Swan Bay Holiday Park

Swan Bay Holiday Park sits at the end of Swan Bay Road on the Bellarine Peninsula, directly on the water between Geelong and Queenscliff, with a boat ramp and jetty at the doorstep. It is a genuinely pet-friendly park rather than one with a grudging allowance: dogs are taken on caravan and camping sites year-round as well as in designated pet-friendly cabins, which makes it a rare bayside base where the dog can stay in the cabin with you.

Dogs at the park

Pet-friendly options include the caravan and camping sites and selected cabins and villas, with the 3-bedroom deluxe villas and 3-bedroom cabins among the types that take dogs. Pets generally need pre-approval, so register your dog at the time of booking rather than turning up and asking. The fee runs about AUD 15 per pet per night; confirm the current rate and which cabins are pet-designated when you book, because park policies move. Within the grounds, dogs stay leashed at all times, cannot be left unattended in cabins, and owners are expected to clean up immediately. The pool and playground are dog-free zones.

The place

This is a working family holiday park aimed at fishing trips and low-key stays rather than a resort: a seasonal outdoor pool, playground, jumping pillow, BBQ facilities and modern amenities blocks, plus the boat ramp and jetty on the doorstep. The ramp and surrounding shallows suit small and shallow-draft boats and kayaks, and the water right at the ramp can be too shallow at low tide. Guests consistently praise the friendly staff, the clean grounds and the quiet, secluded position. The bay shoreline here is shallow and can look murky rather than postcard-clear, but it is ideal for an early leash-on walk along the water before the day starts.

Getting there and out with the dog

The park is at 1235 Swan Bay Road, Swan Bay VIC 3225, roughly half an hour from Geelong and a short drive to Queenscliff's historic township. For dog-friendly stops nearby, Piknik is in the same small community and Basils Farm is a restaurant option on the way in. Point Lonsdale Dog Beach is a short drive for a proper off-leash swim, and the St Leonards Picnic Ground Fenced Dog Park is up the bay if you need a secure run.

More options are on the Victoria dog-friendly stays guide and the Swan Bay destination page.