Bonville Camp Ground

Bonville Camp Ground is a quiet, rustic camping property on private land at Bonville, just south of Coffs Harbour and backing onto Bongil Bongil National Park. It has the low-key feel of a Hipcamp-style stay rather than a commercial holiday park, and dogs are welcome, which is rare this close to a national park boundary.

Dogs at Bonville Camp Ground

Dogs are permitted on the property but on lead at all times: this is a working rural property, not an off-leash run, and the boundary matters more than usual here. Bongil Bongil National Park, which the campground backs onto, is strictly no dogs, no exceptions beyond certified assistance animals, because of its significant koala population and 1080 baiting programs. Keep walks on the campground property and on roads outside the park boundary, and do not let a loose recall wander toward the bush line. Powered and unpowered sites are available for tents, vans and RVs, with parking at your site. Bring everything your dog needs, including water, food and bowls, since on-site services are limited to the basics, and confirm current fees and site availability directly when booking.

The place

The camp is flat grassy and gravel sites with fire pits, a composting toilet, big shade trees and friendly hosts, and its reputation is as a cheaper, quieter alternative to staying in Coffs Harbour proper. It suits campers who want a bush setting with real space, not a facilities-heavy park, and dogs that are content on a lead around camp.

Getting there and out with the dogs

The campground sits at Bonville, reached off the Pacific Highway between Coffs Harbour and Sawtell. Boambee Beach, about 10 to 15 minutes north, is a long official off-leash beach, and the Boambee dog lead creek area at Sawtell is the closer creek-side option, with the fenced Toormina Reserve dog park also handy. Sawtell village has cafes with dog-friendly outdoor seating. Nearby stays that take dogs include Bellinger River Tourist Park and Boambee Palms Holiday Park. More options are on the Bonville destination page and the NSW stays index.

Max: Lead on, koalas off limits, and a whole off-leash beach ten minutes up the road. I can live with that arithmetic.