Trentham Waters Resort

Trentham Waters Resort is a caravan park and resort on the Murray River at 6635 Sturt Highway, Trentham Cliffs, directly off the highway across the river from Mildura. Across 240 acres it mixes big drive-through caravan sites, villas, a lagoon pool and a water park, and dogs are welcome, but only in the spots marked for them.

Dogs at the Trentham Waters Resort

Dogs are permitted on designated Standard Pet Friendly Sites and in select pet-friendly villas. You must choose a site or villa marked pet-friendly during the online booking and add the pet there; if the booking system will not take a pet for your dates, those sites are full and pets are not allowed in the other accommodation. Pet fees and size limits are not published in the general terms, so confirm both when you book.

On the ground, dogs stay close and under your direct supervision, and they must be on a lead moving through shared spaces and general resort grounds. Parts of the property are kept strictly pet-free as quiet zones, and the pool areas are no-dog. No dog-washing station is confirmed, so ask management if you need one after a river session.

Max: book the pet-friendly site in the same transaction as the site itself, an add-on after the fact is where most pet bookings fall over.

The resort

For the dog, the headline is over 5km of on-site native bush walking trails winding through the grounds and along the river, which is a lot of sniffing for a lead-on loop from your site. Powered sites are spacious and many are drive-through with private ensuites. Humans get a 48-metre lagoon-style pool with a water park, a gym, fire pits, a private boat ramp and jetty, and the on-site KOKOMO Restaurant. There is also a splash park and basketball courts, and the resident macaw gets regular mentions in reviews.

Close by with the dogs

Mildura is a short drive over the bridge for supplies and outings. The fenced Mildura Fenced Dog Park (Rio Vista Park) on Hugh King Drive is the town's dedicated off-lead run, with water fountains and a three-dogs-per-person rule. For meals, Bobby + Me is a dog-friendly coffee stop and The Mildura Boathouse sits on the water. Travellers comparing river parks can also look at Discovery Parks - Mildura, Buronga Riverside.

More options are on the New South Wales dog-friendly stays list, and the local guide is at Trentham Cliffs.