Pet Friendly Accommodation Nelson Bay
Planning a getaway to Nelson Bay or elsewhere in Port Stephens, New South Wales, and don’t want to leave your pet behind? You’re not alone. More guests than ever are choosing pet-friendly accommodation in Nelson Bay and Port Stephens, so their dogs or cats can be part of the holiday too.
Nelson Bay Accommodation’s team make it easy to find pet-friendly accommodation across the region. From Shoal Bay, Shoal Bay Beach and Fingal Bay to Lemon Tree Passage and surrounding towns, we offer a wide range of accommodation in great locations, all managed locally, professionally cleaned and suitable for guests staying with pets.
Browse our available pet-friendly holiday rentals below and book directly with us to save.
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Why Book a Holiday at a Pet-Welcoming Place?
No one wants to leave their favourite furry friend behind, we know bringing your pet along on holiday with you makes your experience more enjoyable. But finding the right accommodation can feel difficult if your pet isn’t permitted. Here’s how easy we can make it for you…
No Separation Anxiety Here
Leaving your pet behind can be stressful for everyone. Pet-friendly accommodation allows guests to stay together, without the need for kennels, pet sitters or long periods apart during your visit.
Stress-Free Travel
Knowing your pet is approved and welcome takes the pressure off. You can relax after a day exploring beaches, parks and walks around Port Stephens, enjoy a quiet night in, or unwind on the balcony while your pet settles nearby.
Home Away From Home
Many fur-family-friendly properties include thoughtful features that help pets feel comfortable, like enclosed backyards, tiled living areas and easy outdoor access. These features help ensure a clean, calm and pleasant stay for guests and their pets.
Tail-Wagging Adventures
Pet-friendly accommodation often places you close to beaches, parks and walking tracks that allow pets. Staying near Little Beach, Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay, or the marina means it is easy to enjoy daily walks on the sand, spend time outdoors and relax while you explore the local area.
Making Memories Together
Bringing your pet along and creating lasting memories with your whole family. Skip the stress of leaving them behind by choosing a pet-inclusive stay that suits everyone.
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Finding an Awesome Place for You and Your Pet
Now that you’ve uncovered a range of dog-friendly accommodation in Port Stephens, how do you choose the right property?
Your Pet’s Comfort Zone
Think about your pet’s size, behaviour and energy level. Larger dogs may suit properties with a large secure backyard, while smaller pets may be comfortable in an apartment or townhouse close to parks and beaches.
Your Travel Budget
Do you prefer an animal-friendly luxury home or a condo with features like air conditioning, free WiFi access, or a pool? Would you prefer a simpler option at a lower price? Understanding your budget also helps factor in pet fees, deposits or limitations that may apply.
Finding the Sweet Spot
Location matters. Some guests prefer a central location close to shops, cafes, restaurants and the marina in Nelson Bay, while others enjoy quieter areas like Lemon Tree Passage or Fingal Bay. Choosing the right location can make your stay more convenient and relaxing.
Top Tip: Be Direct!
Don’t be shy about contacting Nelson Bay Accommodation directly. We can confirm pet policies, explain any fees or conditions, and recommend suitable properties in Shoal Bay Beach, Anna Bay, Fingal Bay or elsewhere in Port Stephens. We can also point you towards nearby dog-friendly cafes, parks, and walks to help you plan your visit.
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Making Memories with Your Furry Friend
Once you’ve found a great place to stay, a little preparation helps ensure a smooth experience.
- Pack the essentials: food, bedding, bowls, leash, bags and any medications. Familiar items help pets relax in a new room or property.
- Make a note of nearby pet-friendly beaches, parks and walking tracks across Port Stephens before you visit, including areas where dogs are permitted on or off leash.
- Be considerate of other guests and residents by cleaning up after your pet and respecting shared spaces.
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Port Stephens
One of the biggest reasons guests choose pup-friendly accommodation in Nelson Bay and Port Stephens is the easy access to dog-friendly beaches. The region offers a mix of calm harbour beaches and open coastal stretches, making it a fantastic spot to explore with your pet.
