15 Year-Round Dog-Friendly Caravan Parks Along the Gippsland Coast

Come summer and Easter, crowds of holidaymakers flock to the coastline of Victoria. Unfortunately though, if you have a pet, otherwise dog-friendly caravan parks often have blackout dates for pets during these peak periods.

To help you out, I’ve put together this list of caravan parks (and some campgrounds) along the Gippsland coast to the east of Melbourne that are dog-friendly year round. Take your pick from these parks, from west to east, for a beach holiday with your best friend…

Prefer to head west of Melbourne? Check out my guide to caravan parks in the Great Ocean Road Region

#1 Lang Lang Foreshore Caravan Park

While most of the caravan parks on Phillip Island have seasonal restrictions for pets, assuming that they allow pets at all, a popular year-round dog-friendly option nearby is the Lang Lang Foreshore Caravan Park.

The park is just a 75 minute drive from the centre of Melbourne, making it an easy waterfront option for a quick weekend getaway. Dating back to the 1950s, it still retains a retro feeling. Popular activities including boating, fishing and kayaking – it’s adjacent to the Lang Lang boat ramp.

Note that pets are only permitted on camping sites, not in any of the cabins. A pet waiver form needs to be signed and is available to view on the website. The park is next to the coastal walking track to Jam Jerrup, a fun walk to enjoy with your pup.

#2 Powlett River Holiday Park, Dalyston

The Powlett River Holiday Park is located in between Kilcunda and Wonthaggi, near the mouth of the Powlett River. This family-run park is small but spacious – there are a limited number of sites, but plenty of flat grass. Only sites are available for short-term stays.

Dogs are welcome to join you in the park (but no cats), as long as they are kept on a leash. Just as well as rabbits and wombats are often spotted in the vicinity! The park has direct access to the river mouth and nearby sand dunes, where dogs are allowed year-round, but need to be kept leashed. Double check the local signs.

#3 Wonthaggi Park Lane Holiday Park

Wonthaggi is an old coal mining town along the Bass Coast, with dogs welcome to explore the local history in the above-ground sections of the old State Coal Mine. Dogs are also welcome to stay at the Wonthaggi Park Lane Holiday Park.

As well as dog-friendly campsites, dogs are also welcome inside selected Studio, Standard and Family Cabins, as well as their cute Glamping Pods, complete with ensuite. Just note that dogs must be well-behaved and house-trained, and dogs that shed excessively are not permitted inside the cabins.

Up to two dogs are allowed per site or accommodation, at the manager’s discretion – declare the breed and size at the time of reservation. An additional charge of $5 per pet per night on sites and $15 per pet per night in cabins also applies.

#4 Venus Bay Caravan Park

Venus Bay Caravan Park claims to be Victoria’s “hidden secret”. This small caravan park is tucked away on the coastline in South Gippsland, just metres from the beach, in between Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory. Pets are welcome on ensuite, powered and unpowered sites year-round in the park, but there are no pet-friendly cabins.

Dogs are allowed on leash on the adjacent Venus Bay No. 1 Beach, part of the Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, except between 9am and 6pm between 1st December and 31st March.

In the South Gippsland council area, there is no leash mandate for dogs, meaning technically dogs can be off-leash unless other rules in place (such as by Parks Vic), but need to still be under effective control.

#5 Wilsons Prom Holiday Park

While dogs are not allowed inside the Wilsons Promontory National Park, you can camp close by with your dog at the Wilsons Prom Holiday Park, formerly the Yanakie Caravan park.

Pets are welcome to join you on all caravan and camping sites, including premium sites with views over Corner Inlet of the Prom. Note that pets are not allowed in any of the cabins, plus of course pets must be well-behaved and leashed at all times. The walk to Duck Point at sunrise is recommended for dog owners.

#6 Long Jetty Foreshore Caravan Park, Port Welshpool

Heading further east to Port Welshpool, a great dog-friendly caravan park is the Long Jetty Foreshore Caravan Park, located right next to the famous Long Jetty on Corner Inlet, plus close to handy boat ramps.

Pets are warmly welcome at the caravan park, both on sites and in the Pet-Friendly Standard Cabins. The basic old-style cabins sleep up to four, and are self-contained with a fully equipped kitchen. In return it’s just requested that you follow the rules and guidelines in place by the park.

#7 Woodside Beach Caravan Park

Woodside Beach Caravan Park is a basic style caravan park whose prime attraction is its beachfront location on Ninety Mile Beach – the caravan park stretches for 1km along the famous beach, just behind the sand dunes.

The park only has a few cabins that are not pet-friendly. Instead pets are welcome to join you on both powered and unpowered camp sites, with no blackout periods. Prices are quite affordable, particularly during the off-peak winter months.

The Wellington Shire Council permits dogs to be off-leash, but still under effective control, at Woodside Beach, except in the local playground area. Dogs are also allowed off-leash along the beach, but check for any signs near the surf life saving club in season.

#8 Seaspray Caravan Park

A little further along Ninety Mile Beach is the small hamlet of Seaspray, home to the large and highly-rated Seaspray Caravan Park. With just a a short hop over the road to the beach, it’s a great destination for a summer beach holiday with your pup, less than a 3 hour drive from Melbourne.

