Fort O'Hare Picnic & Campground

Fort O'Hare is a free riverside campground on the Glenelg River at Gambier Road, Dartmoor, just off the Princes Highway in Victoria's far south-west. Dogs are allowed on a lead, and the combination of open grass, a swimming hole and a canoe launch makes it one of the better river stops between Mount Gambier and Portland for travellers with a dog.

Dogs at Fort O'Hare

The campground sits on Crown land river reserve rather than national park, which is what keeps it open to dogs: pets are allowed on a leash and under effective control, and you are expected to pick up after them and not leave the dog unattended at the site. One boundary to respect: dogs are strictly prohibited in the nearby Lower Glenelg National Park, so the national park sections of the river downstream are out of bounds for walks. Bring your own water for the dog, as there is no tap on site.

The campground and the vibe

Open, grassy sites shaded by gum and banksia trees take caravans, camper trailers and tents, with level access off the highway for vehicles of any size. Facilities are basic: long-drop toilets, fire pits and picnic tables, so bring firewood as well as water. It is a donation camp with no formal booking system; turn up and use the honesty box to support the small town. Koalas are spotted in the trees overhead, and Dartmoor's well-known chain of carved tree sculptures starts a short walk away in town.

Pepsi: The swimming hole with the little jetty is the whole point of this stop. Check the current before you let a keen swimmer off the lead near the main channel.

Getting there

The campground is right on the Princes Highway route through Dartmoor, so it works as an overnight stop for the Adelaide-to-Melbourne coastal run as well as a destination. The town centre is walking distance for supplies, and it is first come, first served, which can matter on peak holiday weekends.

Close by with the dogs

For a pub meal or a bed instead of the tent, the Dartmoor Hotel Motel is the in-town option. More options in the region are on the VIC stays index.