Popular dog-friendly beaches across Port Stephens include:
Bagnalls Beach at Corlette: Handily located in Nelson Bay, Bagnalls Beach at Corlette is often known as ‘dog heaven’. The popular dog-friendly beach permits dogs to run off-leash all day. You’ll also find an excellent picnic area beside the beach and convenient parking.
Birubi Beach at Anna Bay: Stretching from Stockton to Port Stephens, the dog-friendly Birubi often has heaps of friendly dogs around, so it’s a great spot to make some fur and human friends. The surf patrolled beach is off-leash before 9:00 am and after 5:00 pm, and can often have big waves, so be careful.
Billy Beach at Mallabula: Heading further west within Port Stephens, dogs are allowed off-leash all day long on this calm harbour beach, at the end of Fairlands Road. At low tide, the sand flats extend a long way out.
Staying in the right location makes it easier to enjoy early morning walks on the sand, relaxed afternoons by the water, and cooler evening strolls without long drives.
Dog-Friendly Cafes, Restaurants, and Pubs Near Nelson Bay
Eating out with your pet is easy in Nelson Bay and surrounding towns, with plenty of cafes and restaurants welcoming dogs in outdoor seating areas.
Magnolia, Nelson Bay
- Teramby Road, d’Albora Marinas, Nelson Bay NSW 2215
- manager@magnolianelsonbay.com.au
Magnolia welcomes furry friends with open arms and has stunning harbour views.
Opening Hours
- 7 days a week from 7:30 am
- All Day Breakfast from 7:30 am
- Lunch Menu from 12:00 pm
Naked Alley Cafe, Nelson Bay
- 02 4984 9400
- 91 Magnus Street Nelson Bay, NSW
Dogs are welcome in Naked Alley, and there are tons of friends to be found sitting outside, enjoying the sun!
Opening Hours
- Monday – Thursday, and Sunday: 6:30 am – 3:00 pm
- Friday – Saturday: 6:30 am – 3:00 pm | 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Essence Cafe, Nelson Bay
- 02 4981 5646
- 1/47 Donald Street, Nelson Bay, NSW, Australia, New South Wales
Your four-legged bestie will be spoiled with doggy treats while you enjoy beautiful home-cooked meals and snacks at Essence Cafe.
Opening Hours
- Monday – Friday: 6:00 am – 2:30 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 7:00 am – 11:30 am
Below Deck, Nelson Bay
- 02 4984 9420
- bookings@littlebeachboathouse.com.au
- 4 Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay, NSW, Australia, New South Wales
Below Deck Cafe at Little Beach Boathouse offers a seafood-focused menu, fantastic wine and craft beer. The staff are happy for dog owners to sit in the outdoor seating area with their dogs, and water bowls can be provided.
Opening Hours
- Tuesday – Thursday: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm (kitchen closes at 6:00 pm)
- Friday – Saturday: 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm (kitchen closes at 8:00 pm)
- Sunday: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm (kitchen closes at 5:00 pm)
The Cafe, Shoal Bay
- (02) 4984 4497
- Shop 23/47-51, Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay, 2315 NSW
Set across the road from beautiful Shoal Bay beach, The Café offers wholesome meals and snacks, great coffee, plenty of seating and tasty treats for dogs and their humans.
Opening Hours
- Open 7 days a week: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
Zenith Cafe, Shoal Bay
- 02 4063 0026
- 59 Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay 2315
Zenith Cafe is simply stunning and a great spot to grab a bite, take a rest, and cool down with your furry friend.
Opening Hours
- 7 days a week: Breakfast 7:00 am – 3:00 pm | Lunch 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Dinner 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Longboat Cafe, Fingal Bay
- 02 4981 5958
- Hello.longboatcafe@gmail.com
- 3 Marine Dr, Fingal Bay, NSW, Australia, New South Wales
With a dog-friendly outdoor deck, The Longboat Café is an excellent spot to have a coffee and lunch while the kids play in the nearby playground.
Opening Hours
- Monday – Sunday: 7:30 am – 2:00 pm
The Little Nel
- 02 4916 4600
- 3/7 Government Rd, Nelson Bay NSW 2315
The Little Nel is open for breakfast and lunch, and the section out the front under the umbrellas is dog-friendly!
