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Category: Travel

Why Pets are Truly Part of the Family

Woman relaxing on verandah with dog beside her

As the air turns crisp and Easter approaches across Australia, many families are looking forward to the Easter weekend – catching up with loved ones, enjoying the autumn weather and taking a well-deserved break. Their pets are truly part of the family arrangements.

The Comfort of Familiarity

For most pet owners, the biggest hurdle to travelling is ensuring their pets are safe and happy. Pets are more than just animals who share our homes. They become part of our daily routines and our family life. Dogs greet us at the door, cats curl up beside us in the evenings, and even the smallest pets become familiar, much-loved companions.

Pets have a wonderful way of finding the warmest place
in the house — often right beside us

Because of this strong bond, many pet owners prefer their animals to remain in the comfort of their own home when they travel. Familiar surroundings, smells and routines can help pets feel secure and relaxed while their owners are away.

Peace of Mind for everyone

This is one of the reasons house and pet sitting has become such a popular option for pet owners. Instead of placing pets in unfamiliar kennels or catteries, they can remain in the environment they know best.

For house sitters, it is also a rewarding experience. Sitters enjoy the companionship pets provide, the routine of daily walks, and the opportunity to spend time with animals while helping homeowners travel with peace of mind.

Celebrating Our Companions

Pet Sitter with loving Ginger Cat in the garden

April also brings National Pet Day on April 11, a reminder of the joy and companionship pets bring to our lives. It’s a day to celebrate the animals who share our homes and to recognise the responsibility we have to care for them well.

Whether it’s a quiet walk with the dog, a cat curled up beside you in the evening, or simply the comfort of knowing a pet is nearby, these small moments are often what make a house truly feel like home.

When homeowners travel and pets remain safe, comfortable and cared for in their own home, everyone benefits, including pets, owners and sitters.

Getting the most out of pet sitting for the year ahead

setting goals

 

House and pet sitting can be a great way to travel, live close to work, explore new suburbs before settling down, and much, much more. Here are ways to make the most of a house and pet sitting lifestyle to achieve your goals in life.

Travel 

Carpe Diem – seize the day! We’ve heard it before, but this year could be your year to take action to live life and enjoy every moment. Travel can broaden your life experience, expand social networks, and simply allow you to enjoy new experiences. Continue reading “Getting the most out of pet sitting for the year ahead”

Where to find the best Spring blooms in Australia

An Australian Spring brings a richness of colour, fresh fragrance and some of the best visually attractive landscapes that one could ever witness. Here are just some of the places to visit for a spring-time extravaganza.

Wildflowers in Western Australia

Being home to over 12,000 species of floral varieties, Western Australia can truly be considered wildflower country. In fact, 60% of the flowering species in Western Australia cannot be found anywhere else on the planet! From city parks, through to bushland and coastal regions, wildflowers bloom throughout the seasons to ensure consistent floral sensations. Continue reading “Where to find the best Spring blooms in Australia”

Moving with Pets – Tips and tricks for a stress-free move

Moving house with petsAustralians are among the most mobile people in the world, with 40.7% changing their address in the five years prior to 2021. Couple that with the fact that we’re among the world’s top animal-loving nations, and you have a few things to consider for the next major move.

To ease the stress and anxiety for the people and pets involved in the move, here are some tips to ensure the transition runs smoothly. Continue reading “Moving with Pets – Tips and tricks for a stress-free move”

The places Aussies will be heading to this summer

Australian travelFrom the seaside to the mountain tops – these are just some of the places that will be drawing Australians to visit, stay and have pet-friendly fun this summer. Whether it’s cooling off at the beach, reserve or in the high mountainous altitudes, there’s always an abundance of choices when it comes to touring Australia. The best part? With pets being a member of the family in a majority of Australian households, our four-legged friends are also welcome to sightsee, frolic and enjoy our country’s natural wonders.

Beaches

With pristine sands as far as the eye can see, azure waters lapping at your feet and sunshine that warms the skin, it’s no wonder why many of us will be heading to the beachside this summer.

Renowned worldwide as a nation of pet lovers, it is also unsurprising that Australians of the four-legged variety also have ample opportunities to experience the sand and surf. Palm Beach Dog Beach on the Gold Coast is a popular hangout for pups and peeps alike, as is Noosa Spit on the Sunshine Coast and St Kilda Beach in Melbourne.

Bays, Coves and Lakes

There are a range of hidden gems to uncover that provide calmer waters and secluded spots to roam on your own or stroll along with your doggo. Dogs can run free off-leash, enjoying a splash in the water at Sirius Cove Reserve in Mosman NSW and Rose Bay Park and Reserve in NSW. There’s also dog-friendly swimming at the ACT’s Barrenjoey Peninsula, Lake Burley Griffin and Colmslie Recreation Reserve, Morningside and Nudgee Beach Reserve in QLD are also dog-friendly havens.

