Pet-Friendly Hotels at Melbourne Airport
None of the six hotels at Melbourne Airport publishes a policy that accepts pets. Assistance animals are a separate case under Australian law. The table lists each hotel’s official policy as published on its own website.
Hotel pet policies
| Hotel | Pets | Assistance animals | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport | Not published, confirm with the hotel | Not published | panpacific.com |
| Novotel Melbourne Airport | Not allowed | Service and medical animals allowed | novotelmelbourneairport.com.au |
| ibis Styles Melbourne Airport | Not allowed | Not published | all.accor.com |
| Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport | Not allowed | Service animals welcome | melbourneairport.holidayinn.com, ihg.com |
| Hyatt Place Melbourne, Essendon Fields | Not allowed | Accredited service animals welcome, advance notice requested | hyatt.com |
| ibis budget Melbourne Airport | Not allowed | Not published | all.accor.com |
No hotel publishes a pet fee, weight limit or species list, because none accepts pets. Booking sites could not be checked for the PARKROYAL.
Assistance animals
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, it is unlawful to discriminate against a person with disability because they are accompanied by an assistance animal. The Act defines an assistance animal as a dog or other animal that is accredited under a state or territory law, accredited by a training organisation named in the regulations, or trained to help a person with disability and meeting standards of hygiene and behaviour suitable for a public place. A hotel or transport provider may ask for evidence that an animal meets this definition (humanrights.gov.au).
Animals in the terminals
Melbourne Airport has animal relief areas outside Terminal 4 (across Departure Drive on the grassed area) and after security on Level 1 in Terminal 1 (opposite Hungry Jack’s), Terminal 2 (near gate 15) and the Terminal 3 and 4 departures lounge (near Sunglass Hut). For Virgin Australia’s pets-in-cabin trial, the airport requires pets to be in their carrier before entering the terminal, carriers to stay on the floor and never be left unattended, and a harness and leash outside the carrier. Pet owners may use the relief areas, but assistance animals have priority and owners must clean up.
SkyBus and public transport
SkyBus accepts a small cat or dog in an approved carrier that meets airline cabin rules, under 8 kg including the carrier, kept in the carrier for the whole trip; it may refuse an animal likely to cause a disturbance. Accredited assistance animals and guide dogs travel free. On Victorian public buses, including route 901 from the airport, only small animals in a suitable container may travel. Trains also take dogs on a lead and muzzle, and Transport Victoria asks dog owners to avoid 7:00 to 9:00 am and 4:00 to 6:00 pm on weekdays. Guide dogs and assistance animals travel free on all Victorian public transport. See the transfer guide for routes, and family-friendly hotels at Melbourne Airport for children’s policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hotels at Melbourne Airport allow pets?
None of the six hotels on this site publishes a policy that accepts pets. The Novotel, ibis Styles, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Place and ibis budget state that pets are not allowed. The PARKROYAL publishes no pet policy, so confirm with the hotel.
Can I bring an assistance animal to a Melbourne Airport hotel?
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 it is unlawful to discriminate against a person with disability because they use an assistance animal. The Novotel, Holiday Inn and Hyatt Place state that service animals are welcome; the Hyatt Place asks for advance notice.
Can I take my dog on the SkyBus?
SkyBus accepts a small cat or dog in an approved carrier that meets airline cabin rules, under 8 kg including the carrier, kept in the carrier for the whole trip. Accredited assistance animals and guide dogs, including those in training, travel free.
Information last verified: October 2, 2026