Opening Hours
- Coffee: From 6.30 am Weekdays and 7:00 am Weekends
- Breakfast: Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 11:30 am | Saturday – Sunday 7:30 am – 11:30 am
- Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay
- (02) 4981 1555
- info@sbcc.com.au
- 35-45 Shoal Bay Rd, Shoal Bay, NSW 2315
This wag-worthy coastal icon is a must-visit for stunning scenery and live music. Whether you’re stopping for a family breakfast or a “salty-paw-friendly” lunch on the patio, the SBCC provides an unparalleled beachfront atmosphere for all ages and their furry companions.
Opening Hours
- Monday – Saturday: 6:30 am – 4:00 am
- Sunday: 6:30 am – 2:00 am
Cheeky Dog Bar, Soldiers Point
- (02) 4981 1555
- annemaree@bannisters.com.au
- 147 Soldiers Point Road Soldiers Point
True to its name, Cheeky Dog offers Mediterranean dining just steps from the bay. With a dedicated beer garden and unique dog-centric events, it’s the best four-legged-friendly spot to relax seven days a week in Soldiers Point.
Opening Hours
- Monday – Thursday, Sunday: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm (kitchen closes at 8:30 pm)
- Friday – Saturday: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm (kitchen closes at 8:30 pm)
Choosing accommodation in a central location allows guests to walk to cafes, restaurants, and shops without needing to leave pets behind.\
Pup-Approved Parks and Walks in Port Stephens
In addition to beaches, Port Stephens offers a wide range of parks and walking tracks suitable for guests staying with dogs. Some parks are fully fenced, while others offer open green spaces ideal for daily exercise on a leash.
Fenced dog park:
- Fingal Bay Foreshore Reserve (just behind Fingal Bay Beach)
- Lancaster Park in Soldiers Point (open 7:00 am to 7:00 pm)
- Coachwood Drive Reserve in Medowie
Non-fenced parks:
- Fishermans Bay Park
- Kooindah Park at Lemon Tree Passage
- North Headland in Boat Harbour
- Amirah Park in Corlette
- Austral Street Reserve in Nelson Bay
- Tanilba Bay Boardwalk
Things to Do with Your Furry Baby While You Visit Port Stephens
Take a Ferry to Tea Gardens
It is a salty-paw-friendly adventure where your pup can enjoy the sea breeze on deck. Once you dock at Tea Gardens, the flat, grassy riverside provides a fantastic stretch for a leisurely walk before you settle in at one of the many canine-inclusive cafes along the waterfront.
Enjoy the View at Gan Gan Lookout
Gan Gan Lookout is a vantage point that allows you and your leashed companion to look out over the entire Port Stephens peninsula, from the iconic Tomaree Headland to the distant dunes of Stockton Beach. The paved paths make it an easy, accessible stroll for pets of all sizes, providing a stunning backdrop for a photo with your furry companion while you soak in the sprawling blue vistas of the bay.
Go for a Walk at the Tilligerry Habitat
This hound-hosting reserve features an extensive network of flat walking trails and boardwalks that wind through diverse paperbark forests, swamp mahogany wetlands, and sandy woodlands. While your dog enjoys the walk (make sure your pup stays on a leash), keep a sharp eye on the canopy for wild koalas.
Planning a Comfortable Stay With Your Pet
When booking a pet-inclusive accommodation, it’s important to review pet policies, fees and any limitations that apply. Some properties may have specific requirements regarding yard use, secure fencing or the number of pets permitted
If you’re unsure, contact Nelson Bay Accommodation before booking. Our local team can confirm approved properties, explain pet fees or deposits, and help you choose accommodation with the right amenities for your stay
The Perfect Getaway for You and Your Pet
Travelling with your pet can be a rewarding experience. With the right accommodation, suitable amenities and a great location, Nelson Bay and Port Stephens are ideal destinations for pet-friendly holidays.
Don’t wait. Book an accommodation stay with Nelson Bay Accommodation today. Browse our approved properties, compare prices, and contact our local team to help you find the most ideal spot for your next visit.