Ellis Beach Oceanfront Bungalows

Ellis Beach Oceanfront Bungalows, part of Ellis Beach Oceanfront Holiday Park, sits directly on the sand along the Captain Cook Highway north of Palm Cove, and it is one of the few genuine beachfront stays in the Cairns region that takes dogs. Pet-friendly bungalows and powered and unpowered sites mean you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves with the dog in the room, not in the car.

Dogs at the park

Pets are welcome in designated pet-friendly cabins and bungalows and on the powered and unpowered sites, not across the whole property, and the park runs a formal system around it. You register the dog at check-in and sign the park's pet waiver, and arriving with an unregistered or different animal can cancel the booking with all money forfeited. Around the grounds dogs stay on a physical leash at all times, and communal areas are strictly off limits: reception, the camp kitchen, the amenities block, BBQ areas and the pool enclosure. Dogs and their bedding cannot be washed in the park laundry, clean up is immediate, and there is a dog station on site. A nightly pet fee applies, listed at around $25 for a cabin and around $10 for a site, so confirm the current charge when booking.

The park

The drawcard is location: beachfront cabins with sunrise views and direct beach access, with reviewers consistently calling out how clean the cabins are. The trade-off for the pet-friendly set-up is that dogs cannot be left alone in cabins, caravans or tents at any time, so plan days where the dog comes along or is genuinely contained.

The beach and close by

Cairns Regional Council designates the Ellis Beach esplanade off-leash from the rocks at the southern end of the beach, running 450 metres north beside the car park. Keep the leash on until you are past those rocks, and stay outside the stinger net enclosures, where dogs are prohibited. On the way down, the Ellis Beach Bar & Grill next door takes leashed dogs at its outdoor tables. Further south, Sunbird Park Fenced Dog Park at Kewarra Beach is the enclosed option, and Harry Doyle Pickles Winter Off Leash Dog Beach at Clifton Beach is another council off-leash stretch. If you are towing, Trinity Beach RV Park is the nearby stop on our list.

More options are on the Queensland pet friendly stays guide and the Ellis Beach destination page.