Reg and I are applying for work in the outback. Work where we might miss out on the opportunity because we have a dog. I hope that will not be so as Indigo is a member of our family. 

I know she will enjoy the lifestyle, she loves travel, there is a good vet in Alice Springs and I know she can be cared for every bit as well in outback Australia as here in northern Victoria.

Dogs are very much a part of the Australian Aboriginal Communities though they are not usually the house pet that Indigo is and some would be lean and hungry dogs we would need to keep Indigo away from.


  Home & Garden » Pets » Dogs » General
Outback Mongrel By David Darcy

A collection of stunning photographs of Aussie dogs in the rugged deserts of Australia's big red heart. David recounts warm stories describing all that can go wrong when travelling in the outback with a ute full of mongrels, hundreds of miles from the nearest town.

To read more or order click link below.

I had intended to tour down the Newel Highway on our way home from Murgon QLD to Shepparton Victoria.
 I changed my mind and decided to go home along the coast when I saw the replies to Indigo's blog post about the Big 4 Tourist Parks lifting the blanket dog ban.  15% of the parks now accept well behaved, member of the family companion dogs subject of course to managers approval and time of booking.  I was eager to call in and review at least one of these Tourist Parks on my return journey.  Having always toured with a dog family member I had not had the opportunity to stay in a Big 4 before. 

We will also be staying at the Mulumbimby Leagues Club on the riverbank for four nights on our way to South West Rocks. This will make for a splendid end to our 2011 tour which began as one month at the coastal beaches of East Gippsland, then a month near the thermal pools in nothern NSW, one month camping beside the Balonne River at St George QLD, then almost two months here near Murgon QLD. at the Bjelke-Petersen Dam Tourist & Recreation Park.  I can highly recomend staying at the Bjelke-Peterson Dam. We have had a divine time here and are only leaving because it is time to head south and be home for spring.  I am hpwever excited about the two places we have chosen to stay at on our way home. They sound great and perfect for Indigo ur fourlegged family member.
 
We will be back in Victoria in Septemer and Indigo will be able to spruce p with a proffesional standard hair clip once more.

The photos are of the NSW Coast.

Leanne from BIG4 Trial Bay Tourist Park, South West Rocks (NSW) commented,    
"We have just had our second visitor who was an absolute delight! Ron, Betty and foxy (fox terrier) have had a ball. Foxy goes fishing every morning with Ron, there is a track from the park that takes you to the beach, the beach is off-lead for 2 km, foxy is certainly tired out when he gets home, he sleeps most of the day. Its a little bit like having small kids - tire them out in the morning and everyone has a relaxing afternoon. Can't wait to welcome more of our friends. Conditions are outside of school holidays and pre-bookings."

The BIG4 Trial Bay Tourist Park accepts companion dogssubject to manager's approval and at specific times of the year in the dog friendly section of the park. 

Indigo adores an off leash beach run and it doesn't do me any harm either, lol. Reg is eager to do some beach fishing.  No decision has been made but this sure looks like a great place for a bush and beach lover like myself who loves the quieter close to nature parks where Indigo is also welcome.

I have been reading up on the fishing reports for the area and it appears to be an excellent spot to fish because of the varied locations with beaches facing in several directions plus a river to choose from.  There is also numerous varieties of fish being caught.   Not that that excites Indigo our poodle,...she far prefers it when Reg catches nothing and we have to buy a chicken, as we share some with her. 

15 percent of BIG4's caravan parks have so far been approved to accept dogs under its new pet policy.

Australia's biggest chain of holiday parks finally bowed to mounting pressure for pet owners to be able to take their four-legged friends into its parks after a 32-year blanket ban.
 
28 BIG4 parks from a total membership of 180 have so far agreed to throw down the welcome mat to animals.

The no-dog ruling was lifted on July 1, allowing park owners the option to accept pets but under strict conditions.

BIG4 Holiday Parks chief executive Ray Schleibs said the decision had not been taken lightly but was because "society's attitude towards travelling with dogs has changed"..

