What’s better than a trip down South? A trip down South with your pooch and wine, of course! With pup-friendly beaches, dog-friendly accommodation and open spaces a-plenty, Margaret River is the perfect holiday destination for pup owners to take a well-earned break with their favourite four-legged friend. If you’re taking your pooch along for the trip, here are five pet-friendly hangouts you won’t want to miss!

House of Cards

Owned and operated by husband-wife duo Travis and Liz (along with their adorable pooch, Monty), this family-owned winery is well known to welcome fur-members of the four-legged variety. But it’s not just their relaxed pet policies that have been attracting visitors. House of Cards are renowned for their royal range of wines; fit for a king (or in this case a trophy), their Queen of Hearts Chardonnay won ‘Best Chardonnay’ at the recent RASV Wine Awards. This one is a must if you’re impartial to a glass of the infamous Margaret River chardy!

Cheeky Monkey Brewery

No doubt you already know Cheeky Monkey Brewery for their infamous range of handcrafted beers and ciders. However, their award-winning brewing skills aren’t the only thing making headlines; their pet-friendly approach has long made the brewery a popular destination for pup-loving locals and holidayers alike. The brewery boasts a huge outdoor area which provides the perfect place for kids and fur babies to take in the fresh air whilst you kick back and enjoy the local line-up of drinks and seasonal foods. The dog-loving owners just ask that your four-legged friends play outside and are kept on a leash.

Cape Naturaliste Vineyard

Nestled in a serene little valley behind Smith’s Beach, the owners of this picturesque winery love pups so much they have a whole wall dedicated to their four-legged visitors. All visiting pups get the VID treatment, with a photo taken in the cellar door on arrival to commemorate their visit. If you don’t have a pooch of your own, don't worry - you may get to meet Cape Naturaliste’s resident doggos and chief wine tasters, Max and Monty. And of course, you can’t stop by without indulging in a glass (or three) of their award-winning wines!

The Beer Farm Metricup

Built on the site of an old dairy farm, a love for animals runs in the blood of the friendly folks at Beer Farm Metricup - so much so that the owners claim to prefer pups to people! With an animal clan of their own, The Beer Farm welcome all well-behaved pups (or any furry friends for that matter) to their venue. If you’re heading down South for a weekend getaway, make sure you stop by for live music on Saturdays and Sundays - we hear it’s the perfect combination served alongside their handcrafted beers!

Grape Escape - Pawsome tours

If choosing one dog-friendly winery is proving too difficult, why not visit several? Owners of Grape Escape Tours, Paul and Geri, are taking their love for pups to whole new lengths with their ‘pawsome tours’ for owners and pooches. With insider insight of the best dog-friendly hangouts and wineries in Margaret River, they arrange private tours for you and your beloved pup to enjoy your wine-fuelled adventure together. Tours can accommodate up to seven people and three pups, and include venues where furry friends are welcome inside cellar doors. If you don’t have a fur baby of your own (or just fancy a four-legged plus one), Paul and Geri’s adorable Frenchie, Gizmo, is also available to join you on your journey. He just asks that you make a small donation to a local charity in return for his woofing-good company!

Gizmo, chief wine taster at Grape Escape Tours

Stay stylish at home

When you're not travelling around in style with your pooch, Pooky & Boo are here to ensure you stay in style at home. Borne out of a passion for pooches and home interiors, our handcrafted dog beds are designed to add style, pattern, and a little bit of luxury into the pup-loving home. View our latest range of Perth dog beds via the Pooky & Boo website.

Cover image courtesy of Huffington Post

Best pet-friendly wineries and breweries in Margaret River