And while some might expect pet-friendly accommodation offerings would be limited to camping and basic cabin-style lodgings, the reality is much more ­luxurious.

There is a growing desire among Tasmanians to travel with their pets in tow and accommodation providers, cafes and ­tourism operators across the state are responding.

Pampered pooches can lap up the luxury at a string of up-market retreats including Launceston’s Stillwater Seven, Stanley’s Ship Inn and the East Coast’s Thalia Haven, where pets are indulged with delicious doggie treats and provided with pet beds, bowls and other essentials. In some cases cherished canines are even allowed to sleep on the regular beds with their owners.

Meanwhile tourism ventures like Tahune Adventures have become dog friendly, with visitors encouraged to take their dogs for a stroll on the airwalk or swinging bridges walk before stopping for an alfresco coffee or lunch at the cafe. Dogs and their owners can also stay for the night in the on-site cabin ­accommodation.

Dogs can laze in the sun while their owners enjoy a glass of wine at one of the state’s many pet-friendly wineries. They can also sip puppacinos at pet-friendly cafes or get out and explore the many dog-friendly walking trails, beaches and nature reserves.

Sowden says her dogs Zorro and Taxi are part of her family so of course she would include them in her holiday plans.

“Basically my partner and I try not to leave them at home, ever,’’ 44-year-old Sowden explains. “If we go to the mainland we don’t take them with us, but if we holiday in Tassie we do.

“We actually kind of sacrifice the length or frequency of our holiday – if we can’t take our pets we won’t go away for as long. And that’s because we love them, they’re our constant companions.’’

She and her partner adopted Zorro 12 years ago and regularly took the medium-sized rescue dog to cafes close to their home in North Hobart, including Room for a Pony, as well as on drives and day trips. Sowden has also visited dog-friendly wineries and attended doggie yoga classes.

Sowden started taking her beloved canine camping – favourite spots include Woods Lake and Bay of Fires Conservation Area – before discovering various pet-friendly accommodation offerings.

“Zorro came everywhere we went,’’ Sowden explains. “If we were going out for a drive he would come with us, he was our constant companion.’’

Six years ago they stayed at Thalia Haven, on Tasmania’s East Coast, for the first time and fell in love with the place, returning not only with Zorro in tow but also with Taxi, a stray dog Sowden adopted from Vanuatu three years ago, after meeting the dog during a Pacific holiday.

“Thalia Haven was one of the first times I realised that (accommodation) places would allow dogs with no qualms,’’ she says.

“And not only are dogs allowed but they are actually catered for, with dog beds and dog biscuits and even a little dog tag, saying that they’re a guest of Thalia Haven.’’

Sowden loves lounging in the outdoor bathtub, admiring the view, while her dogs laze on the deck of the fully-fenced property. The nearby beach is also a favourite hangout, as they ­typically have it to themselves. They also venture into the nearby towns of Swansea and Bicheno and visit cafes and other dog-friendly places.

Sowden’s other favourite place to stay is Stillwater Seven in Launceston where dogs can sleep on the bed, enjoy afternoon tea and laze in the sun in the Courtyard King Suite.

“I’m originally from Launceston so I go up there to visit family,’’ Sowden explains.

“But my family doesn’t have room to cater for my dogs so finding dog-friendly accommodation is fantastic.’’

She enjoys travelling more when her dogs can be included.

“I think it just enriches our trips, especially around Tassie,’’ Sowden says.

“My partner and I plan our itinerary around our dogs. I’m always thinking of en route stops – if we travel to Launceston we might stop at Oatlands and visit the bakery and the wine bar and take the dogs for a walk.

“Travelling with dogs gets you outdoors more, it gets you out on walks, it makes you more adventurous.”

Sowden says it’s also a great way to meet and interact with other travellers, as dogs are great ice breakers.

“If you’re like me you’ll meet more people,’’ she laughs.

“I’m always saying ‘oh my goodness, look at your dog, can I pat it’ – you can’t take me anywhere.’’

