Your Posh Pooch’s Gourmet Day

Have a pampered pet where only the finest will do? Does your pooch maybe get that from you? Here’s a gourmet day trip that’ll thrill your taste buds and make sure your pup feels as special as you know they are.

Rob Dolan Wines
Departing Melbourne, start your morning with a coffee and puppucino at the pet-friendly Rob Dolan; while you’re there, visit their cellar door for a mid-morning tasting. Resident pup Merlot (also known as their Chief Cuddle Officer) is often onsite to say hello to you and your pet. While you’re doing tastings, your best friend is welcome to enjoy a fresh water bowl and relax in a sunny spot. Also, if your pup is Instafamous, let the staff know. Merlot is always keen to feature his friends on his Insty page.

Make sure to say hello to Merlot (pictured) at Rob Dolan Wines.

De Bortoli
This dog-friendly winery is also located in Dixons Creek, and its philosophy of sharing great wine and food with friends and family extends to all family members. Here dogs on leads are welcome to enjoy the lawns and garden areas and keep you company at one of the outdoor tables near the cellar door while you enjoy wine and grazing platters. Pawfect!

Stretch the Legs (all four of them)
Why not stretch the legs at a nearby park or reserve after a tasting and lunch? Pop a lead on your furbaby and enjoy a stroll at one of the region’s pet-friendly parks. The Yarra Glen Recreation Reserve and Showgrounds are pet friendly, with a large off-leash area that’s much loved for its numerous trees perfect for sniffing and open space for chase and fetch. Closer to Nillumbuk, the Hurstbridge Dog Park and Diamond Creek Dog Park are popular with locals and offer plenty of space for walkies.

Golden Hills Brewery
As you make a leisurely journey back to Melbourne, pop in for a sneaky sundowner, an afternoon coffee perk up, or a snack at Golden Hills Brewery, where their undercover area is great for pups and owners.

Brewing their beers on-site and serving their roast coffee blend, Golden Hills is well worth the stop for the sunshine and tummy scratches celebrating a great day out. Even if you can’t stay for a meal (and we suggest you squeeze it in), it’s worth taking home a six-pack of their craft beer, a takeaway coffee for the road, or a bottle (or two) of a local drop from their onsite bottle shop to enjoy later.

Looking for More Wineries?
The region is full of wineries happy to roll out the welcome mat for you and your dog. Add more stops to your itinerary by visiting Mandala Wines on Melba Highway or Sutherland Estate for a tasting or a take-home bottle.

Take Pup to Market
Are you visiting at the weekend? Pair your tasty newly-acquired bottles with farm-fresh smallgoods and specialty treats from one of our pet-inclusive weekend markets. Stock up on jams, sauces, honey, fruit and veg, freshly baked goods, you name it. When it comes to fresh produce and gourmet goods, it doesn’t get much fresher than this. A farmer’s food market is held at the Punt Road Winery on the third Sunday of every month and allows dogs on leads.