Sues Bridge Camping Ground

Sues Bridge Camping Ground sits in jarrah forest on the banks of the Blackwood River, inside Blackwood River National Park near Schroeder in Western Australia's south west, and it is one of the few DBCA-managed campgrounds where dogs are welcome at all. The trade-off is a strict lead rule, and it is not a park-formality rule; it is a safety rule.

Dogs at Sues Bridge

The Parks and Wildlife Service policy is plain: dogs are allowed within the campground but must be on a lead at all times. The reason is serious. 1080 poison baiting for feral animals is carried out in the country around Blackwood River National Park, and the baits are fatal to domestic pets. Keep your dog close, on lead, and out of the surrounding bushland, and do not let them sniff at anything lying on the ground. There is no separate pet fee; standard DBCA camping fees per person per night apply.

The campground

There are 26 unpowered sites of varying size and layout, and not all of them take caravans or camper trailers, so read the site descriptions when booking. Bookings are essential and open up to around 180 days ahead through the DBCA booking system. Facilities are basic but solid: pit toilets with an accessible option, a camp kitchen shelter with gas barbecues, food preparation surfaces and sinks, picnic tables and fire rings at most sites, and unheated rainwater at the shelters. The rainwater supply is not guaranteed to be drinkable year round, so carry your own drinking water. Seasonal campfire rules typically allow fires in the provided rings from mid April to the end of November.

Riverside with the dog

The river is the whole point of this place. Easy access to the Blackwood means swimming, kayaking and canoe launching straight from camp, with the dog paddling at the edge of the shallows on lead. Some sites can hold standing water after heavy rain, which is worth checking the forecast for in winter.

While you're out there

Augusta is a short drive south, and Augusta Dog Beach gives your dog an off-lead stretch to make up for the leash discipline at camp. Glenarty Road at Karridale is a working farm winery nearby, and a coffee stop at Dear Darnell's in Witchcliffe works on the drive through.

More camping-friendly options sit on the WA dog-friendly stays list, with local planning notes on the Schroeder destination guide.