Sowden says travelling with dogs also removes the element of worry that comes with leaving them with someone else. And it also reduces the need to pay for boarding at a kennel which adds up quickly for an extended stay for two dogs.

“I think you’re more relaxed because you’ve got your companion with you, you don’t have to worry about them and you’re not having to check in and see if they are okay,’’ Sowden says.

“There’s not that worry about the quality of care, or how the dogs are coping while you’re away.’’

“I often worry, because I have two dogs, that it can be quite a handful – I can get someone to house sit and look after them, but it’s a big ask as they’ll both need walking and I don’t want to stretch the friendship.’’

Her other dog-friendly accommodation favourites include Sheoakes Beach House at Falmouth, Coopers Ocean Cabin and jacuzzi at Seymour, Sandpiper Ocean Cottages at Denison Beach, West Tamar Escape at Exeter, Hawley House at Hawley Beach and Luxury Barn at Winnaleah, near Derby.

Sowden ranks Dolphin Sands as the best dog-friendly beach – “it’s Zorro and Taxi’s favourite as they can run for miles and ­usually we have it all to ourselves (although we don’t mind ­sharing!),’’ she says – along with Tatlows and Godfreys beaches at Stanley.

Other favourite stopovers during holidays or day trips include The Lobster Shack at Bicheno, Devils Corner winery, Willie Smith’s Apple Shed and walks to Snug Falls, the Alum Cliffs Trail or from Fern Tree to The Springs.

Sowden says it’s great to see so many new places popping up – visiting the Ship Inn at Stanley is on her to-do list as well as visits to Table Cape Tulip Farm and Bridestowe Lavender Farm plus a return stay at Thalia Haven.

“We’re just finding there are so many more places that welcome well-behaved dogs now,’’ Sowden says. “The fact we can get on Airbnb and tick dog-friendly and have so many dog-friendly options all over the state is fantastic.’’

Sowden says many accommodation providers don’t advertise that they are pet-friendly but will often say yes to pets when asked.

She is conscious that not everyone likes dogs. She is also mindful of environmental concerns when travelling – like only visiting dog-friendly areas and keeping dogs on-lead on beaches where birds may be nesting.

And she is extra careful to look after the places she stays at with dogs.

“We’re so thankful that people open their homes and give us that opportunity, so we treat it with the greatest respect so we can keep doing that,’’ Sowden says.

“I love that Tassie is getting more pet-friendly. It’s really great to see places opening up that cater for you and allow you to go and have a lovely time and have your companion with you.’’

The Dog Friendly Places in Tasmania Facebook group has more than 10,000 followers (there’s also a Dog Friendly Places in Tasmania page run by the same admins which has more than 8000 followers). Meanwhile the associated Instagram account has close to 5500 followers.

Administrator Lisa Fagg says there’s a huge demand from Tasmanians wanting to know where they can take their dogs for day trips and holidays.

She says many people falsely believe that Tasmania isn’t very dog friendly, purely because we have so many national parks. But this simply isn’t true, with a wealth of places catering for pets.

“I think the general perspective is that Tassie is very unfriendly,’’ Fagg says.

“But in fact it is extremely dog friendly, if you know where to go.

“People think there are all these national parks and there is nowhere you can go when in fact there are some incredibly beautiful, jaw-dropping spots you can go with a dog and get those instagrammable photo shots. But again, you’ve just got to know where to go, you’ve got to know where those secret spots are.’’

The owner of two collies – George, 5, and Inca, 10, – Fagg took over the operation of Dog Friendly Places in Tasmania about five years ago, after the original founder put out a call for help.

The aim is to offer Tasmanians and interstate visitors a wealth of information about accommodation, camping spots, picnic spots, walks, beaches, cafes, vineyards and other destinations that cater for pets.