Pets are welcome on sites at the park year round, both dogs and cats, but not in the relatively new cabins and villas. (The entire park only opened in 2013, replacing an earlier park.) Just like at Woodside, dogs are allowed off-leash around Seaspray, except in playgrounds and where there are other restrictions in place (including within the boundaries of the caravan park).

#9 Paynesville Holiday Park

Heading further east is the Gippsland Lakes region, home to the resort town of Paynesville, known as the boating capital of Victoria. In place of wild oceanfront beaches instead enjoy a paddle on the shores of the lakes with your pup.

A central caravan park where you stay with your dog is the Paynesville Holiday Park. Pets are allowed on sites at the park, with no blackout dates. The park is just a short walk from the cafes of the town, plus the ferry across to Raymond Island. I recommend following the koala walk with your dog, as detailed in my Lakes Entrance guide.

Dogs are generally allowed on leash on the beaches around Paynesville, but they are prohibited from some stretches between November and April. Note this includes the area around the boat ramp on Sunset Drive and the area around the Progress Jetty, not far from the caravan park.

#10 Lake King Waterfront Caravan Park, Eagle Point

A five minute drive away from Paynesville is Eagle Point, home to the high-rated Lake King Waterfront Caravan Park, on the shores of the lake of the same name. Note that this park is only open to campers from September to mid-June each year – double check before planning a winter stay.

Pets are welcome to join you at the park on sites, with no blackout dates, but not in cabins. Naturally dogs need to be kept on a leash at all times in the park, with the walking path along the shoreline adjacent to the park recommended for exercising.

#11 Prime Pet-Friendly Tourist Park, Lakes Entrance

By far the most pet-friendly caravan park along the Gippsland Coast is the Prime Pet-Friendly Tourist Park, where we stayed on a visit to Lakes Entrance. Naturally pets are welcome year-round at this park that is very pet-friendly – in fact it recently became the first child-free caravan park in Victoria, instead catering for fur-children.

As well as the pet-friendly powered sites that we camped on, they also offer cabins, cottages and vans, that are 100% dog-friendly. (Although one cabin is restricted to hypoallergenic dogs only, for owners with allergies.)

There’s also a dog wash, an off-leash dog run (formerly the children’s playground), a washing machine for pet bedding and even Dog Day Care Kennels. 

#12 Lakes Main Caravan Park, Lakes Entrance

Pets are also allowed to stay year-round at multiple other caravan parks at Lakes Entrance. One of the most pet-friendly options is the Lakes Main Caravan Park, which is also just a short walk from the Palmers Road Fenced Dog Park

Pets are welcome to stay on sites plus in selected pet-friendly cabins. Currently, the Large Family Two-Bedroom Cabins are pet-friendly, that can sleep up to six and feature a fully equipped kitchen, separate bathroom and aircon. Note that a small pet fee will be charged on check-in, if you book online.

#13 Marlo Caravan Park

The small coastal town of Marlo is located in East Gippsland, a short drive from the larger town of Orbost and next to the mouth of the famous Snowy River. There’s a wonderful dog-friendly coastal walk you can enjoy with your dog along the river.

A great spot to stay with your pup is the Marlo Caravan Park. The park welcomes pets year-round, including during the peak summer period. Well-behaved dogs are allowed in all cabins and motel units, as well as on powered sites. Check out the specials on offer in winter for a cosy winter getaway.

#14 Banksia Bluff Campground, Cape Conran

Not far east of Marlo is the Cape Conran Coastal Park, about 5 hours drive east of Melbourne and just 90 minutes from the NSW border. Leashed dogs are welcome to join you in this park, including at the Banksia Bluff Campground, located next to East Cape Beach.

Not a proper caravan park, this campground only has basic facilities, including flushing toilets, cold showers and unpotable bore water. All sites are unpowered. There are plans to rebuild the cabins lost during the 2019-2020 bushfires, but these are unlikely to be dog-friendly.

Just over half of the campsites allowed leashed dogs. Double check the map before booking to make sure you have selected a dog-friendly site. Site fees vary depending on date, starting at $21 per night during off-peak periods. However, camping will be free of charge at this and many other Parks Vic campgrounds from 1st December 2024 through to 30th June 2025.

#15 Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park

The isolated town of Mallacoota is located in Far East Gippsland, not far from the NSW border. During the summer months the population swells, many staying at the large Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park, operated by the East Gippsland Shire Council.

Pets are welcome year-round at the caravan park, with no blackout periods. A maximum of two pets are allowed per site, who are not to be left unattended at any time. There is a dog wash located at the centrally-located amenity block 4, near the park office.

Also Check Out

• Corinella Foreshore Caravan Park
• Waratah Bay Caravan Park
• Loch Sport Caravan Park
• North Arm Tourist Park (Lakes Entrance)
• Golden Terrace Holiday Park (Lakes Entrance)
• Echo Beach Tourist Park (Lakes Entrance)
• Lakes Entrance Tourist Park
• Marlo Ocean View Caravan Park
• Bemm River Caravan Park

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