Some of us are lucky enough to spend all week at home with our fur friends. For others, work, school, family and other life commitments mean that our time is more limited during the work week. While none of these are reasons not to have a dog, it is important for those of us with a busier schedule to make sure that we fit in quality time with our pets whenever we can to maintain our bond and keep our beloved little family members happy and healthy.
We are lucky enough to live in Australia’s most dog friendly city filled with great walking tracks, dog friendly locations, dog parks and off-leash areas (see details here) right outside our door that mean there really is no excuse to leave your pup at home to enjoy a weekend out. However, if you are stuck for ideas on what to do beyond your ordinary walk around the block here are a few suggestions to help you plan your next dog friendly adventure in Canberra!
Uriarra Crossing
Pack a picnic, your swimmers and your fur friend and head out to one of Canberra’s nearby gems. Uriarra Crossing is a short 20 minute scenic drive from the centre of Canberra (map here) and boasts a sparse, green picnic area on the East Side with picnic tables, bbq’s and plenty of space to spread out and enjoy your weekend. There is also the option of continuing on to the West side of the crossing which is a smaller and often less crowded spot on the opposite bank of the river. Dogs are allowed off leash and in the water in both areas so it’s a perfect location for you and your fur friend to relax in the sunshine and take a dip in the Murrumbidgee River on a hot day.
This is also a fantastic spot to take your pup if they haven’t been swimming before or if they prefer to wade around at the waters edge as there are plenty of sandy beaches with gradual slopes into the water. If your pup isn’t worn out after their swim there are also plenty of places to walk up and down the river bank or throw a ball around in the grassy picnic area.
Fish & Chips by the Lake
This is one of our favourite dog friendly places to relax by the lake on a sunny weekend afternoon. Snapper on the Lake is located underneath the Yacht Club in Yarralumla and serves delicious fish and chips 7 days a week (map here). I’m a coast girl at heart and fish & chips beside the water is always reminiscent of home and the beach. The best part about this location is that it opens out onto a large grassed area where you can set up a picnic blanket with your fur friend and eat your fish and chips from a paper box while watching the weekend activities on the lake. There is also an added bonus of live music if you head down on a Sunday afternoon!
The atmosphere is very informal and relaxed and there is no problem bringing along your own food and drinks, picnic chairs and esky and setting up camp for the day. Otherwise, incorporate your visit to Snapper on the Lake into a walk around the Yarralumla foreshore with your pup or a visit to the nearby Yarralumla dog park.
Kingston Coffee Stop
Take your pup along for your weekend coffee fix at the popular Kingston Foreshore on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin. One of our Foreshore favourites is 38 Espresso which has the added bonus of being welcoming to dog owners – the staff are always happy to offer your pup a bowl of water while you enjoy your coffee. For this reason the little coffee shop is always buzzing with pups and their humans especially on a weekend making it a fantastic place to socialise with other dogs and their owners.
Follow up your coffee fix (or grab your coffee takeaway) with a walk along the lakeside of Lake Burley Griffin through Bowen Park. There is plenty of open grassy space and wide pathways here that make it a pleasant walk for you and your dog even on a busy day. If you are up for a bigger walk you can continue on up through Telopea Park to the Kingston shops.
Hall Markets
Enjoy a sausage sizzle while checking out the local produce and handmade goodies in the company of your dog at the Hartley Hall Markets. The markets are held on the first Sunday every month from 10-3pm at the showground in Hall and are dog friendly provided your pooch is on a leash.
These markets are everything to be expected of a traditional market filled with handmade goods, fresh fruit and veg, jams, potted plants and fresh flowers. The markets also offer plenty of exciting goodies for your fur friend from dog treats to accessories where you can spoil your pooch on your outing. A favourite of ours is the Pupcake Bakery and we can never leave without selecting an assortment of their cute little baked dog treats for the pups.
As one of the only dog friendly markets in Canberra the markets are always a very popular social event for dog owners and many of the stallholders cater for this by placing bowls of water out to keep your pup hydrated and happy.
Most importantly, when you attend the Hall Markets your gold coin entry fee goes to the Hartley Lifecare Fund to provide support to members of the community with physical and complex disabilities.
Share your dog friendly adventures in the comments below!