Despite dogs not being allowed in national parks there are a number of conservation areas, regional reserves and recreation areas across the state where dogs are permitted

Fagg spent some time living in Europe and loved being able to take her dogs to shops and cafes and hotels and parks and even on trains and ferries.

“There are so many places you can go with a dog overseas – coming back to Australia is like having the gates shut on you,’’ she says.

She says there are definitely many great dog-friendly options in Tasmania but more could be done to make the state even more pet-friendly.

Fagg lives in Tasmania’s North-West and works for the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

She says Australians are spending huge amounts of money on their pets, and travel is no exception. She says tourism ­operators should be working harder to cater for the growing market.

Fagg says people are pampering their pets like never before.

“It’s obviously changing, there used to be an attitude that dogs were just in the backyard,’’ she explains.

“But they’re more like people’s children now, they are surrogate children. The tourism industry is crying out for people to be holidaying at home, so it’s the perfect opportunity to be taking advantage of that. Pet owners are willing to spend money on their pets, and especially single people with their pets, they don’t want to leave them behind, they want to take them on holidays with them.’’

Fagg often travels with a friend who has three dogs – two Australian shepherds and one border collie – so between them they have five dogs in tow.

Favourite pet-friendly spots to visit include Detention River, Hellyer Beach, Lake Barrington, Arthur River, Bruny Island, the Huon Valley and the East Coast.

Fagg says if she can’t travel with her dog, she’d rather stay home as she doesn’t want the expense and worry of finding alternative care for her dogs.

“I don’t go anywhere without them now,’’ she says.

“If I cant go to a place (with dogs) then I can’t go, it’s as simple as that, I’ll spend my money elsewhere.’’

She urges pet owners to get off the beaten track when ­travelling with dogs, as that’s often where hidden gems can be found.

“People are always saying that Bruny Island isn’t dog-friendly, but you’ve got to get off that main thoroughfare, and on to the back dirt roads,’’ she says.

“There were a number of places we stopped at – for whisky, cheese, honey and chocolate – that were dog-friendly and they were just incredible.

“Really with a dog you’ve got to get off the main routes and get out and explore and find little bays and fishing spots and hikes.’’

Tourism Tasmania chief executive John Fitzgerald says in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic Tasmanians have been urged to get out and explore more of their own state and support local tourism operators.

He says including much-loved pets as part of family holidays was one way Tasmanians were doing this. And tourism operators are increasingly realising the benefits of catering to travellers with pets.

“Tasmania is a great destination to explore with pets, with fantastic road trip itineraries and plenty of pet friendly experiences – restaurants, wineries, cafes, walks, open spaces and long, uncrowded beaches to enjoy,’’ Fitzgerald says.

“Many tourism operators are recognising an opportunity to attract a larger market by adapting or creating accommodation offerings that cater to all needs, including pet-friendly travel.’’

He says Tourism Tasmania’s Come Down for Air marketing campaign is all about encouraging travellers to take the time to slow down and feel more human by making a real connection with the people and place they are visiting while the ongoing Make Yourself at Home campaign urges Tasmanians to get out and explore more of their home state.

“What better way to do this than by taking your furry friends along with you to help you get off the beaten track, slow down, meet some great locals and discover Tasmania’s special places and stories,’’ he says.

Ship Inn owner Kerry Houston decided to make one of her luxury apartments in Stanley pet-friendly about six months ago.

The Van Diemen’s Apartment is a luxury one-bedroom retreat with sweeping views of the ocean and the Nut.

Expansive living areas, rich linens, sumptuous feather and down pillows, thick fluffy towels indulgent toiletries, ­hand-stitched cushions and bespoke joinery are among the property’s offerings for people – along with dog bowls, dog beds, leads, blankets, towels and poo bags for their furry friends.

“It’s a space that has proven to be very popular,’’ Houston says, adding about one in every eight bookings for the room has been from people who are bringing their dog.

