We love our pooches here in Perth. And a fun day out with your fur baby doesn’t need to end at the dog beach or dog park.

Perth is full of dog-friendly places to visit and enjoy! So, next time you head out, don’t leave your four-legged friend at home.

From a chilled breakfast in one of Rockingham foreshore's dog-friendly cafes to an energising hike in the Perth Hills, your dogs will love an opportunity to see new things and spend a day out with their best friend. 

If you’re wanting to plan a day out with your favourite furry friend, read on for some perfect doggy day trip ideas that are sure to get their tails wagging.

Wine and Walkies in the Swan Valley

You already know about the amazing wineries and distilleries, but did you know there are also plenty of cool things for canines to do in the Swan Valley?

Start your day at Bells Rapids in Brigadoon and choose one of two circuit walk trails - the 2.5km River walk or the 3km Goat walk. The scenic views of the rapids are spectacular. If your pooch loves a doggie paddle be sure to pack a towel because there is so much opportunity for adventure here.

After your morning walk, jump back in the car and head to funk 2.0 in Henley Brook for some lunch. Described as a fermentation playground, funk 2.0 has a new-world approach to beer and cider. Everything is unpasteurised, preservative, concentrate and sulphur-free, with no added sugar. There’s a new vibrant space with indoor and outdoor seating with a bar fitted out with WA’s longest beer tap! On a cold day enjoy a mulled cider, or if you’re feeling hungry why not try their lamb shoulder served in cider jus, while your dog plays on the giant lawn area.

Afterwards, keep the fun happening with a relaxed wine tasting at Lamont’s Winery. They have ample open space for you to enjoy a glass of wine with your pup, plus delicious tapas-style food, coffee and cakes for an afternoon treat. 

If you’re more into ponies than Pinot, head to Swan Valley Station which is sure to be a hit with the kids, including your fur kid (on a lead). They have a huge kids playground and cubby house that you can see from the cafe, plus lots of friendly farm animals waiting for pats - miniature ponies, donkeys, goats and chickens. Wander through the gift shop, full of homewares, local produce and unique garden ornaments, or choose some plants from the nursery to take home. Plus they’ve just opened a 5 million litre marron lake and sculpture trail. 

And of course, Whiteman Park is also doggo friendly (on a lead) and have a dog park for off-lead play too.

Hounds and Hills

You may want to explore more of Perth Hills on your day out and if you do, pile your pooch in the car and start your day at Avocados Cafe, on the banks of the Canning river. 

Set in the South Eastern foothills just minutes from Roleystone, Kelmscott and Armadale, you’ll feel like you’re miles away from the city surrounded by acres of bushland and wide-open spaces. And they welcome your well-behaved dog on a lead. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with a coffee and freshly cooked breakfast, a perfect way to start your day. Avocados even have chalets that are dog friendly! 

After breakfast, take your fur baby for a walk on one of the many trails in Ellis Brook Valley, located on Rushton Road in the suburb of Martin. It’s the perfect time to visit this time of year as Ellis Brook usually flows from June to October. There are four walk trails to choose from, depending on how fit you are feeling. From the 'Easy Walk Trail’, to the more difficult 'Sixty Foot Falls Trail', which takes in sweeping views across Perth from the top of the waterfall, you and your doggo will love taking in all that Ellis Brook Valley has to offer.

Next, you can’t miss a visit to Pinjarra Bakery. I mean, who doesn’t love a pie? But pies are not all they do. Sip on their signature “Bakers Blend” barista-brewed coffee, or grab a crowd pleasing dessert (Vanilla slice, please!). They also have fresh gourmet baguettes, wholesome wraps, fruit smoothies and homemade gelato. And this is no ordinary bakery. Pinjarra Bakery pulled out the power moves in 2021 to seize the golden prize of ‘Best Meat Pie in Australia’ for their ‘Chunky Steak pie’ at the Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition.

Take your bakery treats and drive up the hills to Lesmurdie Falls. Your dog will literally be living their best life clambering over rocks and chasing waterfalls in this spectacular location.

And the best time of the year to visit is now when the falls are in full flow and are tumbling over the Darling Range Escarpment. You have a choice of 5 walk trails ranging from 300m to 3kms, all dog friendly. You and your pooch will both enjoy the view of the falls from the lookout.

Finish your day in the picturesque Bickley Valley at Hainault Vineyard, a boutique cellar door set on 17 acres just 10 minutes from Kalamunda. They pride themselves on being pet friendly. The vineyard is the highest vineyard in WA, and produces a range of grape varieties including Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as cool climate varieties such as Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer. Taste some of their award-winning wines with your pooch by your side.

Relax in Rockingham

If you grew up in Perth, camps at Point Peron may hold some special memories for you. What better way to take a trip down memory lane than a morning walk with your doggo along the picturesque stretch of land at the southern end of Cockburn Sound. It’s only an hour’s drive from Perth and sits near the naval facility on Garden Island.

And it’s at Point Peron you’ll also find Vanilla Sprinkles, a restored vintage van, serving up freshly baked cupcakes, coffee and milkshakes. The van (called Taylor) is parked there every day, except Tuesdays, between 7:15-12pm.

Ever since the foreshore revitalisation was completed in the summer of 2019, the Rockingham Foreshore has never looked better. And at only 45 minutes south of Perth, that’s the next stop on your doggie day out. Hit the Rockingham cafe strip where you can drink in the stunning Indian Ocean views as you enjoy lunch in one of their dog-friendly cafes. You may want to grab some takeaway and picnic by the ocean.

5 minutes away by car you’ll find Lake Richmond, home to a community of thrombolites - a group of rock structures that are thought to be one of the earliest life forms on earth and estimated to be over 6 million years old. It’s also one of the few places in the world where these rock structures can be seen. The 3km dog-friendly walking trail loops around the lake and is a perfect way to finish your day out. 

So, you can see that Perth is as much a playground for your pups as it is for people. With dog-friendly cafes and wineries, and plenty of hills and valleys to explore, your furry friend will never be bored. To plan your next day out, check out our website, or go a step further and plan a pet friendly staycation at QT Perth or Citadines St Georges Terrace!