Gunn Point Campsite

Gunn Point Campsite is wild bush camping on the Gunn Point Peninsula, about 45 to 60 minutes north-east of Darwin along Murrumujuk Drive. Dogs are welcome on the peninsula and on Murrumujuk Beach, which makes this one of the few coastal camps near Darwin where the dog can genuinely come along. The trade-off is that this is crocodile country with zero facilities, so everything your dog needs, from drinking water to shade, arrives with you.

Dogs at the Gunn Point Campsite

Dogs are permitted on the peninsula and the beach, and off-leash exercise is allowed provided your dog stays under effective control. At night, it is strongly recommended that you tie up or secure your dog at the campsite. You must clean up after your dog, and there is no formal per-dog fee - camping itself is free and no permit is required, though it is worth checking the Gunn Point website for any recent management changes before you head out.

The water is the hard boundary. Saltwater crocodiles live in these waters, marine stingers are present in the warmer months, and swimming is not recommended - a dog at the water's edge is at serious risk, particularly around dawn, dusk and after dark. Keep your dog well clear of the shallows at all times.

Worth knowing

There are no toilets, bins, power or water, so bring everything and take all rubbish home, burying human waste properly. Camping is not permitted on the beach or within about ten metres of the cliff edge, and camper trailers and caravans are barred from the beach and cliff top. Beach driving is restricted to registered vehicles with a 40 km/h limit on the sand, and unregistered quad bikes and buggies are prohibited. Use only the three designated access tracks down to the beach to limit erosion.

Getting there and parking

Drive north from Darwin via Howard Springs Road then Gunn Point Road. Some spots are reachable in a 2WD, but a 4WD is strongly recommended, especially in the wet season and for beach access. Parking sits in designated vehicle areas back from the cliff edge, near the Tree Point Conservation Area turn-off.

Close by with the dogs

If you would rather have powered sites and amenities, BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park and Coolalinga Tourist Park are both pet-friendly stops on the way north. For supplies or a pub meal before you camp, the Howard Springs Tavern is on the drive out.

Max: the beach walk is brilliant, but I never get near the water here. Tie me up after dark and keep the lead handy near the cliff tracks.