Ridge Campaway

Ridge Campaway is a single, private bush campsite in the Bonogin valley behind the Gold Coast, and it takes one booking at a time, so whoever is on site has the whole place to themselves. That makes it one of the more relaxed camping options around for dogs, because there is no shared camp kitchen, no neighbouring tent and no shared-space etiquette to manage.

Dogs at Ridge Campaway

Dogs are welcome, and the campground is described as pet-friendly by both WikiCamps and Full Range Camping, with fenced areas on site where dogs can move around safely. Size limits and pet fees are not published in any public listing, so confirm both when you book on 0412 253 365. Because it is a single private site, whatever you negotiate is the whole arrangement: your dog on your own patch of ground for the stay.

The camp

The setup is rustic but not rough: the site takes tents, camper trailers, caravans, motorhomes and motorbikes, and there is 15-amp power, a private bathroom, a hot shower, an outdoor table area and a fire pit. There is no camp store or food on site, so bring your own water, bowls and everything else for you and the dog. The boundary runs against bushland in parts, so walk the perimeter on arrival and keep a long lead handy for a new dog until you know how it handles the edges.

The hinterland around you

Bonogin sits behind the Gold Coast, roughly twenty to twenty-five minutes from the dog-friendly beach strip at Palm Beach. For secure off-lead play, the Mudgeeraba Hinterland Regional Park fenced dog park is the closest dedicated option. Into town, Shack and Co and Cafe by Blackboard are the welcoming coffee stops in Mudgeeraba and Worongary, and the Garasu Lodge is the fixed-roof fallback if the single site is taken.

More options are under dog friendly stays in QLD and in the Bonogin guide.

Max: Single-site means no dog next door and no surprises, but the bush edge is real. Do a perimeter lap on lead before the harness comes off.