As you probably already know, camping with pets in Australia, or anywhere for that matter, can be a bit of a challenge… there are all the usual bits like keeping your drinking and toilet water separate, sleeping on rocks, and cooking in the dark. But with a dog or other pet, you need to count on a whole lot more mess and admin. And fun, of course!
Since Australian national parks don’t permit animals, your choices of pet friendly areas to camp in can be somewhat limited. For the long weekends and holidays, places that do allow pets for camping fill up fast – especially in popular areas like beaches – so you need to plan ahead for a pet friendly location.
With Autumn here and cooler weather on the way, a late family vacation through NSW or Victoria may be just what you need to recover from the hectic summer season at work. Along the Great Ocean Road, the cooler weather will mean fewer tourists, which will give you more access to places and a better climate to enjoy them in. And the best part is you’ll often find you have some camp sites in these parts to yourself on those cooler autumnal mornings.
If you prefer a setting that requires less open ocean and more country vistas, consider finding a campground along Victoria’s Murray River. Not only are there historic villages and locations to explore, but the myriad wineries, farmland, and their available tours could keep you busy for your entire trip. Not to mention plenty to sniff along the way.
Camping with dogs anywhere in Australia does require some forethought and planning. We here at Take Your Pet suggest that before you book a campground, you should investigate the area it is near first. Not only must your campground welcome dogs, but there should be a good dog park or beach close by so that you can help your pet run off some of that extra energy. Know where the nearest veterinarian is in case of emergencies, and find out what extra precautions you might need to make (like tick medications, or if any bait is used around the area for example).
When you head out for a camping adventure with your dog, take the time to prepare for their needs. Water from the tap at home that your dog is used to drinking, along with their normal food, will help prevent upset stomachs on the trip. Depending on the size of the dog, about two litres of water per day should suffice for their needs. Plan to bring back-up dog collars, complete with pet ID tags, and make sure your leashes are in good condition. Always remember to clean up after your dog (which means remembering extra poo bags!), and obey all posted rules about their presence at all times so that you can enjoy camping with dogs in your pet friendly area to its full extent.
To discover pet-friendly camping destinations in Australia – click here