Travelling with pets: Your questions answered

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Keen to travel with dog or cat? There are now more pets than people in Australia, according to the Animal Health Alliance of Australia. Read this list of FAQs first.

1. Is it easy to travel with your pet? Our travel industry doesn’t seem that pet-friendly.

Times are changing. While the easiest way to travel with a pet is still the road-trip/camping holiday combo, according to president of the Caravan and Camping Industry Association, Theo Wilmont (and we’re inclined to agree – there are over 50 dog-friendly campsites in the popular Big4 Holiday Parks brand alone), there are other options. “I recently took my dog Ebony to Riverwood Downs, a rural property located at Barrington Tops, NSW," reveals Gareth Brock, founder of pet boarding review website petcheck-in.com.au. “They’re very accommodating for ‘pet parents’, with Ebony even offered her own pet menu – she had the Home Made Treat Tasting Plate (!)."

2. But I’m not a camper…

Get online – websites such as airbnb.com are an absolute goldmine. “If you can’t find what you’re after through the pet-friendly search filter, widen your search to include other properties and contact the hosts directly to explain your situation. Some hosts aren’t listed as pet-friendly but are open to certain pets, particularly those that are adorably well-behaved," says Airbnb country manager, Sam McDonagh. Pet-specific websites such as lovemelovemydog.com.au and dogsonholidays.com.au are also useful, although pet-friendly search filters on sites like lastminute.com.au might offer you more variety.

3. Can my pet and I stay in ‘normal’ hotels yet?

Amazingly, yes: an increasing number of motels, hotels and resorts now accept pets, including big-name brands like Best Western, Quest Serviced Apartments, Mercure and Quality Hotel. Pet-friendly status is up to the management of each property, however, so you still have to check with individual properties, but things are looking up. Expect to pay a bond, an additional cleaning fee upfront and/or to be given a ground-floor room with access to outdoors. And for your pet, many pats.

4. My dog hates being in the car. How can I convince him/her that road tripping is fun?

“The car can be quite stressful for pets," agrees Brock. “Many pets’ first or only experiences of travelling in a car are going to the dreaded vet." You can easily desensitise your dog to the car with positive reinforcement, he says (i.e. treats). “For cat lovers, playing classical music works wonders."

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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5. What about flying, instead?

Of the major domestic airlines, only Qantas and Virgin Australia will transport pets. Cost-wise, pets are treated as baggage if you’re flying with them, though you’ll also need to provide your own crate (or hire one direct from the airline for around $50–$80). You also need to request your pet’s flight in advance (we’d suggest giving at least two weeks’ notice in high-season periods, as freight travel can fill up).

6. Can my pet come in the cabin with me?

This is becoming increasingly common in other countries – Etihad Airways even allows falcons on board, according to its website (although you may only bring a maximum of two of your falcons at any one time), while British Airways allows cats or dogs in the cabin (in a carrier) if they weigh less than six kilograms. In Australia, this isn’t possible yet, but we’d say it’s only a matter of time.

7. What happens when my pet flies in the hold?

After checking in 90 minutes prior to the flight, your pet will be held in the freight area. Once boarded, they’re kept in their carriers, in a cabin usually below the main passenger cabin, in the same climate-, pressure- and light-controlled conditions.

8. What happens if my pet misses the flight?!

Extra peace of mind can be sought with businesses such as JetPets, which offers door-to-door service including transport, crate hire, transit lounge access and certification to open your pet’s crate before and after the flight, and comfort it if required. Cost is from around $300 including the flight. jetpets.com.au

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8 experiences to get the most out of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road

    Louis Costello Louis Costello
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    Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

    There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

    So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

    1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism
    Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

    Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

    2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

    woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs
    Let mineral-rich water heal you.

    If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

    The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

    3. Take to the air at Princetown

    12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road
    See an icon from a different view.

    You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

    The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

    4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

    Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum
    Visit a time of yore.

    Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum, a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

    The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

    If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

    5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

    kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave
    Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

    Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

    6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

    Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB
    Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

    Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

    Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

    7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

    bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour
    Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

    If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

    The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

    8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

    Cape Otway Lightstation
    Delve into the tales of Cape Otway Lightstation.

    Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red.

    While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

    And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

    Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.