Hidden Valley @ Gro Mad Plantations

Hidden Valley @ Gro Mad Plantations is a bush camping property on a 30 acre working macadamia orchard in the Maroochy River valley, inland from the Sunshine Coast, and it takes dogs strictly on application only. This is farm-stay camping in an active animal environment: kangaroos move through the grounds and a resident emu wanders the orchard, so a well mannered, controllable dog is the price of admission. Steady dogs get a genuinely natural stay; flighty ones do not belong here.

Dogs at Hidden Valley

The process matters: dogs are allowed strictly on application, and you check the Camps Australia Wide app for the current pet policy and submit your application before arriving, never on the day. Once approved, your dog stays under strict control at all times, leashed around the free-roaming wildlife and never left unattended at your site. A dog with strong prey drive or poor recall will have a bad time here and so will the resident wildlife, so apply only if yours can handle it.

Camping runs to powered and unpowered sites across natural bush ground, many near the dam, with fire pits for evenings and clean amenities. Sites sit under and around the macadamia trees, and the orchard setting keeps things quiet at night.

Pepsi: An emu the size of me strolled past at dawn. I held my dignity on the lead and we have an understanding now.

Getting there

The property sits on Yandina Bli Bli Road at Maroochy River, roughly 15 minutes from Nambour and about 20 from the Maroochydore beaches. The valley road is sealed to the property, and sites handle caravans and camper trailers, though it is worth confirming access for longer rigs when you apply. Stock up in Nambour or Bli Bli on the way in.

Make a day of it

The Gary Evans Walkway at Nambour follows Petrie Creek on flat shaded paths and links to the Petrie Park Dog Off Leash Area for a proper run. For a coffee stop on the drive through, Gun Cotton Coffee Roasters at Yandina roasts its own. If you want a river park with a more conventional booking process, the Ingenia Holidays Rivershore at Diddillibah takes dogs on powered sites. More options are in our Queensland dog friendly stays guide and the Maroochy River destination page.