Pet Friendly

Everything you need to know about holidaying with pets in the Coral Coast

Planning a holiday but can't bear the thought of leaving your fur-baby at home? There are plenty of places within the Coral Coast that are pet-friendly, including accommodation, tours, cafes and restaurants. Here are some of the pet-friendly businesses who'd love to welcome you and your four-legged friend.

We also recommend checking out our ultimate guide to travelling with your pet in Australia's Coral Coast, so you can plan a seamless, stress-free holiday with your furry friend.

Pets and National Parks

Western Australia's national parks are highly prized, with two Coral Coast areas also recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites, providing a range of experiences for visitors and locals alike. As much as we love our domestic pets, there is a chance they will harm native animals and they are therfore not permitted in national parks (with a few exceptions). Here are some other reasons why they're not permitted:

• Poisonous baits (1080) are often laid to control foxes; these are fatal to domestic animals.
• If threatened, kangaroos and goanas may defend themselves and cause injury to domestic animals.
• The sight, sounds and smells of pets can cause native animals great stress. It may even cause them to leave their homes and young unprotected.
• It is an offence (penalties will apply) to bring a domestic animal into a national park.

The exceptions to the above are:

• Certified trained and assistance animals, which are permitted into national parks.
• Animals travelling in a boat within a marine park. However, your pet must not enter or exit the boat within a marine park or nature reserve and must stay onboard at all times.

Dog Friendly Beaches, Parks and Walking Trails

Australia's Coral Coast is home to some of the best beaches in the world but unfortunately, not all of them are dog friendly. Use this handy list below to plan your Coral Coast holiday and be sure to always refer to the signs. If you're not sure, give the local visitor centre a call and they can assist.

Indian Ocean Drive

• All beaches within the townsites of Jurien Bay and Cervantes are pet-friendly, but dogs must be kept on a lead.
• There are 'off-lead' exercise areas in Jurien Bay at Breakwater Drive north of the marina and south of Jurien Bay at Shingle Avenue.
• Cervantes 'off-lead' areas are north of Green Street and at Hansen Bay, south of the town centre.
• Three Bays Walkway - on lead
• Turquoise Way trail - on lead.

* Free basic dog kennels for visitors are located at the Cervantes Range Station, call 08 9688 6000 for more information.- open 7 days a week, 8am - 4:30pm

Geraldton

• On lead Trails: Greenough River Nature Trail, West End Heritage Trail, Waterfront Heritage Trail, Yamatji Drive Trail, The Chapman River Esctuary, Spalding Park Bike Trails, Chapman Valley River Loop.
  
• Off-lead parks: Greenough Oval, Alexander Park, Karloo Park, Bellimos Park. Eadon Clarke Sports Ground, Yarraman Park, Norm Brand Park, Waggrakine Hall, Bayside Park.
• Off-lead parks (enclosed areas): Leonard T. Green Dog Park, Woorree Park BMX Club and Olive Street Reserve.
• Beaches (off Lead): Point Morre and Next to Southgate Dunes
• Beaches: Greys Beach, Separation Beach, South Gates and Greenough River Mouth.

* Red Dog Boarding Kennels - Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 8am-9am and 3pm-5:30pm. By appointment only.

Kalbarri

• Pet-friendly beaches and river areas in the Kalbarri region include from Wittecarra Creek on Red Bluff Beach north, all the way to Siphons beach (off Siphon Road)
• North of Jakes Point is an on-lead pet-friendly zone
• North of Blue Holes is an on-lead and off-lead pet-friendly zone.
• Back Beach is pet-friendly however, dogs must be on a lead at all times.
• The beach and grass areas along the River Foreshore, either side of the IGA carpark (south of the commercial jetty to the area opposite Coles Street) are all pet-friendly areas as well as the Kalbarri Town Oval.
• Please note pets are not allowed at the pelican feeding area between 8.00am and 9.30am daily or in Kalbarri National Park (pets cannot be kept in the car whilst visiting these locations).

Shark Bay

• Monkey Mia = on-lead
• Little Lagoon = both on and off lead. You are responsible for controlling your dog and protecting the wildlife.
• Netta's Beach, Denham = on and off lead zone. Best at low tide, as the beach can disappear at high tide.
• Northern end of Knight Terrace = on and off-lead zone.

*1080 baits used throughout the Shark Bay region - caution is advised

Carnarvon

• Pelican Point. Off-lead between 9am and 6pm only.
  
• One Mile Jetty walking trail - on lead
• Old Tramway walking trail - on lead
• The Aquarium
• There are multiple local parks that are dog-friendly when recreations sport is not on.

Ningaloo (Coral Bay & Exmouth)

• Beaches (off-lead): Bundegi Beach, Town Beach, Golf Club Beach and Mcleods Beach
• Beaches (4WD Access Only): Five Fingers Reef and Paradise Beach
  
• Beaches: Learmonth Beach Jetty Area, South Lefroy and Winderabandi
• Vlamingh Head Lighthouse
• Cape Range National Park is strictly no pets and majority of the northen beaches are haviliy baited so we don't advise dog owners to take pets anywhere on the western side.

* Exmouth dog sitter available: Contact the Ningaloo Visitor Centre for up-to-date sitters and contact informaiton