Top 10 Pet Friendly Campsites
Pet friendly travel
Looking for Pet Friendly Motorhomes and Camping Sites in Australia or Dog friendly road trip ideas? You are certainly not alone. According to the RSPCA, Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. More than 60% of Aussie households own a pet, and they have become so integrated into our families that it makes sense to want them included in family travel plans.
The great news is that is becoming easier for you to take off for the weekend, or a few weeks with the entire family – Fido included! Our Apollo Motorhome range offers pet friendly options and there are increasingly more Pet Friendly Holiday Parks and Pet Friendly Caravan and Camp sites throughout Australia, opening their doors to your furry family members. Whatever your destination it’s important to let them know in advance you are bringing your pet with you.
Leaving your four-legged family member behind can really take the edge off the excitement of going on holidays. So we have taken the ‘hard work’ and written you a guide to the Top 10 Pet Friendly Camp Sites in Australia!
1. BYRON HOLIDAY PARK – BYRON BAY, NSW
Byron Bay Pet Friendly offers the ultimate dog friendly camping in Byron Bay and is centrally located close to town. The park offers powered, non-powered and ensuite Caravan and Camp sites and is set on 28 acres of land and 15 km of dog friendly walking tracks and parklands teaming with wild life for you to explore together. There is also direct access to the dog friendly section of Tallow Beach. Your four-legged family member can join you on your early morning beach walk to watch the sunrise, a spot of beach fishing or join in on the family game of frisbee. They even have dog wash bays located onsite so if your dog loves rolling in the sand – you won’t have to have it in your motorhome!
Byron Bay is the perfect destination for a relaxed family holiday with so many diverse nature focused activities close by that all the family – including your pooch – can enjoy. There are many dog friendly cafes in Byron Bay too, so if you are looking to eat out, it doesn’t always mean leaving your dog behind.
If you are heading out for a few hours and can’t take your pet with you, there are plenty of Byron Bay Doggy Day Care options available like Doggy Daycare Byron Bay offering full or half day dog care.
When: Leashed Dogs are welcome Year-Round!
Where: 5-37 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Distance: 6-minute drive from the Byron Bay town centre.
Make a Booking: Campstay
2. WOLLONDILLY RIVER STATION – SYDNEY, NSW
If you are looking for adventure, complete relaxation and an authentic bush camping experience for your family – including the four-legged variety – Wollondilly River Station, located in the gorgeous Southern Highlands of NSW, is exactly what you are looking for. It’s only 2.5 hours drive from Sydney so it’s perfect for a weekend away to escape the city or for a longer break.
Here you will find prime riverside camp sites where you, your family and your best mate can spend your time fishing in the river, kayaking, taking a walk through the maze of walking tracks on the property. Or they can snooze beside you as you relax in a hammock watching the bird and wildlife roam free around you.
It’s worthwhile calling to make a booking in advance as numbers are kept to a limit.
When: ALL Pets (even horses!) are welcome – Year-Round!
Where: 4650 Wombeyan Caves Road, via Mittagong Goodmans Ford, NSW 2580
Distance: 2.5 hours’ drive from Sydney CBD and 2 hours inland from Wollongong.
3. WEE JASPER RESERVES – WEE JASPER NSW
Located only 1.5 hours from the Canberra CBD you will find Wee Jasper Reserves. It offers a peaceful pet friendly bush campsite with pristine facilities, hot showers, great electric barbecues and picnic tables. There are plenty of bushwalks that you can take your best mate along with to explore. This is also a great place for the kids to play and make new friends with at children’s playground and bike jumps. The Billy Grace and Swinging Bridge Reserves are perfect for a swim in warmer weather. There are shallow areas for small children and deeper area for more confident swimmers.
The riverbanks is the perfect location for a spot of fishing with your dog by your side. You can purchase a 3-day fishing licence ($7) at the Billy Grace Reserve. There are also caves nearby that you can explore. A great pub called ‘The Stables’ is in town if you want to head in for a meal. Fires are also allowed, making a winter camping experience a lot more comfortable. However, there is no power available and mobile service isn’t great – so it’s a ‘true camping’ experience. Remember to let someone know where you are going and be sure to bring extra fuel along with you as it’s a long drive to the nearest service station.
When: Leashed Dogs are welcome Year-Round!
Where: 5 Nottingham Road, Wee Jasper NSW
Distance: 1.5-hour drive from the Canberra CBD.
4. BRIGHT HOLIDAY PARK – HIGH COUNTRY, VIC
If you are looking for an incredibly peaceful, scenic, tree lined, pet friendly escape near the water in Victoria, you can’t go past the NRMA Bright Holiday Park. The Park is set along Morse’s creek and is perfect for all seasons. The site offers a lovely heated pool and allows roaring campfires in winter or take a cool dip in the river on a hot summer day.
This site welcomes small pets outside of the peak occupancy period. Take a short stroll over the bridge and into town together to explore the area, pick up a takeaway cafe or one of the many trails close by to the park. There are fantastic shady sites to park your van under in summer and if you are looking for more creature comforts, there are ensuite sites available too. If you are lucky, you can nab at the site with views of the creek.
If you have kids (of the non-fur variety) they will have an amazing time at the Bright Splash Park, enjoying kayaking, swimming or canoeing along the river.
