Pet-Friendly Accommodation on the Gold Coast

Whether you need to stock up on supplies or just require a little retail therapy, the Gold Coast has you covered. However, this region isn't just one of Australia's leading retail destinations for humans. With over 50,000 registered dogs living on the Coast, Q Super Centre manager Simeon Clerke saw a need to cater to a canine clientele. Lo and behold this gigantic, dog-friendly, outdoor shopping destination located in Mermaid Waters. With over 80 retail outlets, dog-related promotions, regular competitions, water bowls, poo bags, and leash tie-up poles outside every shop, Q Super Centre is the ultimate Gold Coast shopping destination for canine customers.

Anybody who's seen Ultimate Air Dogs will know that dog dock jumping is no niche novelty in the USA, where televised competitions attract thousands of spectators and sponsorship deals. Here in Australia, though, you won't find a lot of competition-grade pools and jetties for dogs to jump off. Enter All Paws Paradise at Pimpama, which have set up Queensland's only specialist jetty jumping facility for dogs. They run an annual competition with events like the fastest pool-toy retrieval, a sky-high leap, and the famous doggie long jump. You can drop by any time of year to let your dog try out this combination of running, swimming, jumping, and toys. What more could a dog want?

Of course, a trip to the Coast wouldn't be much without some time at the beach, so the same should be true for your pet pals. And it is. Paradise Point and The Spit are two of the best-loved dog beaches in the northern Gold Coast, while you can also have the dog out (on the leash) on the main drags of Broadbeach, Gold Coast Beach, and Coolangatta, where you can really strut your style with the in-crowd. For some real release, though, it's hard to beat the off-leash beaches at Palm Beach Parklands or Tallebudgera, where dogs can chase sticks and waves to their hearts' content, while you can enjoy a barbecue with mates or grab a coffee nearby.

The ultimate place to go for recreational sports, at Pizzey Park you can enjoy a casual (or competitive) game of netball, volleyball, rugby, soccer, cricket, tennis, or softball, have a hoon on the BMX track or skate park, do some lengths in the pool, laps on the athletics track, or practice gymnastics. Best of all, Pizzey Park has a huge off-leash dog area, and a beautiful lake for them to swim in, with a track around it ideal for joggers and runners who want to keep their pooch nearby. There's also a fully fenced dog agility area, if you're really serious about giving your pup a structured workout.

It can be stressful being a dog in the modern world. That's why Michelle Baldwin has been running dog yoga (or "doga") classes in Coolangatta for over seven years. Following a lot of familiar human poses, dog yoga is a great way to spend quality time with your little pal while you both get in some healthful stretching, sweating, socialising, and exercising. Willing dogs (and owners) can even learn a few tricks during the class to show off back home. And if it wasn't cool enough, you can partake with a sense of pride, since all proceeds from the Hot Tropical Yoga Class go to the Animal Welfare League.

What better way to end a list of the best places to take pets on the Gold Coast than with a relaxing, rejuvenating, all-natural spa treatment? That's right, Pawsh in Mermaid Beach are specialist pet groomers dedicated to using 100% organic and chemical-free products in their treatments. Fittingly, all products are ethically sourced, so you can be sure animal testing played no part in the process. Well, unless you count your animal testing out a new style cut, new shampoo scent, or a softer, silkier coat after going to Pawsh.