We love camping – especially when we can bring the dog. The Gold Coast has plenty of pet-friendly campgrounds of its own, but sometimes you want to get out of town. When adventure calls, here’s where to pitch up (or check in) with your pooch.
Inskip Peninsula
Beautiful Inskip is a favourite for campers of all kinds; families, friend groups and solo campers alike all flock here to make the most of the shady campsites and crystal-clear water. Depending on your preference or what the weather is doing on any day, take your pick from the open ocean or sheltered estuaries around Inskip. It’s all within 15 minutes-drive of stunning Rainbow Beach, too – a must-see if you’re in the area. There are seven campsites to choose from at Inskip, all of which are pet-friendly. Each one is more beautiful than the next, so you can’t really go wrong.
Bluff Creek, Kenilworth
This cute, small-scale campground is perfect for a relaxing getaway (with your pooch in tow). Set in the beautiful surrounds of Kenilworth, Bluff Creek Campground offers space, tranquillity and privacy aplenty. On the property itself, you’ll find bike trails, swimming holes and rolling green hills, and while there are no unpowered sites, there are hot showers and flushing toilets. The surrounding villages, markets, artisans and producers make for endless opportunities to explore the area, while the setting is far enough away from the hustle and bustle to guarantee you a relaxing escape.
Northern New South Wales
Ferry Reserve, Brunswick Heads
Ferry Reserve sits right on the Brunswick River, a short stroll from the village and about ten minutes from Byron Bay if you want the buzz without paying Byron prices to sleep. Sites and selected tiny homes here welcome dogs year-round – no seasonal catch – and there’s an onsite dog wash for when the river mud inevitably wins. Fish off the bank, launch a kayak, or just watch the white-bellied sea eagles overhead while your dog naps in the shade of Mount Chincogan.
Lennox Head
Twenty minutes south of Byron, Lennox Head trades the crowds for an actual dog park – a fully fenced, off-leash run onsite, plus a wash bay for the sandy aftermath. Dogs are welcome year-round on sites and in selected cabins (the one exception is the Christmas–New Year peak stretch). Seven Mile Beach, just north of the surf club, is off-leash too, so your dog can properly stretch their legs before you do the same en route to one of the village cafes.
Mid-north NSW coast
Moonee Beach
Drift with the tranquil tide at Reflections Holiday Parks Moonee Beach, where the lush green surrounds, neighbouring estuary and fresh ocean breezes seem to magic away the stresses and strife of the daily grind. Enjoy the roaring fire pit on a clear winter’s night and make lasting memories. Have the option to bring everyone along including your furry friend in the park’s dog friendly tiny homes or superior cabin that sleeps 5 this winter. Take it all in during a bush experience at an unpowered site or have the backup of those creature comforts while you rug up in your caravan.
Red Rock
A little south of Yamba and worlds away from the crowds further down the coast, Red Rock keeps things properly low-key — no town water supply, bore water only, and a real end-of-the-road feel. Dogs are welcome on leash at Red Rock Beach itself, or off the lead at nearby Corindi Beach if yours needs to properly run. he camp kitchen is basic but does the job – a couple of BBQs, a Zip boiling water unit, and wooden tables that seat eight, so it’s easy enough to cook up a feed for the whole group after a day on the sand.
