The best dog-friendly santa photo locations in Brisbane & the Gold coast
The holidays are all about spreading joy, and what better way to share that festive spirit than by including our beloved canine companions in the celebration?
If you're a dog lover and have considered taking your four-legged friend to pose with Santa, you're not alone. The trend is booming, and here's our 2024 round up of some of the best places to get Santa Photos with your dog in Brisbane and Gold Coast!
Paw-Traits with Santa at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
Take home a little piece of magic from Santa World at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre by securing a booking for your Pet Photo with Santa! You’ll be able to feature in the photo with your furry friend but a safe distance from Santa must always be maintained. Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6:00pm-8:30pm from 12 November – 24 December.
You can find more information on Indooroopilly Shopping Centre Santa pet photos here.
Sarah Woodward Photography
Sarah Woodward is a one-woman powerhouse and independent photographer situated in Redcliffe. She has gone all out this Christmas and built two stunning, custom Christmas-themed photo sets for pet photography. These festive sets are perfect for anyone looking to capture their furry friends in full holiday spirit. And with bookings already open, this is the perfect opportunity for pet lovers (and families) to get a slice of holiday magic. The sets are super cute and are sure to be a big hit in Redcliffe this season!
Find more information on her photography services here.
Santa Paws at Victoria Point Shopping Centre
Santa has combed his beard and pressed his jolly red suit and is ready to have you all visit for your pet Santa photos this year. He is inviting you to bring your pooch with paws so they don’t miss out on visiting Santa. Specific times have been allocated for these photos.
Thursday 30 November – 3:30pm – 7:00pm
Saturday 2 December – 3:30pm – 6:30pm
Thursday 7 December – 3:30pm – 7:00pm
Saturday 9 December – 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Thursday 14 December – 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Saturday 16 December – 4:30pm – 7:30pm
You can find more details on pet Santa photos at Victoria Point Shopping Centre here.
Santa Photos at Pet City in Mt Gravatt
Santa is coming to Pet City Mt Gravatt! Bring the dog, cat, feather-kids and of course the WHOLE family for a photo to be treasured furever! Choose from a variety of photo packages to suit your wishes this Christmas. Pet City is located at 224 Wishart Road, Mt Gravatt. Saturday 25 November – Sunday 10 December. Bookings essential.
There is more information on Santa photos at Pet City here.
Pet Photography at Westfield: Santa Photos
Make it a very furry Christmas at Westfield – and a photo with Santa and your furry family member is the perfect opportunity. While things will be a little different in Westfield’s Santa pet photography sessions this year, their team will be working hard to make sure the moment is as magical as ever. Online bookings required!
Westfield North Lakes
Lights, camera…action! Pet photography sessions will be located at Centre Court, near the Food Court. You can wait at the entry door until time of your booking and a Scene to Believe team member will take you through to visit Santa. Dress-ups are encouraged, so dress your pet in their best festive outfit and create the paw-fect Christmas memory to cherish for years to come. 20 November – 11 December.
There is more information on getting your pet Santa photos at Westfield North Lakes here.
Westfield Chermside
Make it a very furry Christmas at Westfield Chermside. Online bookings are required, and sessions book out quickly. Please note, there will be no walk-ins available. (No matter how persuasive those puppy eyes may be.) 20 November – 13 December.
You can find more information on pet Santa photos at Westfield Chermside here.
Westfield Mt Gravatt
Just because you haven’t got an actual kid, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on that time-honoured tradition of taking some festive shopping centre snaps with the jolly man himself. Westfield Mt Gravatt welcomes fur kids as well! Bookings are essential. 28 November – 17 December
You can find out more about pet Santa photos at Westfield Mt Gravatt here.
Westfield Carindale
Why should your four-legged friends miss out on all the fun? Bring them along for a Santa photo with the whole family. Online bookings are essential, and sessions book out quickly. Please note, there will be no walk-ins available (no matter how persuasive those puppy eyes may be). View the variety of photo packages available. 15 November – 8 December.
There are more details on getting your pet Santa photos at Westfield Carindale here.
Westfield Coomera
Tis’ the season to be making magical memories. Create a Christmas memory and book your photo with Santa at Westfield Coomera from Sunday 10th November until Christmas Eve. This year, Westfield is offering a range of photography sessions to suit everyone, including Sensitive Santa, My First Christmas, Pet photography and Auslan Santa. You can book online here.
Where: 103 Foxwell Rd, Coomera
Santa Photos at Morayfield Shopping Centre
Create precious memories to share with the family and furry friend at Morayfield Shopping Centre. Santa Pet Sessions are limited and are available after trade on selected Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Please enter the Centre via the Western Entrance (near Australia Post) as Santa Staff will guide you and your pet to the Atrium from the entrance.