She says prior to making the business dog-friendly she had received many requests from potential guests who were wanting to bring their dogs on holidays with them. And with visitor numbers lower due to Covid, she felt it was the perfect time to try something new, particularly as the Van Diemen’s Apartment is a bit separate to the Ship Inn’s other accommodation offerings and has a private, fenced courtyard and plenty of space for a dog.

“One of the main reasons we did it was just to tap into that market as there aren’t that many other places you can take your dog that are a bit more luxurious,’’ she says.

“We saw that Stillwater Seven did it successfully. So we said ‘let’s just investigate and see if we can do it’.’’

“And we haven’t had a single problem with anyone’s pets – everyone has been very respectful and has kept their dog quiet and in control.’’

She says the Ship Inn employees love it too.

“The staff love it,’’ says Houston, who has a dog of her own.

“They’ll say ‘what dog have we got this time?’.’’

The pet-friendly suite attracts singles or couples who are travelling with their dog – some have been in their 20s but the majority are doting pet owners in their 40s, 50s and 60s who Houston says “don’t want to go away without their doggie’’.

Room rates, including continental breakfast, range from $500-$525 a night depending on which night of the week guests stay, and there is no additional charge for pets.

The property has an acre of garden. Many guests also enjoy taking their dogs to nearby beaches and dogs are often spotted at outdoor tables at local cafes.

“It’s a real luxury experience,’’ says Houston of the dog-friendly apartment.

“People can have a boutique up-market stay and be able to bring their pet – for some people, a pet is like their child, they are part of the family.’’

And she says the feedback has been overwhelmingly ­positive.

“People are loving it,’’ she says.

“They’re just really enjoying the experience of being able to go somewhere nice with their dog.’’                            ●

For more dog-friendly travel inspiration visit parks.tas.gov.au, greaterhobarttrails.com.au, campingtasmania.com and check out Dog Friendly Places in Tasmania on Facebook and Instagram.

POPULAR DOG-FRIENDLY HANGOUTS

ACCOMMODATION

• Thalia Haven, Little Swanport

• Stillwater Seven, Launceston

• Sheoakes Beach House, Falmouth

• Coopers Ocean Cabin and Jacuzzi, Seymour

• Sandpiper Ocean Cottages, Denison Beach

• West Tamar Escape, Exeter

• Luxury Barn, Winnaleah

• Hawley House, Hawley Beach

• Ship Inn, Stanley

• Windflowers Cottage, Cygnet

• Tassie Cottages, Arthur River

• Zen Shack, Greens Beach

CAMPING

• Woods Lake

• Bay of Fires Conservation Area

• Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area

• Humbug Point, St Helens

• Bruny Island

• Kentish Park, Lake Barrington

• River’s Edge, Lonnavale

• Bradys Lake

• Derby

• Mayfield Bay

• Hellyer Gorge

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

• Table Cape Tulip Farm

• Bridestowe Lavender Farm

• Tahune Adventures

• Kate’s Berry Farm

• Lake Barrington

• Edge of the World – Arthur River

• Coles Bay Conservation Area

• Recherche Bay Nature Recreation Area

• Coal Mines Historic Site

• Gordon Dam

• Port Arthur Historic Site

• Art Farm Birchs Bay Sculpture Trail

• Tessellated Pavement

VINEYARDS & EATERIES

• Pooley Wines

• Clover Hill Wines

• Devils Corner

• Wobbly Boot

• Willie Smith’s Apple Shed

• The Lobster Shack at Bicheno

• Salty Dog Hotel

• Wicked Cheese Co

• Agrarian Kitchen Eatery & Kiosk

• Guide Falls Farm

• Hobart Brewing Co

• Old Kempton Distillery

• Room for A Pony

• Sisterhood

• Giddy Up

• Lost Freight

• Palate food + drink

WALKS

• Snug Falls

• The Blue Tier

• Alum Cliffs Track

• Fern Tree to The Springs

• Clarence Foreshore Trail

• Knocklofty Reserve

• Hogarth Falls

• Montezuma Falls

• Hellyer Gorge