Ultimate Dog Friendly Snow Trip To High Country Victoria

We first took our dogs to see snow at the dog friendly Alpine Resort, Dinner Plain, in 2020, amid the pandemic. We have been there almost every year since. At this point, we have to consider ourselves experts in taking our dogs to snow. We thought of writing this blog post with everything you need to know so you can have the best snow experience with your dogs.

Table of Contents

1. Dog Friendly Snow Resort – Dinner Plain, Victoria
2. Things To Know Before Heading To Snow With Your Dog
3. Where to stay
   1. Dog Friendly Accomodation in Bright and Surrounds
   2. Bright and Surrounds Dog Friendly Activities
4. Conclusion

Dog Friendly Snow Resort – Dinner Plain, Victoria

Dinner Plain is the only dog friendly snow resort in Victoria. It is located in the Victorian Alps, 375km (a 4-hour drive) northeast of Melbourne and only 10 km from the prime snow resort Mount Hotham. This makes it a great location for families to holiday with the whole family—yes, that includes dogs!

If you are making a day trip or staying a couple of days at Dinner Plain, here are our best tips to have the best time.

• There’s free parking available at the front of the resort or near the ski slope (Scrubbers end)
• Dogs must always be on a leash except at the Snowgum Tennis Court, the only off-lead area
• You can hire ski gear, including a toboggan, at the Hoys Skis near the central car park at the entrance. You can always return the ski gear when you are returning your snow chains at other Hoys branches in Harrietville or Omeo
• If you want to go tobogganing with your dog, you can do this at the dedicated toboggan run, ‘ Pea Shooter’ and the ski slope (only after 4 p.m.). Both are located at the Scrubbers’ end and have plenty of parking.
• There are cafes and restaurants (our favourite is Elements) within the resort, with outdoor seating for you to relax with your dog
• Always check the map at the entrance (click the link or borrow one when you are renting ski gear); there are hidden gems like dog-friendly walk – Montane loop

Things To Know Before Heading To Snow With Your Dog

Here are a very few very important things you should know before heading to the snow.

Snow chains: If you have a four-wheel or an all-wheel drive, you will not need snow chains on most days. However, it is a legal requirement to carry snow chains when entering any Victorian Alpine resorts. There are checkpoints at the entry to the mountains where you will be advised whether you need to put the chains on at one point. Usually, assistance will be provided at snow chain bays (where you will stop to put the snow chains on). For convenience, we always hire our snow chains from Hoys in Harrietville or Omeo.

Resort Entry: Dinner Plain does not have a resort entry fee. But if you drive to Mt Hotham to ski, you must purchase a resort pass. You will have to drive through Mount Hotham if you are entering Dinner Plain through Harrietville/Bright. You do NOT have to purchase a resort pass to drive through Mt Hotham to get to Dinner Plain. Mt Hotham is not dog-friendly, so dogs will have to stay inside the car at all times.

Temperature Tolerance: Not all dogs are suited for cold weather. Breeds with thick coats, like Huskies or Malamutes, typically handle the cold well. Even though our dogs have plenty of fur, just like short-haired breeds, they need extra protection as they are not used to snow. So make sure that they wear snow gear.

Paw Protection: Snow and ice can be harsh on dog paws and cause cracks, cuts, or frostbite. It can help to avoid direct contact with harmful substances like antifreeze or salt used on snow (I do not know for sure whether Dinner Plain uses them, but it is good to be cautious). Therefore dog shoes are highly recommended. Applying a nose paw balm containing wax before heading to the snow can also provide an extra layer of protection.

Hypothermia and Frostbite: As fun as snow time is, make sure to limit the time in the snow and continuously monitor your dog closely for signs of hypothermia, such as shivering, lethargy, or difficulty moving. Frostbite can occur on ears, tails, and paws. Snowballs can form on your dog’s fur and can be uncomfortable. Remember to dry your dog after snow play, as wet fur can lead to a drop in body temperature. If you suspect hypothermia or frostbite, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Hydration and Nutrition: Cold weather can be dehydrating, so always carry water to keep your dogs hydrated. Don’t let them eat snow too much, especially if it’s not fresh, as it can contain harmful substances like antifreeze or road salt.

Where to stay

There are a number of dog friendly accommodations in Dinner Plain. However, they get booked out fast and can be pretty expensive for what they offer. Dinner Plain can be accessed either via Omeo or Harrietville (Bright and Surrounds). We stayed at both of these locations prior and found it much more convenient to stay at Bright and Surrounds because it offers an abundance of food options and activities. It is so close to the King Valley with many beautiful wineries, and on the weekend, you are guaranteed to come across a farmers market with all the amazing produce that High Country Victoria has to offer.

Alpine region properties have 2 dogs per property as guided by the council. So check with your accommodation host if you are travelling with more than two dogs

Dog Friendly Accomodation in Bright and Surrounds

We were offered to stay at the beautiful ‘Tradesman Cottage, Two’ by Haus + Heim Accommodations during our snow trip. We’ve stayed at many wonderful dog friendly accommodations, but this one definitely takes the prize for being most aesthetically pleasing. It was easy to book, and the host, Holly-Louise, was so responsive and thoughtful. She made sure to light the fire before our arrival so the house was warm and cosy on a rainy, cold day. We also received a lovely welcome package with all the necessities that made us feel at home from the moment we arrived.

The Tradesman Cottage Two, was centrally located in Popernukah, only 10 minutes away from all our favourite restaurants and Bright city centre, and about 40 minutes’ drive from Mt Hotham. The cottage has three spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms, a well-stocked kitchen, and a laundry area that we found to be quite helpful for washing Ollie and Winky. We loved spending time in the large living area next to the wood-burning fireplace, perfect for cold winter nights. The cottage was also fully fenced, making it safe to let Ollie and Winky out when needed.

This cottage was light, airy, and inviting—everything a luxurious dog-friendly getaway should be. We cannot recommend this enough. Haus + Heim Accommodations has several similar properties in Bright and Surrounds, and the good news is that a few of them are dog-friendly.

Disclaimer: The stay at Haus + Heim accommodation was a paid collaboration. However, the opinions expressed in this blog post are our own. 

Bright and Surrounds Dog Friendly Activities

Bright is absolutely breathtaking during Autumn, and you can read more about the best dog friendly autumn spots in Bright here. No matter the season, if you stay near Bright and Surrounds, there are plenty of dog-friendly activities. Also, most Cafes and Restaurants have outdoor seating and are happy to accommodate dogs. Here are a few of our favourites;

Markets:
Mount Beauty Community market (every first Saturday)
Bright’s make it, bake it, grow it market (every 3rd Saturday)
Myrtleford Farmers market (every fourth Saturday)
other markets and events can be found here.

Cafes and Restaurants:
Sir Lion’s Bar and Grill
Hometown Pizza
Tomahawks
Gum tree pies

Wine and Spirits :
King Valley wine region (Brown Brothers Winery)
Gapsted Estate
Feathertop Winery, Reed & Co Distillery

Other: Canyon walk (recommended during Autumn)

Conclusion

Whether Autumn or Winter, we love visiting Bright and Surrounds. We hope this will inspire you and help you plan your next holiday with your fur baby! Let us know your experience in the comments!