Cairns / Atherton region dog friendly caravan parks

Submitted: Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 21:55

ThreadID: 74703 Views:6493 Replies:7 FollowUps:4

This Thread has been Archived

Ian & Sue

Hi all

My husband and I are heading across the Nullabor in March to attend the Oz Mega 2009 Event (geocaching) at Wagga Wagga. Once that is over we intend to make our way up to Queensland. We are armed with our Camps 5 book but would appreciate your advice on where to stay once we arrive in the Cairns area.

My husband needs to fly back to WA from Cairns on around May 27 and will not come back to continue our trip for around 5 / 6 weeks. I need a good caravan park to stay at BUT it has to be dog friendly as I have two very old Jack Russells as travelling companions. I have been doing some internet research today and have come up with Lake Tinaroo C/P and Athterton Holiday Park. I have learned from experience that photos don't always tell the full tale so your input would be much valued.

Thanks

Sue
Geraldton WA

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Member - Julie P (VIC) - Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 22:06

Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 22:06

Mareeba - Tropical Tableland or Mareeba Country(I think) - not too far ot of Cairns - Mareeba is a nice place - and the Country is the nicest park in the town (about 6k out)
jules

AnswerID: 396693

Reply By: Member - Crazy Dog (QLD) - Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 22:09

Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 22:09

Hi Sue,

Tinaroo is quite good but a bit further in is state forest etc so dogs are banned there but at the park they were ok a couple of months back. You may also like to try Barrabadeen scout camp area just up the road from there as well..

Scout camp

Grrr!!!

AnswerID: 396694

Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 22:41

Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 22:41

Ian & Sue
Also the small Caravan Pk at El Arish if you need a spot just before getting to Cairns ,
Crazy Dog will back me up on that one,

El Arish is 17 Klms North of Tully.

Places Link

.

gift by Daughter

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 396701

Reply By: Ian & Sue - Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 22:42

Monday, Dec 28, 2009 at 22:42

Thanks for your replies, I am looking them both up. One more question - does this area get heavily booked during the tourist season or do the caravanners tend to stay closer to the coast. I do intend to try to book ahead.

AnswerID: 396702

Reply By: Member - Matt & Julie (VIC) - Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 at 07:38

Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 at 07:38

Hi Sue

Try Walkerman Central halfway between Atherton & Mareeba it has only
been open a few years, dog friendly, spotless facilities, huge shed where
happy hour is at 5pm everyday if you want to join in, but be warned can
last more than 1 hour!!!!!! We stayed there for a few days last year as
we had to wait for our vehicle to be repaired (injector pump) one of the
locals from Mareeba suggested it, was one of the best places that we
have stayed at.

Cheers

Julie

Cheers

Matt & Julie

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 396724

Follow Up By: Therifleman - Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 at 12:40

Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 at 12:40

The caravan park at Tinaroo Dam is pretty good & dog friendly.I have stopped there several times.Happy New Year.

FollowupID: 665503

Follow Up By: Fatso - Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 at 23:32

Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 at 23:32

Walkaman lays claim to the Tablelands best climate.
Over towards Tinaroo in May the weather can be pretty persistent South Easterly squally showers. These showers dissipate towards Mareeba. From Easter on we usually get these showers off the SE trade winds.
Mareeba being inland behind the range is in a rain-shadow. Mareeba lays claim to 320 days of sunshine a year. Walkaman is, kind of, half way between Tinaroo & Mareeba.
Both the van parks at Tinaroo & Walkaman are nice.
The Mareeba rodeo grounds is very popular as well. Not too sure about the dog situation.
Further west is Dimbulah. They have a very nice park that I think is dog friendly. Dimbulah is a very clean & quiet country town. The van park there is ridiculously cheap.
In Cairns its self the availability is scarce.
Lake placid takes dogs. It's not too bad. Out of town a bit, but in a quiet location.
Whiterock takes dogs too I think. It's got a fair few long term residents though.
Take a look at Barrier Reef Van Park at Edmonton. They might take dogs. It looks OK, but is out of town a bit as well.
I would recommend Lake Placid over Barrier Reef.

FollowupID: 665611

Reply By: Ian & Sue - Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 at 16:10

Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 at 16:10

Thank-you all again for providing me with some extra leads. The challenge now is to find if they have a web-presence before I resort to the good old phone book. LOL.

My husband flys home from work late this week so we can sit down and sort out the fine details and then I can make a booking somewhere before everywhere gets booked out.
Cheers
Sue

AnswerID: 396802