The joy of pet-friendly parks

Parting with your pet at holiday time is a traumatic event for many families, particularly after COVID lockdowns have brought the whole family closer together.

But parting with your pooch is not only a pain in the heart; it can also be a big pain in the pocket, with some kennels costing nearly as much as a caravan site per night.

If you feel guilty when your dog realises it won’t be joining you on holiday, the excitement surrounding your upcoming trip is dampened.

The good news is that while pet-friendly holidays are on the rise, there are more holiday options for dog owners than ever before.

Recognising that for many guests their dog is also another member of the family, BIG4 offers a range of dog-friendly camping, caravan and self-contained holiday destinations across the country.

BIG4’s Pet-Friendly Holiday Parks in all states and the Northern Territory are clearly identified by a ‘Dogs Welcome’ icon, or you can simply use the search on their website at to spot a park that suits you, and your pet.

With the welcome mat out, these parks make holidaying with your dog an easy proposition. And, to ensure the safety, comfort and wellbeing of all park guests, BIG4 has a standard set of terms and conditions for guests travelling with pets.

As the number of holiday parks that welcome dogs continues to rise, we’ve decided to shine the spotlight on a cluster of pet-friendly holiday parks around the country that have specific facilities for canines and their owners.

Poolside pooches

As one of the most-visited Australian states in recent times, Queensland is one place where many travellers want to take their pets.

BIG4 Gold Coast offers plenty to entertain furry friends, including a large off-leash area, a DIY dog wash – affectionally referred to as the Puppy Pampering Palace – and a poolside doggy café.

If you wish to explore the best attractions on the Gold Coast without your pet, the park offers doggy day-care kennels and there are dog-friendly beaches nearby to reward them on your return.

The park boasts more than 170 dog-friendly sites and more than 20 pet-friendly cabins where dogs can sleep inside with the rest of the family.

Off-leash attractions

If you’re hunting for pet-friendly accommodation on the north coast of NSW, BIG4 Saltwater @ Yamba is the ideal choice.

The Park is a dog’s dream destination with ample pet-friendly sites, backed by a wide range of cabins that accommodate four-legged guests, including inside access.

Better yet, this Yamba park has an off-leash agility area complete with tunnels, ramps, and other obstacles for dogs and a shelter with seating for pet owners.

It has also built a doggy day spa area with a dog wash, drying facilities and washing machine designated for pet-related gear.

In addition, Yamba has a great selection of dog-friendly cafés, while Pippi Beach and Wattle Park are amongst the town’s best off-leash areas.

Pet-friendly porch

Dog lovers will strike gold if they visit BIG4 Ballarat Windmill, whose pet-friendly cabin welcomes dogs inside and comes complete with a fence around its porch. There are fully fenced sites available, too.

There is also an off-leash/dog-run area and a section of the park’s camp kitchen is pet friendly, which allows guests to sit down and eat with their pooches.

Those who wish to explore Ballarat’s best attractions without their pet can take advantage of doggy day care that is available in the city and can be organised at the park.

Ballarat has several pet-friendly cafés and parks, which add to its appeal for dog owners, with Victoria Park amongst the leading choices, thanks to its spacious off-leash area.

Squeaky clean canine

In South Australia, BIG4 Naracoorte in the glorious Limestone Coast area with its famous wine regions and World Heritage caves is also renowned for being dog friendly.

Its waggy-tail welcome begins at check-in, where you could be greeted by Chip, the park’s resident border collie/blue heeler cross.

Alongside dog-friendly cabins – where dogs are allowed inside – and plenty of sites, BIG4 Naracoorte has a spacious off-leash area and a disc golf course that’s perfectly suited to pets, while the park also has a dog wash.

In addition, the 5km Naracoorte Creek Walk wraps around the park and is as popular with local pet owners as it is with visitors.

In town, the Naracoorte Hotel includes a pet-friendly beer garden (only water for dogs!), while many local cafés cater for them too.

Run Rover run!

If you’re visiting Darwin, BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park has your dog-friendly camping or caravanning, covered.

Accompanying the park’s many pet-friendly sites is a completely-fenced large dog run.

In a great initiative, BIG4 Howard Springs has teamed with the local vet to offer park guests a dog-minding and grooming service to refresh them after a long trip north.

Considering that major nearby national parks like Litchfield and Kakadu don’t accept dogs, this is a great way for pet owners to get the best of both worlds.

As BIG4 Howard Springs is as much child friendly as it is pet friendly, management discretion is utilised when accepting dogs into its park, so ensure your pet is on its best behaviour.

Puppy-cino anyone?

Heading west, BIG4 Emu Beach in Albany has more than 50 pet-friendly sites to choose from, while there’s plenty to keep canines content nearby.

This includes an off-leash section of beach within one kilometre of the park, while there is a host of dog exercise areas dotted around the city. Among the best picks is Foundation Park, from which you’ll spot a wide selection of pet-friendly cafés in Albany.

A mobile dog wash visits the park on request, or there are several places in Albany equipped with this facility.

For those looking to explore the action-packed, but dog-free national parks in the area, such as Torndirrup, it’s worth noting that doggy day care is available offsite and can be arranged through park reception.

Sail away with Fido

If you’re crossing Bass Strait, there’s no need to leave Fido behind.

The Spirit of Tasmania is a pet-friendly service that, as a bonus for guests who are boarding the evening sailing, can enjoy a free late checkout and then remain onsite at BIG4 Ulverstone, only 10 minutes away. This offer applies to all park guests travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania.

BIG4 Ulverstone has several pet-friendly cabins of various styles – that allow pooches to stay inside – to complement its dog-friendly sites.

The park is also perfectly positioned for energy-laden four-legged guests thanks to an off-leash beach adjacent to the park. There is also a waterfront walking path, which caters for pets on leads and connects to the town centre where you’ll also find various pet-friendly cafés.

So, if you plan to travel with your pooch, here are some helpful links:

BIG4's Pet Friendly Parks

BIG4 Pet-friendly Cabin Accommodation