The charming town of Maleny is located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, about a 90 minute drive north of Brisbane. Surrounded by dairy farms and rainforest, it’s a popular spot to visit, with plenty of dog-friendly activities and places. Find out more about visiting Maleny with a dog…
Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in Maleny
Maleny is home to some great dog-friendly things to do. For more dog-friendly ideas while staying in the area, check out my full guide to visiting the Sunshine Coast with a dog.
#1 Explore the Maleny Botanic Gardens
Maleny is home to a beautiful private botanic gardens, the Maleny Botanic Gardens. These stunning gardens are located just outside of Maleny, with beautiful views of the Glass House Mountains in the distance providing a backdrop.
Luckily, leashed dogs are welcome to join you on a stroll around the gardens, for no additional charge. Just note that dogs are not permitted in the aviary area of the gardens, which is accessible on guided tours for an additional fee.
The gardens are dotted with countless waterfalls and ponds, taking advantage of the steep slope. Allow a couple of hours for a stroll around the gardens. It’s also possible to rent a golf cart for an hour, with dogs allowed to join you on the carts. There’s also a handy cafe at the reception centre.
#2 Stroll Along the Maleny Trail
For more outdoor explorations, head along the Maleny Trail. This easy walking trail runs for 4.8km from the Maleny Showground to Fairview, a heritage-listed house just outside of Maleny. A combination of paved paths and boardwalks largely follows alongside Obi Obi Creek.
While the full return walk is a long 9.6km, we just walked part of the walk near the centre of town then retraced our footsteps. The boardwalk section is particularly pretty, with some convenient cafes located alongside the walk – perfect for a coffee or lunch break.
Note that dogs need to be kept on a leash along the full length of the walk, although they are allowed off-leash at part of the showground. Thanks to being paved it remains mud-free even during wet weather.
#3 Drive Along the Blackall Range Tourist Drive
The Blackall Range Tourist Drive, also designated as Tourist Drive 23, runs for 57km through the Sunshine Coast’s Hinterland, from Landsborough in the south to Nambour in the north.
The drive passes right through Maleny, so you’ll probably drive along part of it without even realising. In particular, I recommend the section heading north from Maleny through the cute village of Montville. There are great views off towards the coast – make sure you stop at some of the lookouts along the way.
#4 Taste Some Local Wine
If driving along the Blackall Range Tourist Drive to Montville, consider driving just a little further to Flame Hill Vineyard. Flame Hill produces estate grown wines from two vineyards, one in the Granite Belt region and the other just outside of Montville.
The Montville cellar door is open for wine tastings and lunch from Wednesday to Sunday each week. Dogs are welcome to join you at the outdoor seating area, as long as they are both child- and bird-friendly. Reservations are essential for lunch.
#5 Drive to Kenilworth
Another scenic spot to visit on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is the country town of Kenilworth. It’s possible to reach the town along the Blackall Range Tourist Drive, turning off at Mapleton, a 45 minute drive. There is also the more direct Maleny-Kenilworth Road, that takes about 35 minutes.
Kenilworth is famous for the Kenilworth Cheese Factory, now known as the Kenilworth Dairies, which has been making cheese for decades. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor area of the onsite cafe.
Another historic foodie spot is the Kenilworth Bakery, established in 1924. They are renown for their 1kg donuts and coffee donuts, plus they also bake dog treats. Perhaps pick up supplies at the store then go for a walk along the nearby river? There are also outlets at Mooloolaba and Bribie Island.
Just outside of Kenilworth along the Maleny-Kenilworth Road is the Fig Tree Walk, located in the Imbil State Forest. Dogs are welcome to join you on the 780m-long circuit walk through the rainforest, although be careful of stinging plants.
Are Dogs Allowed at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve?
Another popular spot to visit in Maleny is the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, thanks to its impressive vistas of the Glass House Mountains and sub-tropical rainforest. Unfortunately though, pet dogs are not permitted at the reserve, so you’ll need to skip visiting with your pup.
Dog-Friendly Parks in Maleny
For some off-leash time in Maleny, head to the Maleny Showground. There are two off-leash areas at the showground. The main area is at the eastern end, past the horse and pony club facilities, with a second area at the western end near the entrance.
Just note that there are some exceptions – if an equine event or entertainment event is being held. Also, dogs are generally not permitted on the fields at the showground.
Dog-Friendly Dining in Maleny
Maleny is home to some great dog-friendly cafes and restaurants, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, or just a coffee break.
Monica’s Cafe is a highly rated cafe in Maleny, in particular for their breakfasts and vegan options. The cafe is open daily for breakfast and lunch, except on Thursdays.
Another terrific dog-friendly coffee spot is concept.coffee, right on the Obi Obi Creek Boardwalk. Just note that it’s closed on weekends.
In the evening and on the weekends in Maleny, head to Lane 32 Woodfired Pizza. As well as allowing dogs at outdoor tables (and spoiling them with dog biscuits), there is also an enclosed dog pen – perfect for when the puppy dog eyes become too much! Currently they are open Friday evenings, plus on Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner.
Dog-Friendly Accommodation in Maleny
During our visit to Maleny, we stayed at the Maleny Showground. It’s a cheap and easy option for caravans and campervans with dogs onboard, with no peak-season rates and no advance bookings. It’s also home to an off-leash area (see above) and it’s just a short walk from Maleny along the trail.
Note that there are some blackout dates throughout the year for various shows, so check in advance on the website. Also there is a maximum stay of three consecutive nights.
The next closest caravan parks are the Ocean View Tourist Park and Ingenia Holidays Landsborough, both located in Landsborough. The former allows pets year round on sites by prior arrangement, while the latter only allows pets on selected sites outside of blackout periods.
If you don’t have your own caravan or campervan, instead consider making a booking for The Old Church, a boutique lodging in the centre of Maleny. There are multiple apartments and rooms to choose from. Pets are allowed on request – contact to confirm the full pet policy, including pet fees.
For a more luxurious option, pets are allowed to join you when staying in the Orchard Villa at Spicers Tamarind Retreat, located in the rainforest just outside of Maleny. The Pooch Package includes a plush dog bed and dog bowl. Dogs are allowed inside, but not on the furniture, with a size limit of 25kg applying.
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About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.