Western Port Harbour Caravan Park

Western Port Harbour Caravan Park is a quiet, well-kept park on about five acres at 6 Lumeah Road, Somerville, on the Mornington Peninsula. It runs a mix of powered and unpowered sites alongside permanent residents, and it takes pets, but only on terms: dogs come at the manager's discretion and must be approved before you arrive. This is a call-ahead park, not a book-and-turn-up one.

Dogs at the park

Pets are welcome subject to prior approval from the resident managers, and that approval needs to be arranged before you arrive, not negotiated at the gate. A strict on-leash policy applies throughout the park and pets must not be left unattended on your site. The park rents a two-bedroom self-contained cabin as well as sites, but whether dogs are allowed inside that cabin, as opposed to on camping and caravan sites, is not clearly stated anywhere public. Ring the managers on (03) 5977 3344 before booking, ask which of your options the approval covers, and get the conditions clear: leash rules, cleanup and whether your dog can be left while you head out for the day.

Max: approval first, arrival second. The managers decide, the leash stays on inside the park, and the cabin question gets answered by a phone call, not a guess.

The place itself

Guests describe a neat, tidy park with clean facilities, hot showers and hands-on, pleasant management. The permanent resident base gives it a calm, settled feel through the week rather than a busy holiday-park atmosphere, which suits dogs that startle at commotion. Bring your own towels for a muddy dog and expect a straightforward, practical stay.

Getting there and nearby

The park sits in Somerville on the Peninsula's western side, an easy base for boat ramps around Western Port and the bayside towns. Somerville Station on the Frankston line is close by. For off-lead time, Grant Road Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the local fenced yard and Clarendon Reserve Dog Off Leash Area is another option nearby, with Pugs In Mugs and Miss Moose Cafe in town for the coffee run.

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