Discovery Parks - Emerald Beach

Discovery Parks - Emerald Beach is a large family holiday park on the Coffs Coast, a short stroll from the sand at Emerald Beach and about 20 minutes north of Coffs Harbour. Dogs are welcome on powered, unpowered and ensuite sites, which makes it one of the few parks on this stretch where the whole van-and-dog setup works over summer, provided you steer around the peak-week dates.

Dogs at the park

Dogs stay on sites only; they are not allowed inside the cabins or glamping tents, and cats are banned from the park altogether. Leashes are required while moving around the park grounds, owners clean up immediately, and pet fees or weight limits are not published, so confirm with the park when you book. The big dates to plan around are the Easter long weekend and the Christmas block from 24 December to 4 January, when dogs are excluded; some park guidance widens that window from late December through early January, so check the exact dates for your booking rather than guessing.

The park itself

Guests flag the ensuite sites, the jumping pillow, the camp kitchen and the BBQ area, and the beachfront position with kangaroos grazing around the grounds at dawn and dusk. RATTLE Restaurant & Bar does the cooking when you do not feel like it.

Out with the dog nearby

Emerald Beach itself splits by council rule: dogs are prohibited on the southern end near the patrolled swimming area, but the beach north of Fiddamans Creek is off-leash under effective control, with a free biodegradable bag dispenser at the access point. The Look At Me Now Headland walk, part of Moonee Beach Nature Reserve, takes dogs on-leash along the tracks with ocean views and regular kangaroo sightings. For a night out, Moonee Beach Hotel is the nearest pub stop.

Alternatives in the same patch of coast, including Reflections Moonee Beach - Holiday Park, are on the NSW pet friendly stays guide and the Emerald Beach destination page.

Pepsi: book outside the Easter and Christmas dog bans, then do the off-leash stretch north of the creek early before the headland walk heats up.