Last Updated on 29 July 2026 by Ariana Svenson
If you have dogs, as we do, weekends are always better when they can come along too. They are an important part of the family after all, and it’s always nice to have them included wherever we go. Located just 25 minutes from Perth, the Swan Valley is one of Western Australia’s most popular wine regions and a great day trip option (or longer stay) with a dog.
Here’s everything you need to know about having a great experience with dogs in tow, from which venues allow dogs (and which don’t) to dog-friendly stays and plenty of tips based on our trip to the Swan Valley with your four-legged friend.
If in doubt as to whether you should bring along your pooch, then our advice is to call the place and ask! Some places are well signposted on the road in (eg, Mandoon Estate) while others are more subtle.
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Is the Swan Valley Dog Friendly?
There are actually quite a few places that welcome dogs, especially if you are happy to sit outside, though, of course, there are some notable exceptions. The rule of thumb is that most places allow dogs in their outdoor seating areas on weekdays.
When we arrive somewhere, we do a quick, polite check with the staff about where dogs are permitted and which entrance to use. We have Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, which are calm, small dogs. If you have larger or more energetic dogs, your experience may be a little different.
The Week Vs The Weekend
It pays to do your research. While there are many Dog Friendly eating places, they have varied conditions depending on whether it’s a weekday/ weekend or day or night.
We had to make some quick changes to our plans because our first two choices, the Henley Book and Bailey Brewing Co., don’t allow dogs on weekends. So we ended up at Taylor’s of the Valley and were so happy.
On our next Sunday visit (ie a weekend) we actually phoned ahead and made sure that our main stops, the Swan Valley Station and the Taphouse at Mulberry Estate were both dog friendly… and if you want to have the perfect day with your dog, then we’d recommend to do the same. Weekends can get extremely busy in the Swan Valley, especially on days when everyone’s enjoying the sun.
A Word of Warning – It’s really important to be aware of the heat around Perth. For half the year, the weather can be very hot, and leaving a dog in a car even for a short time can become dangerous very quickly. DO NOT take your dog somewhere and leave them in the car. If in doubt, phone the venue in advance to confirm dogs are allowed. There is a lot of mixed info online about dog-friendly places.
The Best Dog-Friendly Walks in the Swan Valley
There are some lovely scenic places to stretch your legs with your dog.
Bells Rapids
Location: Orlov Trail, Cathedral Ave, Brigadoon
Bells Rapids is ideal for a morning walk, with trails beside the river and great views when the rapids are flowing. During the wetter months, it’s also considered one of the more scenic Perth waterfalls. Dogs are permitted but should be kept on a lead.
This is also a nice way to start the day if you are planning to visit Txoko Brewing afterwards, since it is only a short drive away.
John George Walk – Panoramic Views!
Location: Woodbridge
Distance: 5.5km
The John George Walk is a longer riverside trail that links Woodbridge Riverside Park and Play Space with Reg Bond Reserve.
It works well as a morning or late-afternoon walk, and you can easily pair it with a lunch stop back in the valley afterwards.
Noble Falls Walk Trail
Location: 2672 Toodyay Rd, Gidgegannup
Distance: 3.6km
If you want something a little different near the valley, Noble Falls has a loop walk, and dogs are allowed off-leash as long as they are fully under control.
The trail follows Wooroloo Brook and passes through bushland and rocky sections before returning to the picnic area near the falls. After a good amount of rain, the water flowing over the rocks is an incredible sight – one of the top falls in WA!
Yagan Memorial Park
Location: Lot 39, West Swan Road, Belhus
Yagan Memorial Park is a place of cultural importance, created to commemorate the life, death, and spirit of the Noongar leader Yagan. The site recognises his importance in the region’s history and remains meaningful to many Indigenous people.
When we visited, we felt the area could have benefited from better maintenance. Despite this, the park is a great spot for history lovers, a quiet place to reflect while learning about one of the most significant figures in Western Australia’s Indigenous history. Our dog enjoyed the short walk as well.
The Guildford Heritage Trails
Guildford is a pleasant place to walk a dog, and we took ours all around the area. She loved wandering through the quiet streets and open spaces while we explored some of the town’s historic corners.
There are two main options: the Captain Stirling Walk and the Town Walk, both of which pass lots of heritage buildings and landmarks, including the Guildford Town Hall.
