Shawlands Caravan Park

Shawlands Caravan Park sits on the South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South, a quiet, budget-friendly base for short or long-term caravan and cabin stays on the edge of Melbourne's south-east industrial belt. It takes dogs, but the fine print on sites versus cabins is worth nailing down before you book.

Dogs at the Shawlands Caravan Park

Pets need approval from management ahead of arrival, and dogs are generally accepted on powered caravan and RV sites. Whether a dog can stay in one of the onsite hire cabins is less clear cut and needs confirming directly with the park, as does any pet fee, which varies with length of stay. Once approved, dogs stay on a lead around the park grounds and owners clean up straight away.

The park is set up for short and long-term hire rather than a holiday-park experience, with a quiet, semi-rural feel despite the industrial surrounds. If you are travelling with your own van the question is simpler than if you want a hire cabin, so frame the call around which one you are booking.

Max: Confirm the cabin-versus-site question and the fee before you book. Park policies like this tend to shift and the fine print matters more than the listing photos.

Worth knowing

The park sits right on the South Gippsland Highway (M420), with on-site parking for cars and caravans. The highway runs hot at peak times with industrial traffic, so time your arrival outside the morning and evening surges. For dog walks, the Dandenong Creek Trail is close by and there are reserves scattered through Dandenong South and Dandenong itself.

Make a day of it

The Tatterson Park Fenced Dog Park at Keysborough is a short drive for a proper off-lead run, and the off-leash area at Greaves Reserve covers the Dandenong side. If the caravan park does not work out, Quest Dandenong is an apartment option in the centre of Dandenong.

See more pet friendly stays in Victoria or the Dandenong South guide.