With the leaves changing to gold and the wind picking up pace, you can just about smell the Easter break on its way. As soon as your best mate starts watching you loading luggage into the boot of the car his tail is bound to be wagging in anticipation of some quality time together!

The promise of new scents and territory to explore, the great Aussie BBQ and lazy afternoons in the sunshine are hard to beat for a four-day weekend. But before you get too excited about exploring your new surrounds and letting your best friend roam around leash free, there’s a road trip standing between you and your destination – the secret is in the planning.

In the bag
A holiday is a great excuse to buy gorgeous pet luggage when you need to pack your dog’s essentials, including your regular pet food, Beneful of course, (too much change can stress dogs out), his favourite bedding, towels for rub downs after salty dips in new waters, pooper scoopers, leash, grooming equipment, fresh water and bowl, regular medication, sunscreen for his nose, treats and any favourite items like a ball or a blanket for comfort in your new surrounds – and the digital camera for happy snaps of you and your side-kick living it up, to post on your Beneful DogSpace profile.

Buckle up
Ferry your best buddy to the great escape with a car harness, which give extra protection in the event of an accident, and stops them from moving about the cabin. With a harness in place, there’s also less stress about your pal sticking his snoz too far out of the window to enjoy the breeze.

Room to move
Your best mate wants to see where you’re heading - all dogs love checking out the views (and importantly smells!) of the countryside whizzing past, they need to feel secure underfoot with no luggage falling on them. Importantly with long journeys they will also need enough room to curl up and snooze.

Sick as a dog
Taking regular pit stops are not only vital for driver sanity and safety they’re also paramount to a happy four legged travelling companion. You both need to stretch your legs, see the sights, have a sniff around (preferably your best mate and not you!), and finally you both get the opportunity to ‘go potty’. This will help turn any journey into an exploratory adventure!

Dogs can suffer travel sickness too, so leave the window slightly open for fresh air, and avoid a big meal before you depart. Short, regular car trips will also help your buddy build up to the long journey, and get used to your driving skills!

Where to head?
The ‘Life. Be In It’ guide, Holidaying With Dogs, shows how pet dogs have become cherished canine companions who we now live, play and travel with, with over 2,000 dog-friendly accommodation options including farms, motels, caravan parks and holiday houses, and top dog awards in each state known as the ‘Five Paws.’