WILKS PARK Camping Area

Wilks Park Camping Area is a free council-run campground on the Murrumbidgee River at North Wagga Wagga, and for travellers with dogs it has a rare advantage: the eastern side of the park is a designated off-leash area, so the morning run starts at your front door. It is a self-contained RV stop rather than a holiday park, capped at 72 hours.

Dogs at Wilks Park

Dogs are welcome to camp overnight with you, kept under control or on lead in the camping and amenity zones. Once you are set up, the designated off-leash section on the park's eastern side is the payoff, a proper open space for a tired travel dog. Bring your own waste bags, and note the campground is for fully self-contained vehicles only: RVs, camper trailers and caravans, no tents. Stays are limited to 72 hours, and fees and limits occasionally change, so confirm current details with the council or on arrival.

Pepsi: set up near the eastern end and the off-leash paddock is a two-minute walk. Zero driving before the first proper run of the day.

The camp

There are no showers, but the flushing toilets are consistently reported as clean, and there is a dump point, potable water and rubbish bins on site. Expect large grassy areas along the river and a practical, no-frills atmosphere that suits overnight stopovers. It sits in the flood-prone North Wagga pocket, so in prolonged rain check the river situation before you commit. The pub and township of North Wagga are walkable, and the Wagga Wagga CBD is a short drive across the bridge.

Getting there and parking

Wilks Park sits on the northern bank of the Murrumbidgee at North Wagga Wagga, reached from the Sturt Highway side via Hampden Avenue. Parking is at your site, so once you are in, the car can stay put for the stay. Wagga Wagga's cafes and supplies are five minutes' drive south across the river.

While you're out there

The Wilks Park Off Leash Area listing covers the exercise zone itself, Narrung Street Fenced Dog Park adds a fully fenced option across the river, and Chaston Pet Hub is a dedicated dog space in town. The Early Bird Wagga and Makers Coffee House are good coffee stops, and City Park Motel & Apartments is an alternative if you want a bed for a night.

More options are on the New South Wales dog-friendly stays guide and the North Wagga Wagga destination page.