Zara's Rainy Weekend — Two Soft Plans

Bright was the dream — but school holidays + 3 days notice = no decent dog-friendly stays. Pivoting to two close-to-home plans that work with weather and a kelpie in tow.

Petty's Orchard

Templestowe · Heritage apple picking

🚗 30 min 📍 25 km 🌤️ 18°C, 40% rain 🐕 Dogs on lead

One of Australia's largest collections of heritage apple varieties — 250+ types, peak season right now. Riverside orchard along the Yarra, café on-site, and a confirmed welcome for well-behaved dogs.

PICKPick heritage apples — Pink Lady, Fuji, Granny Smith and 250+ rare varieties at peak ripeness
CAFÉOn-site café famous for apple pie — outdoor seating works for dogs
WALKWesterfolds Park 5 min away — off-leash riverside trails along the Yarra
HOURSSunday 10:00am – 4:30pm

🐕 Rue: dogs on lead in the orchard. Plenty of sniffing, then unleash at Westerfolds Park after for a proper run.

~$10–15 per kg apples + café Open in Maps

Coburg Drive-In

Coburg · Project Hail Mary

🚗 20 min 📍 12 km 🎬 8:40pm 🐕 Dogs in car

Project Hail Mary — Ryan Gosling sci-fi, 2hr 37min — at Village's heritage drive-in. Showery weather is genuinely fine here: you're in the car, sound through the FM radio, wipers on intermittent. Maybe even cosier in the rain.

FILMProject Hail Mary (M, 2h 37m) — Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi
STARTSaturday 11 April · 8:40pm session
RAINDrive-ins run rain or shine. Only cancel for storms / lightning
FOODOn-site canteen, or BYO snacks (no glass)

🐕 Rue: the most dog-friendly cinema option going. Blanket in the back seat, snacks, she sleeps through the second act. Bring water.

~$22 per adult · dogs free Book Tickets

🍎 + 🎬 = Full Weekend Combo

Drive-in Saturday night → sleep in Sunday → late morning at Petty's Orchard → afternoon walk at Westerfolds Park → home with a bag of apples and a happy kelpie. Total drive time: ~90 min over two days. No accom needed, no school-hols crowds, no $500 cabins.