Our favourite 'dog friendly' camp spots

Travel with your four legged friend

Could it be that hard to find dog friendly camp spots? We’ve heard numerous times from people about how ‘difficult’ it will be to travel with a dog throughout Australia. We have been advised that we would be extremely limited. With over 500 National Parks in Australia, no wonder it makes you second guess if it’s too challenging to travel with your doggo.

The good news is, Australia is improving when it comes to introducing more ‘dog friendly’ areas around our country. Not only are there incredible campgrounds that allow you to bring along the family pet. But we are also lucky enough in Australia to have dog friendly beaches, cafes, park’s and exercise areas for them to enjoy.

For us, camping just isn’t the same if it’s not the three of us enjoying it all together. So, if there’s one thing we get excited about whilst living on the road, it’s finding those amazing camp spots where Bowie is welcome AND it doesn’t feel like your missing out on anything!

As we’ve shared before, a lot of our time on the road is spent free camping, which allows us to have Bowie in more areas and without cost. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t love to enjoy some paid camping as well!

If you’re planning on traveling the country with your pooch or wanting to include them on your next camping adventure, then here is a list of some of our favourite free & paid camping spots that we have come across so far on our travels:

Dog sitting on a cliff face with the beach below in the background — **Bowie** – A lot of our time on the road is spent free camping, which allows us to have Bowie in more areas and without cost – Photo by the Salty Travellers .

Mystery Bay, NSW

Only 12km south of Narooma, this little piece of paradise offers spacious and shady campsites on the northern end of the bay. With some of them having beautiful views from the cliffs to watch endless whales and dolphins swimming past the coastline throughout the day. Not to mention a stunning stretch of beach with crystal clear water for you and your pooch to enjoy!

Camping fees – $12 per person/per night
Dogs allowed on leash in campsite
All vehicle access
Cold showers & drop toilets
Drinking water available

Mystery Bay, NSW - Only 12km south of Narooma, this little piece of paradise offers spacious and shady campsites on the northern end of the bay.. This is an birds eye view of the bay with crystal clear water and rocky cliff faces protruding. — **Mystery Bay, NSW** – Only 12km south of Narooma, this little piece of paradise offers spacious and shady campsites on the northern end of the bay – Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Beauchamp Falls, VIC

A little hidden gem in the hinterland that is just a 25 min drive inland from the Apollo Bay along the Great Ocean Road. You can sit around your own fire or take a short walk down to the waterfall for a refreshing swim. Being a free campground it can fill up quick so it’s best to get in early and take a jacket, it’s sometimes cold, even during the summer nights.

Free camping area
All vehicle access
No showers
Drop toilets
Dogs allowed on leash
Take your own water

Beauchamp Falls, VIC - A little hidden gem in the hinterland that is just a 25 min drive inland from the Apollo Bay along the Great Ocean Road. - A photo of a beautiful waterfall with mossy rocks and a rock pool as the base. A lady is swimming in the rockpool. — **Beauchamp Falls, VIC** – A little hidden gem in the hinterland that is just a 25 min drive inland from the Apollo Bay along the Great Ocean Road. – Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Cosy Corner (North or South), Bay of Fires TAS

If there was one place that completely blew us away in Tasmania it was the Bay of Fires. The campsites are literally just across from the beach, some of them even offering stunning ocean views or shady little nooks under the trees. The North and South sides offer plenty of white sandy beach and crystal clear turquoise water for swimming and diving. You can even score some waves if there’s swell!

Free camping area (max. stay is 4 weeks)
All vehicle access
No showersDrop toilets
Dogs on leash in campsite
Take your own water

Ariel view of the coast line with beautiful blue water. Corner (North or South), Bay of Fires TAS - The North and South sides offer plenty of white sandy beach and crystal clear turquoise water for swimming and diving. You can even score some waves if there’s some. — **Cosy Corner, Bay of Fires TAS** – The North and South sides offer plenty of white sandy beach and crystal clear turquoise water for swimming and diving. You can even score some waves if there’s some. Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Boat Harbour Beach, TAS

Located in the North West coast of Tasmania, Boat Harbour Beach is just as incredible as the Bay of Fires. The campground itself is just to the left of the beach (not even a minute walk away). Being a smaller size campground it can fill up rather fast so it’s good to get in early and secure your spot! We enjoyed plenty of snorkeling/diving and were lucky enough to even score some surf there at one point!

