Cowirra Caravan Park

Cowirra Caravan Park is a small, hands-on caravan park at 26 Porter Street, Cowirra, on the Murray River side of the free Mannum cable ferry. There are roughly ten campsites on grassy ground a hundred metres or so from the water, a two-bedroom cottage, a camp kitchen, and a leased riverfront reserve that stretches the space out. Guests give it a perfect rating, and the reviews single out the hosts and the clean amenities more than anything else.

Dogs at the Cowirra Caravan Park

Dogs are welcome on both powered and unpowered camping sites, which covers the caravan, tent and swag stays the park mostly serves. The rules are the standard river-park deal: your dog stays on a leash at all times, is never left unattended, and has to be well behaved. Sites are not individually fenced, so pack a tie-out stake or portable pen.

Roofed accommodation is a different question. For the cottage or an onsite van, email [email protected] before you book and confirm pets are permitted in that specific place. With only about ten sites in total, book ahead for summer and long weekends regardless.

The vibe

Quiet and compact rather than a resort. The camp kitchen has BBQs, and there are toilets, drinking water and a laundry, with the hosts getting named praise in reviews for the welcome they give. The ferry runs around the clock, so late arrivals cross from Mannum without a schedule to chase.

Getting there and out with the dog

You reach Cowirra on the free Mannum cable ferry, which runs 24 hours a day. Once you are across, the Haythorpe Reserve camping ground further along the Hunter Road side is a riverside alternative with dogs allowed on leash. In Mannum itself, the fenced BIG4 Mannum Holiday Park is the bigger-park alternative, and the South Australia stays guide has the rest of the state.

For a leash-on leg stretch, the Mannum Waterfront Walk follows the river through town. Keep your dog away from the Murray's edge at the park too, since flowing water tempts thirsty dogs into drinking more than they should; bring a bowl and fresh water instead.