Whiteman Park Dog Park
Location: Whiteman Park, 233a Drumpellier Dr, Whiteman
Whiteman Park has a massive fenced-off area, plus a separate area for dogs under 10kg. It’s one of the better dog parks in Perth, with plenty of space for dogs to run and explore.
When we visited, we also stopped at the Village Café and sat on the veranda. The park even includes an obstacle course designed in colours that dogs can easily see.
More Incredible Dog-Friendly Places in the Swan Valley to Add to Your Itinerary
There are plenty of amazing things to do in the Swan Valley, and many can be done with dogs. Read our top Swan Valley recommendations in our guide. Here’s how you could spend your day with dogs:
Swan Valley Markets
Location: Swan Valley, 124 Lennard St, Herne Hill
We’ve taken the dogs through the markets before and wandered around the stalls, and it can be a fun place to browse local produce, handmade items, and small gifts. It’s an easy stop if you’re already exploring the area.
Dogs are generally allowed as you walk around the market area, but they are not permitted in the eating section. When we visited, we walked through that part quickly before continuing around the rest of the stalls.
Swan Valley Station
Location: 60 Forest Rd, Henley Brook
Swan Valley Station is quite a unique stop in the valley and a great all-rounder if visiting with a dog. We can’t express how fantastic this place is.
It has a nursery with lots of beautiful plants and pots. Be prepared to take some back home with you! As you walk in, there are so many stunning additions for your garden. Think sculptures, pinwheels, birdbaths and water features. In the gift shop, there’s an equally beautiful array of knick-knacks.
The café is the perfect place to stop for a coffee. There are picnic tables outside where dogs are welcome. They are spread throughout the nursery, and there’s plenty of shaded spots.
You can also enjoy the short but pretty sculpture trail, which has quirky fibreglass animals such as horses and cows from the South West. We loved it!
Again, Perth is extremely hot from September to March. It was boiling by 11:00 AM!
Just keep in mind that Perth gets very hot from December through March. Even visiting at the end of March, it was still around 35 degrees by 11.00, so if you are visiting with a dog, bring plenty of water.
Dog-friendly Restaurants and Cafés in the Swan Valley, Western Australia
The Swan Valley has plenty of cafés that welcome dogs. Some will happily allow dogs indoors, but most ask that you sit outside. Here are the cafés we’ve either visited with our dogs or plan to visit on our next trip:
Taylors in the Valley
Location: 510 Great Northern Hwy, Middle Swan
Taylors is a classic Swan Valley café stop and a great place for breakfast, lunch, or morning tea in the garden. The menu changes with what’s coming out of their garden, and they make everything from cakes to savoury tarts in-house. The kitchen closes at 1.00 PM, so it is more of a daytime café than a late-lunch spot.
We have enjoyed lunch here with the dogs sitting outside. It is a relaxed spot in the Swan Valley and works well for a casual lunch while exploring nearby wineries.
Dog’s Breakfast Café
Location: 15A Woollcott Ave, West Swan
This one is made for dog people. Dog’s Breakfast Café is designed so you can bring your pup along and enjoy a relaxed meal together. My kids are excited about taking the dog to the agility area on our next visit! There’s a dog pool where pups can cool off and play. The café also offers homemade dog treats and a small doggy spa. A fun stop!
Lavender Bistro And Boutique
Location: 6 Cranleigh St, West Swan
Lavender Bistro is a beautiful option for a slower style lunch or high tea, with a charming setting. The bistro is known for its calm garden atmosphere and elegant menu. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the patio so that you can settle in outside.
Maison Saint Honore
Location: 100 Benara Rd, Caversham
Maison Saint Honore is a lovely French-style breakfast and pastry stop, with seriously good coffee, macarons, cakes, and their famous sweet treat: a macaron with salted caramel ice cream sandwich. Dogs are welcome in the outside areas.
It is also family-friendly, with a child-friendly garden and space to spread out on the lawn for a picnic (read more of our kid-friendly Swan Valley recommendations here). There are plenty of shaded spots where you can relax with a coffee while your dog settles beside you. Keep in mind that it’s often busy here, and when we visited, it was even jampacked for breakfast.
