Dog-friendly bliss at Paperbark Couples Retreat

In the year that saw us all stay home, we spent a week nearby in Agnes Waters for a necessary change of scenery.

Leaving the dog at home was not an option so we chose to stay at Gibson’s Pet Friendly Accommodation and were lucky enough to book the week at their Paperbark Couples Retreat.

Down a long driveway away from any hustle and bustle, this spot was the perfect escape for both us and our very busy border collie!

The property itself is small but located on seven acres of land with a dam that our dog was jumping into within minutes of the car doors being open. The place is fully fenced so we were not at all worried about him exploring on his own.

He may have sniffed every paperbark tree he could find but he had a blast and was comfortable enough for him to stay alone every now and then – which for our anxious pup is saying a lot.

He even got to celebrate his 2nd birthday on the property - with extra special treats of course.

With the dog occupied we could spend some time enjoying the human-friendly parts of the retreat.

Inside there is aircon if you want it, a single bedroom and a bathroom and a fully-contained kitchen but outside is where the relaxing happens.

There is a big deck on two sides of the building with epic views of the night sky, a hammock and a fully functioning bathtub that definitely got a workout!

Below the deck is a firepit with bench seats where we toasted marshmallows and watched the stars. There is also a grate for the firepit where we cooked Portuguese chicken one night for the extra authenticity. You will find plenty of kindling and firewood ready to be collected on the property.

The owners of this spot have thought of everything, from dog bowls to a small kennel on the deck for the furry family members to books and DVDs and a handy guidebook to all the activities (both dog-friendly and not) in the area for the humans.

The Paperbark Retreat is just a five-minute drive from Agnes Water, and tucked away for 100 per cent privacy and we didn’t want to leave.

Paperbark Couples Retreat is perfect for a dog-friendly escape in Queensland and has set the standard for future adventures with our pup.