Panmure Campground

Panmure Campground, also signed as the Panmure Rest Area, is a free camping reserve at 8830 Princes Highway in Panmure, roughly halfway between Terang and Warrnambool in Victoria's south west. It sits beside Mount Emu Creek, with a swimming hole, a grassed and gravelled camping area, and a short walk to the local pub. For road trippers with a dog in the back seat, it is a practical overnight stop where the dog gets a proper break from the car without costing you a cent.

Dogs at the Panmure Campground

Dogs are welcome throughout the camping and picnic area. There is no booking system and no fee, so the arrangement is a simple one: keep your dog on a lead around the shared facilities, clean up after them, and keep them under control around other campers. Bring your own drinking water for both of you, as the site's water is not classified as potable, though the creek is close by for a cooling-off splash on warm days.

Max: a whole creek, a grassy patch and zero checkout time. this is what car trips are for

Worth knowing

Facilities are unusually solid for a free camp: flushing toilets, free BBQs, an undercover camp kitchen with sinks and picnic tables, a children's playground and rubbish bins. The flat grass and gravel suit tents, camper trailers, caravans and big rigs alike. Stay limits vary by source, from 24-hour signage to reported council limits of up to a week, so check the boards on arrival. Because the site fronts the Princes Highway, expect some truck noise overnight. Camper reports also mention the occasional dog left tied up and barking, so do your part and keep yours supervised.

Getting there and parking

The campground sits directly on the Princes Highway as it passes through Panmure, with flat, easy access off the main road. It is about 20 minutes east of Warrnambool and a similar distance south west of Terang. You can walk to the Panmure Hotel in the village for a pub meal, and the swimming hole on Mount Emu Creek, complete with its ladder and diving board, is a short stroll from your site.

Close by with the dogs

The Panmure swimming hole has its own listing if you want the details before you arrive. Pushing on to Warrnambool, the Victoria Park Community Dog Park gives your dog an off-lead run, and NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park is a longer-stay option if one night is not enough. More dog friendly stays are listed on the Victoria stays page and the Panmure destination guide.