Top 10 dog-friendly camping sites around Australia

Katie Williams Katie Williams
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Travelling Australia with your dog? There are a plethora of free and low-cost campsites available with space for them to roam and frolic in the great outdoors – you just need to know where to look. 

We’ve collated a list of the top 10 dog-friendly campsites around Australia – camps that feel like they were built with your dog’s comfort in mind – to make it easier for you to hit the road with your pet.

 

To make the list, sites needed to offer specific dog services or facilities, showing how they not only ‘welcome’ our four legged friends – but have things in place to ‘cater’ to them.

NOTE: Each campsite will have their own rules and regulations visitors need to adhere to, so be sure to double check with the sites before making any bookings. Please check directly with the operators and emergency services before you travel due to bushfires that are impacting some of the states listed below at the time of publishing.

 

Here’s the list (in no particular order):

1. BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, Qld

From their dedicated off leash area – where even the most athletic of pups will enjoy several agility activities – and their Puppy Pampering Palace (aka K9 DIY dog wash) to their doggy day care kennels, dog-friendly private ensuites and dog-welcoming poolside café, these guys have definitely planned to please even the fussiest of pets. Did we mention dogs aren’t charged to stay here?!

 

Address: 66-68 Signato Drive, Helensvale, Gold Coast, Qld

For more, try our Gold Coast accommodation guide.

The sunny Gold Coast holiday park

2. Coodlie Park Farm Retreat

Coodlie Park Farm Retreat is set on a 3000 acre property with lots of space for your dog to roam. The retreat also has its own private beach for guests – and their dogs – to enjoy. Dogs are permitted to go off leash providing they are under your effective control and near you at all times whilst in the retreat. They also don’t charge you extra for your dog’s stay.

 

Address: Flinders Highway, Port Kenny, Eyre Peninsula, SA

There is lots of space for your dog to roam on this 3000 acre property

3. Capital Country Holiday Park, ACT

It can be hard to keep your dog inside your caravan for long periods of time which is why Capital Country Holiday Park currently offer two ‘Freedom dog sites’ which come with a fencing enclosure around your van for dogs to enjoy space to roam unleashed. As the trend of travelling with your pet continues to rise, this caravan park is looking into further pet-friendly additions, so stay tuned.

 

Address: 47 Bidges Road, Sutton, Canberra, ACT

For more, try our Canberra accommodation guide.

Capital Country Holiday Park currently offer two ‘Freedom dog sites’

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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4. Tathra Beach Side, NSW

Have you ever checked into a hotel and been treated to a ‘welcome’ cocktail? Well, at Tathra Beach Side your dog is spoiled with a ‘welcome’ dog-treat upon arrival. They also offer many pet-friendly sites to book, a dog wash station and a number of pet supplies available for purchase at reception. It’s nice to know pets are welcomed as part of the family at this park.

 

Address: 2 Andy Poole Drive, Tathra, South Coast NSW

5. Best Friend Holiday Retreat, Vic

This retreat has 10 acres of park and fenced caravan and camping sites to choose from. You can also make use of the luxury dog kennels during the days should you need to venture out without your pet. They’ll be treated to a dog playground with a giant dog ball run to keep them exercised and entertained, relax in the hydrobath hut or roam free in the six securely fenced off dog exercise areas (in addition to the playground mentioned above).

 

This retreat has certainly been made with man’s best friend in mind.

 

Address: 1720 Tarra Valley Road, Tarra Valley, Gippsland, Vic

6. Heritage Caravan Park, NT

Heritage Caravan Park have a dedicated off-leash dog run area for your pets to burn off energy and socialise with other canine guests. Not only is exercise and play covered, but this park also offers a K9000 dog wash for bath time. These seriously hard-working dog washes will give your furry friend the best bathing experience of their life after a day of play.

 

Address: 40 Ragonesi Road, Alice Springs, NT

There’s plenty of pet fun to be had

7. Broome’s Gateway Pet Friendly Caravan Park & Lodge, WA

This pet-friendly caravan park has a fenced off dog run and dog baths for use – they also have a Doggie Wash Down Bay in the pipeline. You can take advantage of the park’s day kennels and pet-sitting services should you wish to partake in local tours or even head out for an early evening dinner.

 

Address: 3000 Broome Road, Roebuck Plains, Broome, WA

This pet-friendly caravan park has a fenced off dog run

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8. Captain Cook Holiday Park, Tas

Captain Cook Holiday Park have their own resident dog, which means they are more than happy to cater to your furry friend’s needs as well. They have a doggie play pen and offer dog-sitting services while you take advantage of the National Park runs or nearby lighthouse visits where pets are prohibited. They don’t have a dedicated dog wash area but you are welcome to use the wash down bays onsite – which will definitely come in handy after they’ve had a playful frolic on the beach just over the road.

 

Address: 786 Adventure Bay Road, Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, Tas

9. BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut, Qld

Ingenia features a dog agility park designed to let them play in a safe, controlled setting. There are tunnels, ramps and holes for them to play in with other dogs. Get them to exert some energy with some running, tumbling and jumping fun during your stay.

 

Address: 23-51 Anderson Road, Woree, Cairns, Qld

10. Reflections Moonee Beach

With drinking stations, shaded tie up areas for your dogs and doggie bags in dispensers throughout the park, they’ve easily ticked all the practical boxes for your stay. Instead of just walking your dog, why not take them kayaking or paddle boarding – because you can do that here too! The park also provides dog baths and there is dog sitting available for booking but perhaps the best part is that there are no restrictions on bringing your pet during peak times and they are welcome all year round.

 

Address: 50 Moonee Beach Road, Moonee Beach, North Coast NSW

Pets are welcome all year round!

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Katie Williams

Katie Williams

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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.