Gardens Caravan Park

Gardens Caravan Park sits on Griffiths Street in Port Fairy, right beside the Moyne River and the Port Fairy Botanic Gardens, with East Beach a short walk away. It is a grassy, walkable park: camp kitchens, river views and powered sites are the recurring themes in guest feedback, and the centre of town with its cafes and pubs is close enough to leave the car at your site.

Dogs at the Gardens Caravan Park

Dogs are welcome here under a set of conditions the park applies fairly strictly. On the camping side, pets are permitted on designated dog-friendly sites, with a maximum of two dogs per site. In the cabins, dogs are limited to select dog-friendly cabins, small and well-behaved dogs only, and cabin stays with pets are restricted to the off-peak season. Before booking you must notify the park that you are bringing a dog, register it on arrival, keep it under control at all times and never leave it unattended. Fees and availability shift with the season, so call the office to confirm a dog-friendly site or cabin before you commit.

Worth knowing

The beach access is the big draw, but check the clock. Port Fairy's beaches carry seasonal council rules, with dogs generally restricted during daytime hours in the peak summer period and more freedom early morning, late evening and out of season. One firm no-go: Griffiths Island, the shearwater colony at the river mouth, is off limits to dogs entirely to protect the nesting birds. The riverside path by the Botanic Gardens makes a good on-lead leg stretcher when the beach window is closed.

Close by with the dogs

For a meal out, Merrijig Kitchen is the historic local favourite and Borough Chambers covers the coffee stop. If the park is booked out or the off-peak cabin rule does not suit your timing, Gum Tree Caravan Park is the other pet-friendly caravan park in town, a few kilometres out on Toolong Road, and BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Warrnambool is an option 30 minutes back up the highway.

More options are on the Victoria pet friendly stays guide and the Port Fairy destination page.