At Dolphins Mollymook, the classic Aussie beach motel gets a stylish new life — and a genuinely warm welcome for four-legged family members too. By Laura Csortan.
There’s something about a good old-fashioned coastal road trip that instantly makes you relax. Throw a child and a dog into the mix and, admittedly, things can become slightly less relaxing — particularly when it comes to finding somewhere lovely to stay that genuinely welcomes everyone.
Which is why arriving at Dolphins Mollymook with my daughter and our dog felt like such a treat.
Just a short stroll from beautiful Mollymook Beach on the NSW South Coast, Dolphins is a nostalgic little nod to the classic Australian beach motel, only considerably more stylish than the motels I remember from childhood. With just ten rooms, the property has been beautifully reimagined with a fun, mid-century coastal aesthetic — but what struck me most wasn’t the decor. It was how easy the whole stay felt.
My daughter could happily potter around, our dog was genuinely welcomed, and I didn’t have that slightly anxious feeling you sometimes get when travelling with a pet that perhaps they’re only being tolerated rather than embraced. Anyone who travels with their furry friend will know exactly what I mean. Truly dog-friendly accommodation, particularly accommodation that is also stylish and somewhere you actually want to stay, can be surprisingly hard to find.
Dolphins gets it. Their dedicated pet-friendly room comes complete with an orthopaedic Barney dog bed and gourmet dog treats waiting on arrival, and it was those thoughtful little touches, more than any styling choice, that made us feel so comfortable and at home. When your dog is part of your family, that’s what actually matters.
It’s a philosophy that extends to how little you ever need to leave. Dolly’s Café, right there on the property, serves coffee, breakfast, brunch and lunch, which means good coffee is only ever a few footsteps from your door. There is something deliciously indulgent about waking up on holiday and knowing you don’t have to go anywhere to be looked after. Where our previous South Coast stay this issue was all about venturing out, oyster boats, whale-watching cruises, a favourite Italian restaurant down the road, Dolphins works the opposite way. It’s a stay built for never quite wanting to leave.
Not that you have to stay put. Days here can be as busy or as blissfully unstructured as you want them to be. Wander down to Mollymook Beach, take one of the cruiser bikes out, grab a surfboard, or simply sit outside your room and enjoy having nowhere particularly urgent to be.
For us, that was really the magic of Dolphins. It wasn’t about an overly scheduled weekend or racing from one attraction to another. It was my daughter, my dog and me escaping Sydney for a little while, slowing down and enjoying that wonderfully simple feeling of being by the sea — together, as a whole family, paws included.
Dolphins Mollymook may take its inspiration from the great Australian motel holidays of years gone by, but this little South Coast gem has created something that feels fresh, fun and very much of the moment. And when every member of the family feels welcome, you know you’ve found somewhere worth returning to.
Book through www.dolphinsmollymook.au
