Geraldton Belair Gardens Caravan Park

Belair Gardens Caravan Park is on Marine Terrace in Geraldton, walking distance from the foreshore precinct and the town beaches, and it runs under the Summerstar group's pet policy: dogs are allowed on powered and unpowered camping and caravan sites only, and are not permitted in cabins, units or the other park accommodation. Animals must be kept on a leash and cleaned up after, and conditions can vary, so guests are asked to contact the park before arrival.

The practical read: bring the van or the tent and the dog comes along; book a cabin and the dog stays home or waits at a sitter. That makes Belair Gardens a road-trip park rather than a fly-and-stay option, which suits most Geraldton visits anyway, since the town is a natural stop on the drive up the WA coast with a rig in tow.

Dogs at the park

Leashed walking is the rule on site, and the park's position on Marine Terrace makes the foreshore an easy outing: the Geraldton foreshore precinct has paths, grass and the beach right across the road, and the town's seaside walk is one of the better leashed strolls on this coast. The middle-of-the-day WA sun is serious, so structure the day around morning and evening walks with a shaded site in between.

Pair it with

Geraldton is well stocked for dog friendly stops: the Remi French Cafe and Kai Lani Cafe for coffee, the Murchison Tavern when the evening calls for something more substantial, and the Geraldton Caravan Park as the alternative in-town base. For the trip north, the Drummond Cove Holiday Park has a pet friendly cabin option Drummond-side, and the Western Australian dog-friendly stays list covers the rest of the state.

Pepsi: No cabins for dogs, but the beach is across the road. Net positive, I have done the maths.