Swan Valley Sisters Produce Café
Location: 1715 Gnangara Rd, Henley Brook, WA 6055
Swan Valley Sisters is a cosy little produce café next to Edgecombe, known for great coffee, homemade cakes and breakfast toasties. On weekends, it turns into more of a buzzing marketplace vibe with local produce.
It can be a nice stop if you’re in the mood for a coffee and a bite to eat. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, and it works well as an easy place to begin the day before heading further into the Swan Valley.
Village Café At Whiteman Park
Location: Whiteman Park Village, Whiteman Park, WA 6068
If you want a café stop inside Whiteman Park, Village Café is the only licensed café in the park, and it serves all-day breakfast, lunch specials and coffee.
There is plenty of open space nearby, so it works well for a relaxed break before continuing your visit around Whiteman Park.
Mrs Rabbits Tearooms
Dog-friendly Wineries in the Swan Valley
The Swan Valley is known for its wineries, and quite a few are happy to welcome dogs, especially in their outdoor areas. If you’re planning an afternoon of wine tasting, these are some places where your pup can join you while you enjoy the views and a glass of something local.
Ugly Duckling Wines
Location: 7790 W Swan Rd, West Swan
Ugly Duckling Wines has been one of the most straightforward winery stops with a dog. From the car park, you can walk directly to the outdoor picnic seating without passing through the restaurant. That makes it easy when you have a dog on a lead.
The winery itself is quite informal with a small food and wine offering, and dogs have always been very welcome in the outdoor area when we have visited. Ugly Duckling is known for its pies and platters – an easy lunch choice when you want something tasty without a formal restaurant feel.
Windy Creek Estate
Location: 27 Stock Rd, Herne Hill
Windy Creek is set amongst vines and gardens with a really pretty backdrop of the Darling Ranges. At the cellar door, you can also do cheese tastings and find their homemade jams, marmalades and relishes.
Riverbank Estate
Location: 126 Hamersley Rd, Caversham WA 6055
RiverBank is a gorgeous, unsuspecting winery with wide verandahs and a large lawn. It’s known for its seasonally changing à la carte menu. The exterior is gorgeous too, with stunning stonework and beautiful flowers.
We diddn’t end up eating here, but it looked like a lovely place to stop. This fantastic Swan Valley restaurant and winery overlook the vines, creating a lovely backdrop (one of the top views in the whole of the Swan Valley). Dogs are allowed on the back veranda, and there’s also an open lawn.
Dog Friendly Venues We Plan to Visit on Our Next Trip
- Twin Hill Wines – 1093 Great Northern Hwy, Baskerville: Known for cheese, olives and fortified wines. Dogs are allowed outdoors, which makes it sound like a nice, relaxed tasting stop. The cellar door focuses on small-batch wines and local produce, which is one of the reasons we’re planning to visit.
- Edgecombe Winery – 1733 Gnangara Rd: allows dogs in outdoor dining areas. It’s known for its relaxed setting and casual tasting experience.
- Choco Txoko – 247 Haddrill Road, Baskerville: a Basque-inspired venue on the road toward Bells Rapids. They allow dogs outside 1x per week. Our idea for a future visit is to do an early morning dog walk at Bells Rapids and then stop here for something to eat or drink afterwards. We drove past once after a walk and said it would be a great stop next time. It was just a bit early that morning.
Places That Do Not Allow Dogs
- Sandalford Wines: Another popular winery where dogs are generally not allowed in the main visitor areas.
- Henley Brook: Recently changed their policy to no dogs.
- Mandoon Estate: A well-known winery and dining venue in the Swan Valley, but dogs are not permitted on the property. When we visited, my teenage daughter stayed in the car park with the dogs.
Dog Friendly Breweries
Many have outdoor seating areas, so you can enjoy a drink with your pup resting nearby.
Swan Valley Brewery
Location:10250 West Swan Road, Henley Brook, WA
Swan Valley Brewery is one of the most popular dog-friendly venues in the region. There is a separate gate at the back specifically for people walking in with dogs, allowing you to enter the garden area directly without going through the main building. It’s also clearly signposted, so visitors know where dogs are permitted and where they are not.
The garden is a great place to stop for a drink or a snack during a Swan Valley day trip. The brewery is known for its traditional Irish and English-style ales, and the menu includes some treats, as well as lunch and dinner options.
