Looking for dog-friendly campsites within 2-3 hours of Brisbane?

We love our weekend camping trips with our dog. After all, she’s an important member of our family and we try to take her along on our adventures as often as possible. Where to go though? Once we started searching, we discovered there are plenty of options for dog-friendly, weekend camping trips near Brisbane.

Here are just a few ideas -

Gordon Country

Gordon Country is a little piece of privately owned bush paradise approx 2 hours and 15 minutes drive west of Brisbane. It borders onto the Great Dividing Range & is a gateway to the lush, tropical rainforests of Main Range National Park. It’s a great place to go if you’re looking for a little peace & quiet & some fresh, country air! For more info, read our blog post

Bestbrook Mountain Farmstay

We’ve been here loads of times with the kids. Best known for its farmstay appeal. They do farm animal feeding at 8am each day and the kids get to join in - milking a cow, bottle feeding lambs or calves and feeding chickens and pigs. Horseriding lessons, parent led rides and trail rides are available at an additional cost.

You can learn about making butter the good old fashioned way and cook your own damper on a stick which goes nicely with a cup of billy tea! In the afternoons, you can do a wagon ride with boomerang throwing and whip cracking. There is also a swimming pool and creek which is great for the warmer months and there is a licensed restaurant featuring homemade country cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are 4 main camping areas but there is also a selection of rustic cabins available. Campfires are permitted. https://www.bestbrook.com.au

Spring Gully Stays

A family favourite in the Canungra Valley. Bush camping, campfires allowed, creek to play in, kids can take their bikes & dogs are permitted.

On the other side of the creek, you can also book out the safari tents, kitchen & bbqs for group bookings & events, however you must book well in advance for this area.

Not far from the turn off out to Spring Gully Stays is the road up to Lamington National Park for bushwalking (we recommend a 4.4km return sunset hike to Morans Falls).

If coming from Brisbane you’ll drive past O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard where you can stop in for lunch, wine tasting, ice-cream & you can also pre-order a picnic to enjoy by the creek. The Mountview Alpaca Farm is also on-site & you can feed & walk an alpaca! (great day trip). https://www.springgullystays.com.au

Spring Gully Stays have an awesome creek and waterhole for the kids to play in.

Bigriggen Camping & Caravan Park

Bigriggen is a beautiful, grassy property set amongst the gumtrees, with 60 acres of powered and unpowered campsites available. There’s a great swimming hole, campfires are permitted and there’s a fun bike track for the kids. Located approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Brisbane. For more info read our blog post here.

Kenilworth Homestead

Lots of lush green grass to camp on & campfires are allowed. Just over 2 hours drive from Brisbane, it is situated on the Mary River - great for swimming & canoeing. Huge at Easter with lots of activities & entertainment for the kids (must book in advance).

Nearby is the Kenilworth Bakery (famous for its 1kg Donut Challenge) & also Kenilworth Dairies where you can buy their cheese & other items. http://www.kenilworthhomestead.com.au

Boreen Point Campground

Situated on Lake Cootharaba about 2 hours drive from Brisbane. Great for sailing, canoeing, fishing & crabbing. It’s shallow waters make it ideal for small children. Small dogs are permitted upon request. There are good amenities and campfires are allowed in designated fire places. We have many fond memories of visiting here as kids!

There is a cafe not far from the entrance to the campground for your morning coffee and the well known Apollonian Hotel is just up the road for a pub lunch or dinner. https://www.noosaholidayparks.com.au/boreen-point

Neurum Creek Bush Retreat

A great little spot just under an 1 hour & 30 minutes drive from Brisbane. As the name suggests, it runs alongside Neurum Creek & is in a beautiful area right next to D’Aguilar National Park. Campfires are permitted & during school holidays, there are activities such as a movie screening each night, a coffee van, wine tasting, an ice-cream van & wood fired pizzas. Amenities consist of hot showers as well as flushing toilets & the long drop compostable variety in the more remote campsites. There’s a small shop at the office selling firewood, ice & other items you may have left at home. There is also a fenced off bike track circuit for kids & some beautiful walking tracks up behind the camping area. A great place to relax for a few days. https://www.ncbr.com.au

Borumba Deer Park

Under new ownership, Borumba Deer Park is located about 2hrs and 20 minutes from Brisbane on the banks of Yabba Creek. Bush camping offering powered and unpowered camping. On a previous visit, we have enjoyed feeding deer, playing mini golf and swimming in the creek. The new owners have introduced cows, pigs and goats. There is a small playground and campfires are permitted. During the school holidays and long weekends there is usually a disco which is a lot of fun. Looking forward to checking it out once it re-opens! http://www.borumbadeerpark.com

Noosa North Shore Retreat

About 2 hours and 30 minutes from Brisbane. You will need to do a short river crossing on a barge from Tewantin to the Noosa North Shore. It’s approximately $7 each way in a normal car and cost us $18 one way with our caravan. It is a large open campground with an amenities block and swimming pool in a bush setting. Lots of rainbow lorikeets! There are also some glamping options. Campfires are not permitted.

Just up the road is The Noosa North Shore Getaway & Bistro along with Battlefield Laser Tag, 18 Hole Mini Putt Putt, Jumping Pillow and indoor rock climbing wall.

It’s a 2 minute drive from the beach and dogs are permitted on the beach at the first cutting only. http://www.noosanorthshoreretreat.com.au

Inskip Point

Inskip Point offers beautiful dog-friendly beachside camping right across from Fraser Island. It’s approximately 3 hours drive from Brisbane on the other side of the Rainbow Beach township. For more info, read our blog post here.

Flinders Beach, Stradbroke Island

Flinders Beach is a great beach camping option where dogs are permitted. Go to https://www.minjerribahcamping.com.au for all your camping options.

Imbil Camping Retreat

A county getaway located on the banks of Yabba Creek approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes from Brisbane. Campfires are allowed and waterfront sites are available. Read all about our visit here

Sandy Creek Campin’

Bush camping on lush green grass alongside a creek to play in & there’s a waterhole a short walk from the camping area. Clean facilities & dog-friendly. https://www.sandycreekcampin.com.au

Moogerah Lakeside Bush Retreat

Under new ownership, it is quiet & peaceful & only just over an hour’s drive from Brisbane.

As well as camping, Moogerah Lakeside Bush Retreat offer bunk cabins, bathroom & hot shower facilities & a camp kitchen. There is a 3 bedroom self-contained cottage available for booking, campfires are permitted & it’s also dog-friendly.

Firewood, ice & live bait are available for purchase.They have onsite canoe, kayak & tinnie hire so we hired a tinnie & took it out onto the lake for the afternoon. We fished, explored & stayed on the water til the sun set.

We’re excited for all the improvements the new owners have in store at Moogerah Lakeside Bush Retreat & we look forward to heading back to check them out later in the year. https://www.moogerah.com

Be sure to check back on this post as we’ll keep updating it as we visit more dog-friendly campgrounds. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram and Facebook @bigandlittleadventures to keep updated.

Happy travels!