"More dogs are travelling and holidaying with couples and families, with many seeing dogs as substitute children or loyal companions," he explained.

"As industry leaders, BIG4 is committed to evolving and adapting to suit the needs of all travellers by offering our member parks the option of welcoming dogs."

Parks now accepting dogs include:

BIG4 Argylla Tourist Park, Mount Isa, (QLD)
Aussie Outback Oasis Cabin & Van Village, Charters Towers (QLD)
BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park, Busselton (WA)
BIG4 Airlie Cove Resort and Van Park, Airlie Beach (QLD)
BIG4 Atherton Woodlands Tourist Park, Atherton (QLD)
BIG4 Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park, Bathurst (NSW)

BIG4 Bendigo - Ascot Holiday Park, Bendigo (VIC)
    Check out our first gorgeous puppy visitor
    Anthea.

BIG4 Cania Gorge Holiday Park, Cania Gorge (QLD)
BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park, Castlemaine (VIC)
BIG4 Forbes Holiday Park, Forbes (NSW)
BIG4 Innisfail Mango Tree Tourist Park, Innisfail (QLD)
BIG4 Lake Macquarie Monterey Tourist Park, Lake Macquarie (NSW)
BIG4 Mildura CrossRoads Holiday Park, Mildura (VIC)
BIG4 Nambucca Beach Holiday Park, Nambucca Heads (NSW)
BIG4 Plantation Caravan Park, Carnarvon (WA)
BIG4 Riverside Swan Hill, Swan Hill (VIC)
BIG4 Saltwater @ Yamba Holiday Park, Yamba (NSW)
BIG4 South Durras Holiday Park, Batemans Bay (NSW)
BIG4 Tocumwal Tourist Park, Tocumwal (NSW)

BIG4 Trial Bay Tourist Park, South West Rocks (NSW)
    We have just had our second visitor who was an absolute delight! Ron, Betty and foxy (fox terrier) have had a ball. Foxy goes fishing every morning with ron, there is a track from the park that takes you to the beach, the beach is off-lead for 2 km, foxy is certainly tired out when he gets home, he sleeps most of the day. Its a little bit like having small kids - tire them out in the morning and everyone has a relaxing afternoon. Can't wait to welcome more of our friends. Conditions are outside of school holidays and pre-bookings.
     Leanne :-)

BIG4 Valley Vineyard Tourist Park, Hunter Valley (NSW)
BIG4 Blue Lake Holiday Park, Mount Gambier (SA)
BIG4 Borderland Caravan Park, Wodonga (VIC)
Denmark Ocean Beach Holiday Park, Denmark (WA)
Dongara Denison Beach Holiday Park, Dongara (WA)
BIG4 Hay Plains Holiday Park, Hay (NSW)
Ledge Point Caravan Park, Ledge Point (WA)
NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Park, Merimbula (NSW)

We are currently staying at Eastern Beach Tourist Park at Lakes Entrance.  What a perfect place to bring the cameras.

Love it here.  It is so close to the beach and the lake.  Dogs are officially allowed on the beach in the off tourist season from April.   There is a park near the tourist park also a golf course and an excellent shopping center so Indigo and her owners can dine well while on holiday.   

So many places to visit from this region, a one week stay will be barely enough to see it all.  Yes we are loving it here.

The beach is enormous, perfect for a run and play with the dog.  Ideal for my fisherman. 

The caravan park amenities here are excellent, I am very impressed and love the large lawns and layout.

Definitely think this park rates high praise and the management were extremely friendly.

Small dogs are allowed in the Eastern Beach Tourist Park, excluding Easter weekend and Christmas.

Indigo’s is off to the beach again. She will love every minute of the morning and evenings, walking, swimming, running and also, fitness training her human pet, Kathy, by encouraging her to take up running on the sand

It is dog's paradise. Needless to say, long daytime nap and night time sleep on a soft pillow has been needed to store energy for the next beach side romp.

