Nowra Showground

Nowra Showground runs a riverside caravan and camping ground on West Street, hard by the Shoalhaven River and an easy walk from the Nowra town centre. It is site camping rather than cabins: powered and unpowered sites for caravans, campervans and camper trailers, with the river and the Hanging Rock walk at the edge of the grounds. Dogs are welcome to stay.

Dogs at the Nowra Showground

Dogs are allowed in the campground provided they are on a lead and under effective control at all times. There is no published size limit or separate pet fee, though standard site fees apply. Council rangers and security personnel patrol the grounds regularly, so keep the lead on and clean up promptly. The setting is open and grassy, which makes for easy early-morning and late-afternoon walks without going anywhere.

Worth knowing

This is strictly a van-and-trailer ground. Tents and car camping are not permitted. Sites are unallocated and unmarked within your booked zone, so an extended power lead is worth packing for some powered positions. Vehicle gates are locked at sunset and reopened at sunrise, fires are banned, and amenities cover toilets, hot showers, water connections and a dump point. Third-party camping guides put powered sites at around $38.50 a night for two people, but council rates shift, so confirm current fees when you book through the Shoalhaven booking platform. Event bookings can also close the grounds to campers at short notice.

Getting there and parking

Turn off the Princes Highway into West Street, Nowra; the showground sits on the river side, about a kilometre from the CBD. You park on your own site, so there is nothing to arrange beyond the booking.

Close by with the dogs

The fenced Nowra Fenced Dog Park sits within the same showground precinct, which is handy for a proper off-lead run between travel days. The riverfront walks around Hanging Rock are good for leashed strolls, and the Nowra CBD a short walk away has several dog-friendly cafes, including The Tea Club Cafe. If the showground is booked out for an event, The Nowra Motor Inn is the other pet-friendly option in town worth checking.

Max: Pack a long power lead and arrive before sunset, because the vehicle gates lock overnight and the powered outlets sit a fair way out on some sites.

For more stays across the state, see the NSW dog-friendly stays list, or browse what else is open to dogs around town on the Nowra destination guide.