Mountains

Fresh air, the sounds of wildlife and nothing but nature to tantalise your senses, a trip to the mountains helps forget about the stresses of the everyday. The Blue Mountains in NSW offer an array of walks to do and scenic spots to take in the majesty of the natural surroundings. There are also dog-friendly walks to take your pooch. South Australia’s Flinders Ranges offer sensational walks and hikes, and if you’re staying in Adelaide and need to help your pooch expend some energy, the South East dog walking trail is sure to meet your needs.

House and pet sitting positions available in QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, NT, WA.

Find your ideal pet sitter across Australia.

Free Things To Do Around Australia

Travel and House Sit

There are loads of things to do in Australia’s major cities and they don’t have to cost you a fortune. So pack up your things and head out to your favourite place to experience more of what our beautiful country has to offer. To make your holiday budget go even further, register as a pet sitter and stay in homes across Australia for free!

Melbourne, VIC

Melbourne draws you in with its amazing sense of culture and lively eclectic atmosphere. If you’re looking to get a sense of Melbourne’s heart, head to Federation Square and sit and take in the people and the buildings, and even watch the big screens for some down-time. Flinders Street Station is nearby, so be sure to stop by, especially when the sun is setting to watch how the light dances across this iconic Melbourne structure. If you’re into art, head to the National Gallery of Victoria and ACMI (The Australian Centre for the Moving Image) for some awesome exhibits. Or if wildlife is more your interest, the St Kilda penguins are a must see and they return to their burrows along the St Kilda break wall every evening of the year just after sunset. Visit Melbourne’s array of markets and take advantage of the free tram zone around the city. Be sure to check out the many pet sitting positions available around Victoria, so you can stay for free and get to live like a local.

Hobart, TAS

Walk through Salamanca Markets, visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or head up to the top of Mt Wellington to get a bird’s eye view of Hobart. A house and pet sit in Tasmania will help you appreciate the natural beauties of the state. Continue reading “Free Things To Do Around Australia”

Travel Solo as a Sitter

Solo Traveller, pet sittingIf you thrive on following the road less travelled and you enjoy making new friends, then house and pet sitting could be your calling.

For many who choose to travel on their own, pet sitting is a great way to save money and to try life in someone else’s shoes for a while.

In Australia, house and pet sitting is more attractive than ever, with close to 40% of sitters choosing to explore the country while staying free in other people’s homes and caring for pets. Continue reading “Travel Solo as a Sitter”

Money Saving Hack #12 – Choose a Pet Sitter’s Life!

Travel Light pet sitter mindahome

We’ve all heard the old adage ‘less is more’, but if we truly put this into action, it can actually reap some very sizable rewards.

Travel Light

The life of a house and pet sitter can be rather nomadic; always on the move from one position to the next. It’s not for everyone, but for those who embrace the adventure, house and pet sitting can save them loads of cash.

Aside from living rent free and saving every dollar you earn, rather than handing it over to a landlord in rent, the trick to being a successful house and pet sitter is travelling light. Continue reading “Money Saving Hack #12 – Choose a Pet Sitter’s Life!”

Money Saving Hack #54 – Meal Planning

Money Saving Travel

Planning for your meals while on house and pet sits will help you save money. Sounds simple, right? While most of us can appreciate that meal planning is a great way to ensure we don’t waste the food we buy, few of us go that extra step to physically writing down our meal plans – and stick to them!

Meal planning is particularly useful when you have back to back house and pet sits. It will help you manage the fresh food you need for a particular period and, as time goes by, you will get better at estimating how much you will need for any meal for any period.

Fresh fruit such as bananas, can ripen very quickly, so only buy enough to last you for your house and pet sit period. Continue reading “Money Saving Hack #54 – Meal Planning”

5 Packing Essentials for Roving House and Pet Sitters

Travel Light pet sitting AustraliaThe house and pet sitting lifestyle is an adventure. There are new experiences to be had, different places to visit and, with back to back house and pet sits, you must be ready to pack up and go quickly and easily.

Seasoned house and pet sitters are sure to have their packing list and routine sorted, but if you’re new to this wonderfully nomadic lifestyle, here are our tips for the five essential items you need for an organised and simple move to your next position.

  1. Zip Lock Bags

Zip lock bags of all sizes will become your best friend on your travels. Keep your more delicate items of clothing in these to avoid stains from other items in your suitcase.  If you thought scented drawer liners and potpourri were only reserved for your granny, then think again. A small amount of potpourri in a zip lock bag is a great way to keep your clothes smelling fresh no matter how long you’re travelling. Continue reading “5 Packing Essentials for Roving House and Pet Sitters”

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