When I travelled around Australia in a campervan, there was no question about leaving behind my miniature dachshund, Schnitzel. After all, he’s part of my family and where we go, he goes too.
Luckily it’s become easier in recent years to holiday with pets in Australia, thanks to an increasing range of pet-friendly accommodation, from boutique motels and holiday rentals to caravan parks and farm stays.
Travelling from A to B
Your own car
Before taking your first long trip with your dog in your car, first make sure they’re comfortable on shorter trips. Puppies often get car sick, but usually grow out of it; ginger chews can help, as can a car seat for smaller dogs so they can see out of the window.
Always make sure your dog is securely fastened, for their own safety and the safety of other occupants. A seatbelt attachment is a common option, or consider a secured crate in the rear of your vehicle.
Your campervan or caravan
With a caravan or campervan you’ll always have your own comfortable accommodation and you only need to look for pet-friendly caravan parks or campsites.
Hiring a campervan
Apollo and Britz allow pets in selected campervans. You can also use Camplify to rent private vehicles directly from their owners – make sure you apply the pet-friendly filter.
Hiring a car
Finding a pet-friendly hire car in Australia can be tricky. Some of the large hire car companies ban pets from all their vehicles, while other companies leave it up to the manager at the depot. Always return the car free of dog hair.
If you’re just heading away for a couple of days and live in a major city, another option is a car-share network such as GoGet or Popcar. These schemes usually allow pets in some vehicles.
Flying with your dog
Soon, you may be able to fly with your pet in the cabin on domestic flights in Australia. In March 2024, Virgin Australia announced plans to allow small cats and dogs to fly in the cabin on selected flights, subject to regulatory approval. They would need to remain in an approved carrier underneath the seat in front at all times.
Small and large pets can also fly in the hold on flights operated by Qantas, Virgin Australia…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Travel | The Guardian…