Free camping area
All vehicle access
Fresh water beach showers only
Flushing toilets
Dogs on leash in campsite
Check signs for times your dog is allowed on beach
Take your own water

Cute little Dog on a surf board out in crystal clear water. Boat Harbour Beach, TA - We enjoyed plenty of snorkeling or diving and were lucky enough to even score some surf there at one point! - Photo by the Salty Travellers — **Boat Harbour Beach, TAS** – We enjoyed plenty of snorkeling and diving and were lucky enough to even score some surf there at one point! – Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Rapid Bay, Fleurieu Peninsula SA

Just an hour and a half south of Adelaide, Rapid Bay offers grassy campsites right next to it’s own private beach. It’s the perfect place to bring a SUP, Kayak or your boat and adventure your way around the cliffs to check out some of the hidden bays. Otherwise you can take a short walk to the main jetty and bag out on fresh squid! It can be an incredibly busy place over the weekends so it’s best to visit throughout the week whilst everyone’s busy at work!

Scenic view of the ocean or beach meeting the shoreline. With rolling hills in the background. The water is a very clear blue colour. Rapid Bay, Fleurieu Peninsula SA - It’s the perfect place to bring a SUP, kayak or your boat and adventure your way around the cliffs to check out some of the hidden bays. — **Rapid Bay, Fleurieu Peninsula SA** – It’s the perfect place to bring a SUP, kayak or your boat and adventure your way around the cliffs to check out some of the hidden bays. – Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Camping fees – $9 per person/per night
All vehicle access
No showers
Flushing toilets
Dogs on leash in campsite
Take your own water

Fishery Bay, Eyre Peninsula SA

This free campsite might seem bland or a little boring when you first arrive. It’s not until you walk over the dunes and onto the beach that you realize how awesome it is. A small little crystal clear bay with incredible snowy white sand and lucky for us, we had it all to ourselves at the time! It has all vehicle access to the campsite however if you have a 4WD you can drive on the beach and hang out for the day. Go for a walk and explore some of the incredible rock pools around the area and indulge in some fishing! If you’re not scared of great whites, it offers some good surf too!

Free camping area
All vehicle access (4WD on beach only)
No showers
Drop toilets
Take your own water

Other option: Paid camping at Whalers Way (just south of Fishery Bay) Check with Port Lincoln Info centre before you head there.

Scenic view of the ocean or beach meeting the shoreline. With rolling hills in the background. The water is a very clear blue colour. Fishery Bay, Eyre Peninsula SA - It has all vehicle access to the campsite however if you have a 4WD you can drive on the beach and hang out for the day. - Photo by the Salty Travellers — ***Fishery Bay, Eyre Peninsula SA*** – *It has all vehicle access to the campsite however if you have a 4WD you can drive on the beach and hang out for the day. – Photo by the Salty Travellers*.

Corny Point, Yorke Peninsula SA

There’s plenty of camping options when it comes to Corny Point. Located on the southern west end of Yorke’s peninsula, there are 4 different dog friendly camping areas between Daly head and Gravel Bay campground. With each of them offering different views of beautiful beaches and the wide, open ocean. Along the coast offers a range of surf and awesome fishing! Payment for your campsite must be paid either online or at Minlaton Info Centre before arrival as council rangers do patrol those areas.