Cleaverville beach is very family friendly. 
A dog friendly campsite at Cleaverville Beach in Western Australia on the Pilbara coastline. It is $7. a night, $40. a week or $135. a month.  You can stay for up to three months, from May 1st until September 30th, each year.

Most showgrounds are dog friendly and showgrounds often provide great powered caravan sites often at  half the price of caravan parks.

Lovely large expanses of grass for a dog or children to play and a place for the active nomad to jog or walk.

Here are a few show grounds I know of that offer powered sites to caravanners at certain times of the year and for certain criteria.

The criteria differs from location to location and Alice Springs it is when the other caravan parks are full or if they will not accept you due to your dog or rig, being too large.  At Maleny QLD, you can only stay three nights.

The conditions at showgrounds are rarely top class amenities block but the expense of grounds and freedom outweighs all the disadvantages, in my opinion.

These are a few Showgrounds, I have heard recommended and we have stayed at many of these.

Armidale NSW
Alice Springs, NT
Boonah Qld
Bendigo VIC
Brocken Hill (St pats race course) NSW
Burra NSW
Cunnamulla Qld
Coffs Harbour
Canungra Recreational Ground Qld
Dubbo NSW
Dalby Qld
Glen Innis NSW
Grafton racecourse NSW
Gin Gin QLD
Hay NSW
Kingaroy QLD
Kilcoy QLD
Kunnunarra WA
Kyogle NSW
Lucindale SA (footy oval)
Miles QLD
Maleny QLD
Narrandra NSW
Marburg Qld
Tenterfield
Toowoomba QLD
Sale Vic
Springsure QLD
Samford, QLD
Strathalbyn SA (footy oval)
Yass NSW
Wodonga Vic
Murwillumbah



You can contact the shires in advance to find out if they allow camping at the show grounds and the available dates.

People love to take their dogs to the park, it’s a great place for dogs and their owners to get some exercise and enjoy the environment. But if we want healthy parks, as well as healthy people and their dogs, it is important to make sure your dog doesn’t impact on the environment or upset other park users.
In most national parks dogs aren’t allowed at all, but in the Great Otway National Park, Parks Victoria has recognised the need for local residents and visitors to have areas to enjoy with their dog.

New signs have now been put up in the Great Otway National Park to help visitors know where they can take their dogs.
Dogs can kill or disturb small mammals and ground-dwelling or ground-nesting birds, so to protect the park’s fragile ecosystems, check the signs, follow the rules and only take your dog to places where and when allowed, and please keep your dog on a lead where required.
West Otways – Kennett River to Princetown (Marreeyn)
Dogs are not allowed off lead In the West Otways dogs are permitted anywhere in the West Otways.

on lead
• Johanna Beach car park, camping area, walking tracks to the beach, Johanna Beach western section between Johanna River and western bluff at a number of visitor areas. They are:
• Lake Elizabeth camping area
• Marriners Falls Day Visitor Area and Marriners Falls Walk
• Cape Otway Lightstation car park
• Great Ocean Walk from Marengo to the park boundary.
East Otways – Torquay to Kennett River (Angahook)

In the East Otways there are two beach areas between Anglesea and Aireys Inlet being trialled as off lead
In areas in the East Otways where dogs are allowed off lead, owners must keep their dog under effective control. This includes keeping it within sight, trained to respond to voice commands and ensuring it does not disturb or threaten other visitors or wildlife. areas. They are between Urquhart Bluff east to O’Donohue Beach access, and Urquhart Buff West to Sunnymead. Within the area from Urquhart to Mermaid Pools there is a timed area where dogs have to be on lead between 9am and 7pm from the beginning of December to the end of February and during Easter. The area is off lead at all other times.

Dogs are prohibited in all other areas within the National Park unless signposted.
As with other rubbish please ensure droppings are picked up and disposed of in a rubbish bin.
Over the next few months Parks Victoria Rangers will be out and about providing information to the public and educating dog owners on how they can safely share the national park with their dogs.
Doo the right thing with your doggy!

For further information on the Great Otway National Park go to www.parkweb.vic.gov.au or call 13 1963.