Caringal Scout Camp

Caringal Scout Camp is a 43-hectare bush property in the Tyers Valley near Erica, in Gippsland's hill country below the Baw Baw plateau. For decades it hosted Scout groups only, but it now opens to the public year-round, which makes it one of the few places in this part of Victoria where you can camp with your dog on a proper bush block. The site runs to about 50 campsites that take tents, camper trailers and caravans, plus five cabins with 59 beds between them if you would rather not sleep on the ground.

Dogs at the Caringal Scout Camp

Dogs are welcome across the site, provided they stay on a lead at all times. They cannot be left unattended at your campsite or cabin, and you are expected to clean up after them. There is no published pet fee, so confirm any charge when you book. The camp asks that you mention your dog when making a booking, and it pays to book ahead in any case, because Scout events take priority over public bookings.

The lead rule is not just bureaucracy. The property sits against state forest that carries native wildlife, and wallabies and lyrebirds move through the campsites. A dog under control at your site can still have a proper bush holiday, because the 43 hectares give plenty of room to walk the boundaries on foot.

The vibe

This is rustic camping rather than a resort. Expect cleared grassy campsites among stringybark forest, shared facilities, and dark, quiet nights. The township of Walhalla, with its gold-race history and short walks, is a short drive away, and the surrounding state forest tracks are good for an on-lead wander. One thing to plan around: Baw Baw National Park, which begins nearby, does not allow domestic pets, so keep your walks on the state forest side or around camp.

Getting there and parking

The camp is at Tyers Junction, reached from the Moe area via the Tyers-Walhalla Road. It is roughly a half-hour drive from Moe or Traralgon and about two hours east of Melbourne. You can pull a van or caravan in and park right at your site. Fuel and supplies are thin on the ground once you leave the highway towns, so stock up in Moe or Traralgon before you head up the valley.

While you're out there

If you want a leg stretch with the dog on the way through, the Traralgon Dog Park and the Toners Lane Dog Park in Morwell are both on the approach from the highway. If you end up wanting a town-base stay instead, the Traralgon Holiday Village takes a similar pet-friendly approach closer to shops.

More options are in our Victoria pet friendly stays guide, and everything else around the area under Caringal.