Camping fees – $10 per night/per vehicle or $50 per week
No showers Drop toilets Dogs on leash in campsite
All vehicle access
Take your own water

Ariel view of the coast line with very blue beach or ocean waters, very clean white sand and a four wheel drive parked up on an embankment next to the beach. Corny Point, Yorke Peninsula SA - Along the coast offers a range of surf and awesome fishing! — ***Corny Point, Yorke Peninsula SA*** – Along the coast offers a range of surf and awesome fishing! – Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Coronation Beach Campground, WA

If your exploring up towards the Coral Coast, be sure to check out this little dog friendly campground just north of Geraldton. With decent sized gravel sites and a short walk to the beach, it’s the perfect place to have a fish or launch your boat at the boat ramp. If you’ve got a 4WD you can adventure down the sandy track to find good waves and calm lagoons for diving. Don’t forget the fishing rods as there’s plenty to catch and is the perfect spot for incredible sunsets.

Camping fees – $8 per person/per night
No showers
Drop toilets
All vehicle access to campground (4WD tracks to surf spots)
Dogs on leash
Take your own water

A man standing on the beach fishing with a beautiful orange and blue sunset happening over the sea. Coronation Beach Campground, WA - If you’ve got a 4WD you can adventure down the sandy track to find good waves and calm lagoons for diving. - Photo by the Salty Travellers. — ***Coronation Beach Campground, WA*** – If you’ve got a 4WD you can adventure down the sandy track to find good waves and calm lagoons for diving. – Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Lucky Bay, Coral Coast WA

Now this isn’t the famous lucky bay campground down near Esperance (however that is an awesome place but unfortunately isn’t dog friendly). This lucky bay campground is located just 40km south of Kalbarri. Definitely an advantage if you’ve got a 4WD for this one! You can drive along the beach and find a spot right in front of the huge lagoon where you can fish or even snorkel. With an incredible backdrop of big sand dunes, there’s plenty of space to secure the perfect spot overlooking the water.

Camping fees – $15 per vehicle/per night
No Showers
Drop toilets
Mostly 4WD access only (some parts you can access with 2WD)
Take your own water

Photo of a man and his dog sitting on a chair each at a campsite. 4 wheel drive in the background and a campfire in front of them. They look very happy campers and relaxed. Lucky Bay, Coral Coast WA - You can drive along the beach and find a spot right in front of the huge lagoon where you can fish or even snorkel. — **Lucky Bay, Coral Coast WA** – You can drive along the beach and find a spot right in front of the huge lagoon where you can fish or even snorkel. – Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Warroora Station, Coral Coast WA

With over 11 different campsites to choose from, Warroora Station (pronounced ‘Warra’) has so much to offer for all different campers. There is 2WD access to some of the campsites, however having a 4WD allows you to enjoy more options. It offers everything from surfing, fishing or snorkeling and swimming in beautiful sanctuary zones. With the Ningaloo Reef running parallel, there’s plenty to explore!

Camping fees – $10 per person/per night or $50 per person/per week
Bring your own chemical toilet or hire one from Homestead
Hot showers available at Homestead $2.50
All vehicle access (some parts 4WD only)
Take your own water

Coastline from a distance showing the very rocky seabed and very clear clean water of the beach. The coast line has very white clean sand and the land in the background is quite ruggered. Warroora Station, Coral Coast WA - It offers everything from surfing, fishing or snorkeling and swimming in beautiful sanctuary zones. With the Ningaloo Reef running parallel, there’s plenty to explore! - Warroora Station, Coral Coast WA - It offers everything from surfing, fishing or snorkeling and swimming in beautiful sanctuary zones. With the Ningaloo Reef running parallel, there’s plenty to explore! - Photo by the Salty Travellers — ***War*****roora Station, Coral Coast WA** – It offers everything from surfing, fishing or snorkeling and swimming in beautiful sanctuary zones. With the Ningaloo Reef running parallel, there’s plenty to explore! – Photo by the Salty Travellers.

Thank you so much to the Salty Travellers – Monique, Jasper & their legendary doggo ‘Bowie’ for allowing us at North Storm to share this wonderful post and we hope you all enjoy your dog friendly camp spots.

To follow more of Monique, Jasper & Bowie’s adventures please click here for their Instagram page @saltytravellers

*Dog Friendly Campsite prices are subject to change as time goes on

: Camping Australia