Funk Brewshed
Location: 38 Swan St, Henley Brook, WA 6055
Funk Brewshed is a lively stop if you’re looking for craft beer with plenty of space to sit outside. There’s lots of outdoor seating, and the venue offers a small-plate, share-style menu that works well if you’re visiting with friends. In addition to their beers, there are also plenty of drink options.
It can get quite busy, though, particularly on Sundays. Also, the layout or seating arrangements may change, depending on the crowd. Even so, it’s a popular place to pause for a drink with your pet during a day exploring the Swan Valley.
Txoko Brewing
Location: 247 Haddrill Rd, Baskerville
Txoko is a scenic brewpub near Bells Rapids, with a rotating beer list, wood-fired pizza, and a big playground with lots of paved and grassed alfresco space.
The venue is also pet-friendly for outdoor picnic tables, so it’s an easy place to pause for a drink or a bite to eat if you’re out with your dog. Its proximity to Bells Rapids makes it a convenient place to take a break after a walk in the area.
Mash Brewing
Location:10250 W Swan Rd, Henley Brook, WA 6055
Mash is a popular spot in Henley Brook for lunch or an afternoon drink, with a seasonal menu that leans into beer-friendly food like tacos, bao buns, pork belly bites and squid. They also take bookings.
They have a dog-friendly beer garden and outdoor areas, but because layouts can be a bit confusing on busy days, we still recommend asking staff the easiest way to get to the patio with a dog on a lead.
Bailey Brewing Co
Location: 9861 West Swan Road, Park St, Henley Brook, WA 6055, Australia
Bailey Brewing Co. is a very family-friendly venue, with a large enclosed dog playground, a large verandah, and plenty of garden space for kids to run around. I find it an easygoing place to spend a bit of time, especially if you’re travelling to the Swan Valley with kids and dogs.
Note that pets are welcome only on weekdays, and the brewery recommends booking in advance and noting in the reservation that you’re bringing a dog so they can seat you outdoors.
Mulberry Taphouse
Location: 34 Hamersley Rd, Caversham, WA
Mulberry Taphouse is one of the most relaxed dog-friendly spots in the valley, tucked just behind the Mulberry Estate wedding venue.
There are plenty of picnic tables and places to settle for a while. Dogs are fully welcome outside, and when we visited, they even provided a paper water bowl. You’ll find mini-golf and a bright pink bouncy castle, too.
Dining-wise, you’ll find a simple, affordable pub menu. Drinks are served from a converted sea container.
Swan Valley Pet Friendly Accommodation
The Swan Valley is the ideal weekend break from Perth. If you want to turn your day trip into a short stay, there are some great accommodation options. You can find more places to stay in our guide to Swan Valley accommodation.
Discovery Parks Swan Valley
Location: 91 Benara Rd, Caversham WA 6055
Discovery Parks Swan Valley has modern cabins and self-contained accommodations set in a quiet setting near the valley’s wineries and attractions. Some cabins are pet-friendly, worth considering if you want to stay in the area without leaving your dog behind.
Pets are only allowed in selected accommodation, so it’s important to check availability when booking. The park also has open spaces!
View prices and availability for your dates here >>>
Novotel Vines Resort
Location: Verdelho Drive, The Vines, WA 6069
For a more upscale stay, the Novotel Vines Resort is one of the better-known accommodation options in the Swan Valley. The resort offers spacious apartments that can accommodate pets, providing a higher-end option for visitors travelling with their furry friends.
However, these pet-friendly apartments are limited and often in high demand. When we called twice to check availability, none were available at the time, so it may be worth planning if you are hoping to stay here with your dog.
View prices and availability for your dates here >>>
MAP: Dog Friendly Swan Valley
Final Words
With a little planning, the Swan Valley is a really enjoyable place to explore with dogs. There are plenty of cafés, wineries, breweries and walking spots where your pup can join you for the day, especially if you focus on venues with outdoor areas.
As with any trip with pets, it’s always a good idea to check the latest rules before visiting and to be mindful of busy times. With the right stops along the way, a day out in the Swan Valley can be just as fun for your dog as it is for you.
Planning more trips in WA with your dog? You’ll love reading these guides:
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