NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park

NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park occupies the southern tip of the Stockton peninsula at 3 Pitt Street, with the ocean beach behind it and the passenger ferry to Newcastle a few minutes' walk away. Dogs are welcome on the caravan and camping sites year-round, which makes this one of the few places you can wake up metres from the sand and still reach the Newcastle side without a car.

Dogs at the Stockton Beach Holiday Park

Pets are allowed on designated powered and unpowered sites only; the cabins and villas stay pet-free. Maximum two pets per booking, and you must declare them when you book. Inside the park dogs stay on a lead at all times, are never left unattended, and you clean up straight after them. No pet fee is published in the park's FAQs, so confirm any charge when booking. Pet-friendly sites run all year subject to availability, though some site types are seasonal, so check your dates before locking in. One caution from the City of Newcastle rules: the ocean beach directly out front is not an off-leash area, so keep the dog on the lead on the sand and head to the harbour-side reserves for a run.

The vibe

A classic beachfront holiday park: camp kitchen, barbecues, playground, laundry, kiosk, dump point and free wifi, with reception open 8am to 6pm daily. Guest feedback keeps returning to the ocean views, the ferry access and the clean amenities. The Stockton Bight dunes stretch away to the north of the park, and the ferry wharf puts central Newcastle within a short crossing.

Max: the unattended-pet rule includes the ferry. You cannot leave the dog at the site while you hop across to Newcastle for lunch, so plan outings in shifts or check the Transport for NSW pet rules and take the dog on deck with you.

Getting there and parking

Drive in over the Stockton Bridge from Mayfield or take the ferry from Newcastle's Queens Wharf; the park is an easy walk from the wharf. Site parking is on your own site, and the ferry accepts pets in outdoor areas provided they are leashed and kept off the seats, with crew holding final say at capacity.

Close by with the dogs

The Stockton Off-Leash Dog Area at Pitt Street Reserve is effectively the park's neighbour, and the Little Beach waterfront sits just beyond it. Across the harbour, Horseshoe Beach near Nobbys is the city's dedicated off-leash dog beach and an easy ferry-and-walk trip.

More options are on the New South Wales pet friendly stays guide and the Stockton destination page.