When: Leashed Dogs are welcome on select campsites (at management discretion) Year-Round!
Where: Cherry Lane, Bright VIC 3741
Distance: 4-hour drive from Melbourne.
Make a Booking : Campstay
5. ROCKY CAPE TAVERN AND CARAVAN PARK – CRAYFISH CREEK, TAS
The Rocky Cape Tavern and Caravan Park offers a central location to stay and explore the surrounding National Park, or just sit back relax and let time slip by. Fifth wheelers can be accommodated.
When: Leashed Dogs are welcome on all Caravan and Camp sites Year-Round!
Where: 20049 Bass Highway, Crayfish Creek, Tasmania 7321
Distance: 60 Minute drive from the Devonport Ferry landing.
Make a Booking : Campstay
6. BROWNHILL CREEK TOURIST PARK – ADELAIDE, SA
The Brownhill Creek Tourist Park is a beautiful and peaceful holiday park located in the Brownhill Creek State Recreation Park. They are welcome on powered and non-powered camp sites. The Park has great recreational areas for the family to enjoy. It is set on 25 acres, big enough for you and your four-legged friend to explore. Only 15-minute drive from the Adelaide CBD and Beaches, 15 minutes away from exploring the Adelaide Hills and a 60-minute drive to the Barossa Valley. There are also plenty of dog friendly parks in Adelaide where you can let your dog off lead.
When: Leashed Dogs are welcome on select Caravan and Campsites (at management discretion) Year-Round!
Where: 60 Brownhill Creek Road, Mitcham SA 5062
Distance: 15-minute drive from the Adelaide CBD.
Make a Booking : Campstay
7. MONKEY MIA DOLPHIN RESORT, DENHAM WA
Offering ONE of the worlds best known dolphin encounters, Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort is an incredible holiday destination and the great news is you can experience it with your best mate year round. The resort is in Australia’s Coral Coast region and has undergone a significant renovation and development. If you book in advance, you can access incredible beachfront campsites, so you won’t have to walk very far to experience sand between your toes.
While your best mate can join you here in paradise, it’s important to note that they are not allowed in the dolphin experience area and must always be on leads when in the Monkey Mia Conservation Park.
When: Small pets are allowed on selected Caravan and Camp outside of the Peak occupancy periods.
Where: 1 Monkey Mia Road, Denham, WA 6537
Distance: 10-hour drive north of Perth.
Make a Booking: Campstay
8. MANBULLOO HOMESTEAD – KATHERINE, NT
If you are looking for an authentic outback camping experience with your best mate, Manbulloo Homestead, a unique rural hideaway along the banks of the Katherine River, has large powered and non-powered caravan and camp sites with well grassed and shady areas to park the van and for your pooch to relax under on a sunny afternoon. There is a free camp kitchen on offer with BBQ, gas burner, microwave and electric kettle and toaster. There is a dog wash area too so your pooch doesn’t have to miss out on his weekly bath.
With your best mate at your side, you can try your hand at fishing for Barramundi or catch fresh water prawns on the river a few seconds from your camp site. If you enjoy bird watching, bring your binoculars as 134 different species of birds have been recorded at Manbulloo. Spend your time interacting with farm animals or simply enjoy bush walking along the tranquil Katherine River.
When: Pets are welcome on Caravan and Campsites Year-Round!
Where: 275 Murnburlu Road, Cossack NT 08510
Distance: 15-minute drive from Katherine, NT.
Make a Booking: Campstay
9. NRMA Palm Cove Holiday Park – PALM COVE, QLD
Located only meters from the beach, Palm Cove Holiday Park is the perfect destination for a relaxing Tropical North Queensland holiday. The park offers a range of accommodation including powered and unpowered sites for caravanning and camping. Facilities include barbecues, camp kitchen and shared lounge and TV area.
Enjoy the quiet and relaxing environment by the ocean where centuries old Melaleuca trees line the majestic esplanade, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef or explore the Daintree Rainforest. The park offers a range of free activities for children and adults during school holiday periods.
When: Pets allowed year round
Where: 149 Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove QLD 4879
Make a Booking: Campstay
10. RIVERSHORE RESORT – SUNSHINE COAST QLD
Our brand new and modern amenities will ensure your stay at Rivershore is thoroughly enjoyable. We are proud to offer our guests easy accessibility to 3 amenities blocks, 3 camp kitchens, huge resort style pool, two waterslides, kids pool with water features, kids playground, restaurant and bar, café, kiosk, kangaroo jumper, equipment hire, boat ramp and pontoon, outdoor activity areas, WiFi and 24 hour onsite management.
Caloundra’s Coastal Pathway a breathtaking 9 kilometre pathway that takes you all the way to Currimundi. Currimundi also has a dog friendly beach where you can also unleash your mate. If you are keen for a longer walk or a bike ride, you can keep going all the way to Mooloolaba, taking in the gorgeous views and letting your best mate take in all the smells and sights along the way. If you are lucky you may even see dolphins frolicking in the water.
When: Pets of all shapes and sizes are welcome on Caravan and Campsites Year-Round!
Where: 9 Onslow Street, Golden Beach QLD 4551
Distance: 7-Minute drive from Caloundra, 1.5 hours’ drive from Brisbane.
Make a Booking: Campstay
Book your Pet Friendly Motorhomes today