Paws Head To Port

For some of us, the thought of going away on a holiday and not taking your furry friend along for the ride is bordering on a crime. You want your best friend to be by your side the whole time, but sadly the odds are stacked against you and Rover having an easy trouble-free holiday. Many van parks don’t accept pets, national parks are a no-no, and even some fellow travellers will look down on you for bringing a pet along.

But in response to the record numbers of people wanting to holiday with their pets, there is a growing trend towards providing greater travel options for doggy holidays. This year, the Greater Port Macquarie area on the NSW Mid North Coast is promoting itself as the perfect destination to take your pooch for a short break.

Approximately half of the region’s beaches and walking tracks along with a wide variety of accommodation options all welcome four-legged friends. Linda Hall, Greater Port Macquarie Tourism’s Acting Tourism Manager, outlined the reasons why the area is perfect for dog-lovers.

“As accommodation becomes more upmarket and town centric along the coast, we want to remind families that Greater Port Macquarie offers a choice of affordable places to stay and a wonderful outdoor playground that welcomes pets,” she said.

“For many people a family holiday by the beach isn’t complete without their pets.  We offer something very unique as 50% of our beaches are dog-friendly. So a walk along the ocean with man’s best friend followed by coffee at a beach side cafe can be the way to start a day.”

The tourism body has put together a pet-friendly accommodation listing that includes a host of local van parks. It also offers tips on pet-friendly beaches, walks, parks and cafes. As an example, you can let your dog roam free along beautiful Lighthouse Beach south of the 4WD access, before tucking into some tasty fare at the nearby Surfside Café.

This pet-friendly initiative is a great idea that is sure to tempt more than a few travellers and their canine companions to spend some time in sunny Port Macquarie. It probably won’t be too long before other towns follow suit.

The Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre can be contacted on 1300 303 155 or you can log on to www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au.

For more information on holidaying with dogs, www.doggyholiday.com is a useful resource.