The top parks to go with your pooch
Whether you’re doing a Big Lap, heading off for the school holidays, or just looking to enjoy a weekend away, it’s not the same without your furry friends. Here are some holiday parks around the country that will welcome your dog as much as you.
BIG4 Gold Coast, Queensland
There’s a lot of love for dogs at the BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park with dog-friendly sites (and cabins) and a Puppy Pampering Palace (a do-it-yourself dog wash) onsite. There are kennels where your fur babies can stay when you’re out and about exploring the restaurants and theme parks of the area. Dogs can also burn off energy in the extensive off-leash running area, and then chill in the doggy poolside cafe. If that’s not enough stimulation for your four-legged friend, head to the many dog-friendly walks along the beaches.
Discovery Park Nagambie, Victoria
Fur babies will be well walked with a stay here. The Nagambie Foreshore is a pretty place to walk with plenty of places to stretch your legs, and theirs. The Reedy Lake Circuit and the Goulburn Weir Walk and Gates Walk are abundant with bush and birdlife, and, of course, dog-friendly. Dogs can also swim in the lake and there are fenced areas for puppy play.
Tathra Beachfront Holiday Park, NSW
Direct access to the 24/7 off-leash dog beach from this park is one of its highlights. Dogs who like to run can frolic and swim along the 550 metre stretch of sand whenever the urge strikes. The park has a dedicated dog-washing facility, but be aware that pets must be kept on leash when you’re on the property. Tathra itself has plenty of dog-friendly cafes and diners where dogs are welcome in outdoor areas.
Captain Cook Holiday Park, Tasmania
Bruny Island is where Tasmanians go for their holidays to experience the rugged natural environment. This park is close to dog-friendly walking tracks and some of Bruny’s windswept beaches. Dogs are welcome to run off-leash on Adventure Bay Beach, but do need to be well-trained and have good recall. As is the case all around the country, dogs are not allowed in national parks. The owners of the park say, “lots of people are travelling with their dogs now, and sometimes it seems like we have more dogs than we do people.” The island’s cafes and restaurants generally welcome your pup, but make sure you take a lead.
Dundee Beach Holiday Park, NT
Dundee Beach is a quiet slice of nature on the Peninsula Way in the Northern Territory. Only a 90-minute drive from Darwin, the park is close to the beach and boat ramp, and dogs are welcome at The Lodge, the town’s main bar and restaurant. The Dundee Beach Circuit Trail is six kilometres of exciting opportunities for dogs to sniff, run and play. Make sure you take a leash, though, as the usual wildlife dangers in the NT - crocs and dingoes - can be found in these parts too.
Discovery Park Broome, WA
For unforgettable Western Australian sunsets over the Indian Ocean, The Discovery Park at Roebuck Bay is a dream. The only beachside park in Broome, it has an off-leash area on the property where dogs can run and play freely, and also provides dedicated areas to wash your pet. The famous Cable Beach is close by and, of course, it’s dog-friendly.
CMCA RV Park Penola, SA
For fully self-contained RVs, this park is situated on a peaceful, grassy oval within walking distance of the town’s cafes, cellar doors and shops. Dogs are welcome, but do need to be kept on leads in the public areas. If you’re looking for a simple place to pause, away from busy parks, this is it. A perfect place to explore the Coonawarra wine region. There are some excellent walks for you to tackle with your furry mate: the Coonawarra Rail Trail, the Penola Conservation Park trail and the Greenrise Recreation Reserve and Arboretum Trail are all dog-friendly.
