Belmont Wetlands Camping Ground

Belmont Wetlands Camping Ground sits on the Redhead side of Belmont Wetlands State Park on the NSW coast south of Newcastle. It is camping only, with no cabins or roofed units, so it suits people bringing a tent or camper trailer who want beach and wetland walking with a dog on the doorstep. Access is via Kalaroo Road at Redhead.

Dogs at the campground

The park's own dog policy allows up to two dogs per designated campsite, and dogs stay at your site rather than roaming. They must be on a lead under two metres or contained in a suitably fenced area on your site at all times, and they are not permitted in the shared guest facilities, including the amenities block, picnic areas and BBQ areas. Dogs need to be healthy, parasite-free and vaccinated, and you are expected to keep them away from native wildlife. Campfires are not permitted in the park, so plan meals on a stove.

The campground

This is a basic, self-sufficient setup rather than a resort: showers and toilets on site, some of them coin-operated, so carry coins. It suits tents and camper trailers rather than big rigs, and the drawcard is the location, with the dunes, the wetlands and Nine Mile Beach country on the doorstep. Campers single out the beach access and the walking as the reason to stay.

Out on the sand

Lake Macquarie City Council zones apply on the beach. Leash-free access at Redhead Beach runs south of Second Creek, dogs are prohibited between First Creek and Second Creek and on the main northern stretches, and the council uses colour-coded signage on site, so read the flags before unclipping. Watch for 4WD traffic on the beach at peak times. The Redhead Dog Beach entrance and car park is the practical access point, the Redhead Dog Exercise Area covers off-lead park time, and Surge Espresso and Co is the coffee stop back in the village. The Fernleigh Track is the flat on-lead rail-trail walk if the beach is busy.

More options are under dog friendly stays in NSW and in the Redhead guide.

Pepsi: Two dogs per site, leads under two metres and coins for the showers. It is a simple equation once you pack the right change.