Mackay Caravan Park

Mackay Caravan Park, formerly Andergrove Van Park and now run by Hampshire Holidays, is a working traveller's park on the eastern edge of North Mackay. It earns its place on a dog-friendly itinerary the honest way: pets on select sites and in designated cabins, plus an enclosed leash-free exercise area inside the park itself.

Dogs at the Mackay Caravan Park

Dogs are welcome on select grass and slab powered sites and in pet-friendly cabins, subject to availability, and the park keeps an enclosed off-leash exercise area for guests' dogs. Around the rest of the grounds, leads on and bags picked up. Bookings with pets are arranged directly with the park rather than through third parties, so call ahead and confirm which sites and cabins are open to dogs and what fees apply. The park sits on about 21 acres of lawn, so there is room to walk even without leaving the gate.

Pepsi: claimed the leash-free paddock within an hour of arrival and slept like a rock on her slab site.

The vibe

Practical and unhurried, mixing long-term residents with caravanners passing up and down the Bruce Highway. Powered sites take big rigs comfortably, there are ensuite slab sites, self-contained cabins, a pool, a camp kitchen and clean amenity blocks. This is a base for the region rather than a resort.

Getting there and parking

The entrance is off Beaconsfield Road East in North Mackay, a flat and easy turn-off for caravans and motorhomes coming from the Bruce Highway. Parking is at your booked site or cabin. Shops and a tavern sit close by in North Mackay, so provisioning is simple.

While you're out there

The North Mackay off-lead fenced dog park gives your dog a proper play session beyond the park's own yard, and the Gooseponds dog park covers the other side of town. Woodman's Axe Espresso Bar is the coffee stop with the dog-friendly attitude. Broader options sit in the Queensland stays guide and the North Mackay destination guide.

Worth knowing

Pet-friendly sites and cabins are limited and they move fast over school holidays and the winter caravan season, so lock in the pet-friendly booking before the rest of your route. Check-in runs from 2pm for cabins and 11am for sites, with 10am check-out.