Gippsland coastal forest — Victoria’s dog-friendly heartland
Pet-friendly · Victoria

Victorian holiday parks where your dog is welcome

Caravan parks that take dogs right across Victoria — the Surf Coast, Great Ocean Road, High Country, Gippsland, and Mornington Peninsula — and more dog-friendly cabins than any other state. Compare parks, check the pet policy, and book your stay on Total Parks.

Image: Visit Victoria

Why Victoria is the best state for a dog-friendly cabin

Victoria does something the rest of the country mostly does not: it lets dogs inside the cabin. There are fewer private parks here than in New South Wales, but a far greater share of them welcome dogs into cabins rather than only onto sites. Gippsland alone has two of Australia’s most-loved purpose-built dog parks — Best Friend Holiday Retreat at Tarra Valley and Anglesea Family Caravan Park to the west — and the Surf Coast around Anglesea and Aireys Inlet keeps several dog beaches open all year.

The catch is Parks Victoria. As in New South Wales, dogs are kept out of nearly every national-park campground, trail, and day-use area in the state. A few state forests and regional parks allow dogs on lead, but for a dog-friendly trip you will be staying in private holiday parks, not on public conservation land. Every park listed below is privately run and welcomes dogs.

The weather gives you a longer dog-friendly season here than up north. Victorian summers on the coast are cooler than NSW or Queensland, the High Country trades summer heat for fresh alpine air, and autumn — the Bright poplar weeks in late April, the calm dry stretch on the Mornington Peninsula in October and November — is about as good as touring with a dog gets.

For parks bookable on Total Parks, pet rules are part of the booking, not fine print after payment. Fees are included in your total, dog limits are checked against the site or cabin you choose, and restricted breeds are blocked before checkout.

Pet-Friendly Holiday Parks in Victoria

276 parks · 19 bookable on Total Parks

Sorted by bookability, rating, reviews, and name.

Frequently asked questions

Are dogs allowed in Victorian national parks?

Almost never. Parks Victoria keeps dogs out of nearly every national-park campground, trail, and day-use area in the state. A few state forests and regional parks allow dogs on lead. The dog-friendly parks in Victoria are the private ones — coastal, alpine, and Gippsland holiday parks rather than Parks Victoria sites.

How does Total Parks make sure my dog is actually welcome at the park I book?

For parks bookable on Total Parks, the pet policy is checked before you pay. Pet fees are included in the total, dog limits are matched to the site or cabin you choose, and restricted breeds are blocked before checkout. The directory shows dog-welcoming parks across Victoria, with more bookable options coming online as parks join Total Parks.

Are there dog-friendly cabins in Victoria (not just sites)?

Yes — more than anywhere else in Australia. Best Friend Holiday Retreat at Tarra Valley (Gippsland) was built around the dog, with six off-leash play areas and dog-friendly cabins; Anglesea Family Caravan Park, NRMA Eastern Beach at Lakes Entrance, and several BIG4 parks on the Surf Coast have dog-friendly cabins too. There are usually only a handful of these cabins at each park, so book 6–12 weeks ahead in the shoulder season to get the pick of them.

What pet fees should I expect at a pet-friendly Victorian caravan park?

Typically $5–$15 per dog per night for sites, $15–$30 per stay for cabins. A small number of parks waive pet fees outside school holidays. For parks bookable through Total Parks, the park’s pet fee, fee basis (per night vs per stay), maximum-dog count, and size limits are all calculated into your booking total at checkout rather than collected on arrival, so the price you see is the price you pay.

Are restricted dog breeds allowed at Victorian holiday parks?

Victoria’s Domestic Animals Act 1994 restricts five breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, and Perro de Presa Canario / Presa Canario), with extra obligations for owners of these breeds (registration, secure enclosures). Most parks mirror this list at minimum and may exclude additional breeds at their discretion.

Which parts of Victoria have the most pet-friendly caravan parks?

Gippsland (Tarra Valley, Lakes Entrance, the 90 Mile Beach hinterland) has the most to choose from, including Australia’s most-awarded dog park. The Surf Coast (Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne) keeps most of its beaches dog-friendly year-round. The Murray River towns (Echuca, Cobram, Yarrawonga) and the High Country (Bright, Mt Beauty, Mansfield) round out the best regions. The Mornington Peninsula has tighter off-leash rules and fewer dog-friendly parks.

When is the best time of year to travel Victoria with a dog?

Shoulder seasons — April to early June and September to November — are ideal. Autumn delivers the Bright colour weeks (late April) and the most settled Surf Coast weather; spring opens the High Country and the Murray paddlesteamer towns. Summer is workable on the south coast (cooler than NSW or QLD) but peak in Gippsland and on the Murray. Winter is alpine touring only — expect snow at Mt Beauty, Mansfield, and Bright.

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Last updated 27 May 2026 · Edited by Total Parks editorial team