There is more information on Santa photos at Morayfield Shopping Centre here.
Strathpine Centre Santa Pet Photos
Take in your beloved family pet for a photo with Santa. You are welcome to have a family photo with your furry friend or dress up your pet for a photo with Santa. 10 minute time slots are allocated per sitting. Dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs and rabbits only.
Tue 28 & Wed 29 November
Tue 5 & Wed 6 December
Tue 12 & Wed 13 December
You can find more information on how to get your Strathpine Centre Pet Santa photos here.
Pacific Fair
Visit Santa’s Golden Palace filled with golden treasures for all to enjoy from Saturday 2nd November until Christmas Eve. Pacific Fair hosts Santa photos for everyone including pet photos for pictures with your fur babies, and Sensitive Santa, an experience with dimmed lights and no crowds. Plus, have your Santa Photo taken at Santa’s Palace from 2 November – 8 December to automatically go in the draw to WIN a family trip to Lapland in Christmas 2025! Book here.
Where: Santa’s Golden Palace, Ground Floor outside Myer, Broadbeach
Santaland at Myer
Embark on a magical Christmas journey at Santaland! Jump on the Santaland Express, create festive art with Santa’s helpers, send wish-lists to the North Pole, and cherish the moment with Santa for an enchanting family photo. Plus, don’t forget your furry friends! Santa Paws welcomes your four-legged family members for a festive snapshot with Santa. Santaland photos are available from the 23rd November until Christmas Eve. Book here.
Robina Town Centre
Meet Santa in his magical Enchanted Forest from Saturday 2nd November until Christmas Eve. There’s also an option for a Sensitive Santa experience in a low-stress, sensory-friendly environment that can be enjoyed by all, without the crowds, queues and noise (on selected days from November 9 to December 15), and special Baby’s First Christmas photo packages. Auslan Santa will return to Robina Town Centre, making the magic of Christmas more inclusive and accessible to customers with hearing impaired children. Sessions will be longer than usual to allow Christmas wishes to be shared via sign language with Santa and sessions will be available on Saturday 23 November from 9am to 11am.
Santa of course won’t be forgetting his favourite furry friends, with Pet Photography returning to feature inside Robina Town Centre after trading hours this year. From 8 November until 15 December, Santa will be rewarding all well-behaved friends with a special gift.
Santa Photos are available online for bookings now and early birds who make bookings until November 30 will receive a FREE 6×8 photo and go in the running to WIN a $1,000 shopping spree—talk about Christmas coming early! Book here.
Where: Outside Myer and Kookai, Robina Town Centre, Robina
Sanctuary Cove
Mark the annual Christmas tradition with a photo with Santa at Sanctuary Cove. Meet Father Christmas with your little ones (and fur babies too) inside Santa’s igloo and capture the moment to remember for years to come. The Santa photo booth will be open from 10am-3pm on 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th & 15th December, and 6.30pm – 8.30pm on Friday 13th December. Pet sessions are available on 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th & 15th December from 2pm-3pm. No bookings required, but find more information on Santa photos and Sanctuary Cove’s other Christmas activities here.
Where: Masthead Way, Sanctuary Cove
HOTA, Home of the Arts
HOTA is going all out this festive season with a 12 day Sprinkling of Christmas. With activities to delight all ages, photos with Santa, movies and theatre shows, HOTA is your destination for family fun. Santa photo packages start at $20 and are available daily from Tuesday 10th – Sunday 21st December from 9am-1pm. Book here.
Where: 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise
Stockland Burleigh Heads
Get your portraits taken at Stocklands Burleigh Heads from Saturday 2nd December until Christmas Eve. There’ll be times for Paws & Claus, Sensory Santa and even traditional Santa photos. Santa photos available from Saturday 30th November until Christmas Eve. You can book online here.
Where: Santa’s Beach Shack, outside Aldi, West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Heads
Gold Coast Santa Beach Photos
Gold Coast Santa Photo Sessions are 5-10 minutes per shoot with Santa, your family and your pets! Depending on your session you will receive 4-10 high resolution digital images per session. Please read the full terms and conditions before booking. Available on various dates from November 9th on the beach at Main Beach, Miami and Currumbin. These photo shoots are super popular. You also have the option to Grinchify your photo package (not for the faint hearted)! You can book your Santa Beach photo here.
Before the holiday season is over, take the time to dress up your dog in a festive outfit, and let them join the fun with a photo session. Whether it’s for the family Christmas card, social media bragging rights, or just because, these Santa photos are guaranteed to make your holiday season even more special. So get ready to say “cheese” and let your dog steal the show this Christmas!