Why this corner of the Gold Coast suits dogs
The southern end of the Gold Coast was made for a slow day out with a dog in tow. Tugun and neighbouring Currumbin sit between long open beaches and a quiet, tree-lined foreshore, with plenty of grass, shade and water bowls along the way. It's the kind of place where you can plan a morning around your dog rather than leaving them at home.
At the heart of it is Cornerstone Stores at 570 Gold Coast Highway in Tugun — a boutique precinct built around an open courtyard, where dogs are genuinely welcome rather than just tolerated. Open seven days with free parking, it makes an easy base for the day, whether you live nearby or you're passing through on the drive south to Byron Bay. Here's how we'd spend it.
Start with coffee in the courtyard
Begin where the locals do — a flat white in the courtyard at Stable, the café at the centre of Cornerstone. There are dog-friendly tables under the festoon lights and out on the grass, so your dog can settle at your feet while you order specialty coffee and breakfast. Stable opens early (from around 6am) and runs through lunch, so there's no rush to time your arrival.
Stable doesn't take bookings — seating is first-come, first-served — which suits a relaxed dog morning perfectly. Arrive early on a weekend if you'd like one of the shadier courtyard spots before the day warms up.
A walk along the Currumbin foreshore
From Tugun it's a short hop to the Currumbin foreshore and the stretch known to locals as the Alley. The path along the estuary is flat, pram- and paw-friendly, and lined with grass and Norfolk pines — an easy, shaded loop for a mid-morning leg-stretch. You'll pass Elephant Rock and Flat Rock, two of the prettiest landmarks on this part of the coast.
Currumbin Beach and Tugun Beach are both close by for a longer wander or a paddle. Always check the current local signage for on-leash and off-leash areas and times before you let your dog loose — these can change by season and by stretch of sand, and rangers do patrol. Pack a lead, a water bottle and a couple of bags, and you're set.
Back to the precinct: provisions and a picnic
Loop back to Cornerstone to put together something to take with you. Quince Cellar builds grazing boards, hampers and picnics from cheese, wine and charcuterie — ideal for a foreshore lunch on the grass — while Locavore Byron, the regenerative butcher, is the place to grab pasture-raised meat from Brooklet Springs Farm for tonight's dinner. If you'd rather browse than picnic, Kind Curations is good for homewares and gifts, and there's a barber and a movement studio in the mix too. The full line-up is on the stores page.
Make a weekend of it
Cornerstone sits directly opposite Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and is about six minutes from Gold Coast Airport, which makes it an easy stopover or the start of a longer weekend. If you'd like to bring the dog and stay nearby, Nuve Escapes manages Gold Coast holiday stays across Currumbin, Tugun and Palm Beach — worth asking about pet-friendly options when you book.
For more on the area and what's within walking distance, our guides to visiting near Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the southern Gold Coast are a good next read. When you're ready to come down, the directions and parking page has everything you need to find us.
Good to know
Is Cornerstone Stores in Tugun dog-friendly?
Yes. Cornerstone Stores is a dog-friendly courtyard precinct, open seven days with free parking. Stable, the on-site café, has dog-friendly tables in the courtyard and out on the grass.
Where can I get a dog-friendly coffee near Currumbin?
Stable at Cornerstone Stores, 570 Gold Coast Highway in Tugun — directly opposite Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary — serves specialty coffee, breakfast and lunch with dog-friendly courtyard and grass seating, from around 6am daily. It's first-come, first-served, so arrive early on weekends.
Are dogs allowed on Currumbin and Tugun beaches?
There are on-leash and off-leash areas along the southern Gold Coast, but the rules vary by location and time of day and can change seasonally. Always check the current local council signage on the day before letting your dog off the lead, and bring a lead, water and bags.
Can I find dog-friendly accommodation near Tugun and Currumbin?
Nuve Escapes manages holiday stays across Currumbin, Tugun and Palm Beach. Ask them directly about pet-friendly options when you enquire, as availability varies by property.
Cornerstone Stores — 570 Gold Coast Highway, Tugun QLD 4224. Open 7 days, dog-friendly, free parking. Meet the stores →