Jowarra Park Rest Area

The Rest and Overnight Stay Area on Steve Irwin Way in Glenview, known locally as Jowarra Park Rest Area, is a free roadside stop for RVs, camper trailers, caravans and tents on the Sunshine Coast hinterland route. Dogs on leash are generally accepted here based on consistent visitor reports, which makes it a useful free overnight stop with the dog between Brisbane and the coast.

Dogs at the Jowarra Park Rest Area

The rest area itself functions as pet-friendly: dogs are frequently seen here and no size limit is reported. When the dog is outside the vehicle or camper it must be on a leash and under effective control, in line with Sunshine Coast Council rules for roadside camping. The critical boundary is the adjacent Mooloolah River National Park: domestic animals are strictly prohibited in the national park, including the Jowarra section rainforest walk right next door. Keep the dog entirely within the cleared rest stop footprint and off the park bushland tracks, and check on-site signage as conditions at free camps can change with little notice.

What to expect

This is a basic stop, not a campground with facilities: picnic tables, toilets that visitors generally describe as clean, and space for everything from rooftop tents to caravans. The stay limit is about 20 hours, so it suits transit rather than a destination. There is no drinking water on site, which is the single most important thing to plan for, so carry enough for both of you. Visitor reports mention the stop can fill by late afternoon, attracts some long-term campers, and carries highway noise from Steve Irwin Way.

Getting there and parking

The rest area is on Steve Irwin Way at Glenview, just off the Bruce Highway alternative route between the Caloundra turnoff and Landsborough. Access is straightforward for vans and motorhomes, though spaces are unmarked and first in works.

Close by with the dogs

For a leashed leg-stretch, the Ewan Maddock Dam Main Track starts nearby around the lake, and Pioneer Park Fenced Dog Park in Landsborough is the closest off-lead run. Mooloolah Valley Country Club is the local meal option, and Landsborough Holiday Park is the fallback if you want powered sites and facilities for the next night.

More around the area is on the Glenview destination page, and the full list is in the QLD stays index.