Valley Campground

Valley Campground, also known as Sally's Paddock, is a 15-acre eco-conscious camping property on the Crabtree Rivulet at 18 Sharpes Road, Crabtree, in Tasmania's Huon Valley, about half an hour south of Hobart. It runs seasonally from September to April and has built a strong word-of-mouth reputation for large, private, well-kept sites in native bushland, with a river through the property where campers regularly spot platypus.

Dogs at the campground

Dogs are welcome, on the straightforward condition that they are kept on a lead and under control at all times. There is no pet fee mentioned in the campground's own material, so the rule that matters is wildlife: wallabies and birdlife move through the property and platypus live in the rivulet, and a dog that harasses wildlife or barks at every passing camper will not be welcome back. The sites are big and private, which makes holding a lead-and-recall routine easy, and the quiet atmosphere the campground is known for depends on everyone's dog keeping to it. Bring bags and manage barking proactively; this is a place that accommodates dogs well, on the understanding that you carry the effort.

The campground itself

Tents, campervans and caravans are all catered for, with powered and unpowered sites available. The eco philosophy shapes the facilities: solar showers, composting toilets and fire pits at the sites, and a zero-waste approach that asks you to think about what you carry in and out. Don't expect a camp kitchen and a jumping pillow; expect peace, stars and a river.

Access is off the Huon Highway at Garden Island Creek, and bookings are made through the campground's own site. The nearby Huonville foreshore paths and the Skinners Creek walking track are easy on-lead leg stretchers, and national parks in the region do not take dogs, so plan walks around council and private land.

More detail is on the Crabtree destination page, and the full list is in the TAS stays index.