-friendly islands near Brisbane where you can take your dog, the best day trip destination is Coochimudlo Island.
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Coochimudlo Island is located off the coast of Redlands, a quick 10-minute ride on the Amity Trader passenger ferry from Victoria Point. Buy tickets when boarding the boat and dogs can stay on board for free and without the need to wear a leash. There is also a less frequently visited car barge.
Once you reach Coochiemudlo, I recommend walking along the path on the left, which leads to a beautiful sandy dog beach just 5-minutes away. The dog beach starts about 100 meters after the boat ramp and is clearly marked.
In fact, the best time to visit this beach is on a sunny day in winter, and dogs are allowed on the beach all day from May to August. In the summer, dogs can only be released before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. Due to the presence of migratory birds, dogs must be on a leash in March, April, September and October.
The Gold Coast is not just beaches and skyscrapers. A great destination for a dog-friendly day trip is Mount Tamborine, hidden in the mountains and forests of the Gold Coast, just an hour’s drive from central Brisbane.
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Although dogs are not allowed in Tamborine National Park, there are plenty of dog-friendly activities to keep you busy. I recommend a walk along Gallery Walk, a strip of cafes and boutiques offering local products, where some of the owners welcomed our pets inside.
South of the walk is Fortitude Brewing, which has dog-friendly outdoor seating. If you want to taste local wines, head to Witch Fall Winery. However, my favorite place for lunch is the beautiful Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation. The cafe has a large outdoor space with various tables where well-behaved dogs are welcome. It offers coffee tasting boards as well as breakfast and lunch.
Then head to Rotary Lookout, a dog-friendly lookout with sweeping views of the Scenic Rim Mountains. And if you can’t visit one of the national park waterfalls, I recommend Curtis Falls. The beautiful cascade is a short walk away, and the parking lot is outside the national park, so you can take care of your pup.
Just 1 hour and 40 minutes west of Brisbane, a day trip to Toowoomba makes a refreshing change during the colder months of the year. In particular, try to visit Toowoomba in September when the annual Carnival of Flowers takes place. In 2023, the celebration will last a whole month.
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The most important event of the carnival is the large planting of flowers in many parks of the city, and in many of them you can see dogs on leashes. In fact, the festival attracts so many four-legged visitors that in recent years, organizers have created a Petals and Puppies event.
Be sure to visit the Queen’s Park Botanic Gardens, the centerpiece of the festival. After walking through the colorful garden beds and stopping for lots of photos, head to the nearby off-leash dog exercise area in the larger Queen’s Park, where there are small signs marking the boundaries.
Although not all participating gardens allow dogs, I also recommend visiting the dog-friendly Laurel Bank Park, Ju Raku An Japanese Garden, and Peacehaven Botanical Park.
If you enjoy visiting botanical gardens, another dog-friendly botanical garden you can visit on a day trip with your dog is Maleni Botanical Gardens, tucked away in the sun.
