Shipwreck Bay Holiday Park

Shipwreck Bay Holiday Park is a beachside park in Warrnambool, run alongside its sister park Surfside by the same operators. Beach access, barbecues and showers cover the basics, and dogs are welcome on the sites, but not in the cabins, and not over the summer peak. Timing and paperwork are the two things to get right.

Dogs at the park

Dogs are permitted on powered and unpowered sites only; they are strictly excluded from cabins and cottages and the surrounding cabin areas. A summer blackout applies, currently 18 December to 31 January inclusive, so confirm the exact window with the park when you book. Owners must provide current vaccination and municipal registration papers, dogs must be leashed outside your immediate campsite, and the park expects them not to disturb, bark at or bother other guests. Pet fees are not published; ask when booking.

The park

It is a low-key, scenic park within reach of the foreshore, which suits a camping or caravan stay more than a resort-style visit. Reviews regularly mention the proximity to the beach and the quiet setting. Sites fill around school holidays even outside the dog blackout, so book ahead.

Walks nearby

The beach is close for lead walks, but Warrnambool's central surf beaches tighten their dog rules over summer, so check the council's seasonal map before heading onto the sand. For reliable off-leash exercise, Victoria Park Community Dog Park is a fenced option in town.

If you need a cabin instead

Because dogs cannot enter cabins here, cabin-needing dog owners should compare BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Warrnambool, which offers pet-friendly cabins with gated verandahs, or the sister Surfside Holiday Park, which follows the same dogs-on-sites policy.

Pepsi: bring current vaccination and council registration papers, they are required here, and steer clear of the December-January dog blackout.

Book a site rather than a cabin, avoid the blackout dates, and have papers ready at check-in. More options are under stays in VIC, and our Warrnambool destination guide covers the area.