All along the Great Ocean Road and throughout the Otway Ranges are plenty of dog friendly picnic areas and spots to stop for a snack, coffee break or lunch.
This article will be updated as I visit more picnic areas 🙂
Lake Elizabeth
The Lake Elizabeth picnic area is lovely little dog friendly picnic area at the start of the dog friendly walk to Lake Elizabeth. It is located down a set of stairs off the carpark for the walk. Picnic tables are dotted around a clearing with some in the shade, some under towering trees and some in the open near a nice little creek.
Moggs Creek Picnic Area
The dog friendly Moggs Creek Picnic area is a short drive along a gravel road after turning off the Great Ocean Road at Moggs Creek.
It has picnic tables speckled amongst a cleared designated picnic area amongst tall gum trees. This is also the parking location to do the longer version of the Ocean View Lookout Walk.
Lorne Point
This busy picnic area is a series of several groups of tables along the point with nearby BBQs to some tables. It has great views over Lorne and on the rare occasions Lorne Point has a wave it’s a good spot to watch the surfers. Be careful not to leave your food unattended so you don’t accidentally feed native birds.
Keep in mind the walking tracks pass by here so its may not be the best choice for a dog reactive dog and skip it completely for people-reactive dogs as it can be quite full (although in winter you might luck on it pretty quiet on a weekday). For some reason it’s not on the map but your drive through the town of Lorne and just on the southern side of town are several pull-ins with picnic tables and toilets between car parks.
HANDY DOG FRIENDLY TRAVEL PRODUCTS
Sling Guard Car Seat Cover
Investing in a ‘Sling Guard’ car seat cover was one of the best purchases I have made for travelling with my dog in the car at home and on holidays (after my 33kg dog broke multiple cheap ones on the first car trip).
It has big strong zips and is double-sided, one fluffy and soft and the other a bit tougher, with a waterproof layer in between.
But it’s good for more than just the car – I have used it for Dusty and a foster dog to chill on next to the camp fire when camping, on her bed when she’s wet so it can be removed and she has somewhere dry to sleep later and to protect the furniture in dog friendly holiday cabin.
I have had this cover for over 4 years and it’s still going strong.
I accidentally jammed clips in the door over time when I wasn’t paying attention and have just replaced them with those Sea to Summit replacement buckles.
Australian Made Dog Food
Image opens on Pet Parlour
Prime 100 Air range is high quality single protein air dried food. They are an Australian Made alternative to brands like Ziwi and are high in protein (and are priced accordingly).
I use it to offset feeding lower protein PFIAA approved meat rolls or balls from the supermarket when camping and I can’t make homemade food.
There area also a good size for food toys.