Travel with Pets

Travel with pets in River Country

If you’ve spent any time at home over the last few months (and who hasn’t?) you’ll know that the big winners have been pets. Our 4-legged friends, and especially our dogs, have enjoyed spending more time with you, and possibly your whole family. More walks; more pats and just more time together.

So when it’s time to take a break and refresh, there’s no need to put pooch in doggy day care.

We’re in the centre of arguably the cleanest agricultural land on the planet. And if there’s one thing our farmers love above their world-class produce, it’s their dogs! Little wonder we’re so welcoming when visitors decide to bring their own pets.

Journey to River Country, north of the Murray in NSW, and we’ll look after you and your pooch in style.

Places to stay

Depending on where you plan to stay, there’ll be a pet-friendly option. Camping options exist, but check ahead, and remember that no dogs are allowed at all in national parks.

In Barham, the Barham Bridge Motor Inn has family suites with cooking facilities and queen rooms, as well as a pool and spa. Best of all, they welcome small and medium-sized house-trained dogs (although not in the pool and spa!).

The Barham Holiday Park is in a more natural setting and features powered and unpowered sites, as well as 1, 2 and 3-bedroom cabins. Dogs are welcome, and there’s an off-leash area to enjoy.

Up the road a little, the Tooleybuc Pet Friendly Caravan Park says it all. Just across from the Murray in the heart of lovely Tooleybuc, this is a perfect spot to relax and spend long days walking along river tracks and exploring with your pup.

Eating and drinking

Throughout the region you’ll find lots of places to eat that will welcome your pet along. With our lovely climate, most days are fine to enjoy breakfast or lunch outdoors at a café, restaurant or even a winery, and many pubs have beer gardens that welcome dogs on a leash.

Call ahead to reserve your outside table at any of these terrific places, or just grab an outdoor table at a café of your choice:

Echuca Moama

• St Anne’s Cellar Door
• The Port Ice Creamery
• Henry’s Bridge Hotel
• The American Hotel
• Morrison’s Winery and Restaurant

Barham

• Royal Hotel Barham

Mathoura

• The Timbercutter Café Bar

Walking and playing

Did you know you could take your dog on a paddlesteamer? Head to the Port of Echuca and ask at the Discovery Centre for more information.

There are lots of great town walking tracks, with many of them running alongside the Murray River or other waterways here in River Country.

Combine a walk with a picnic and let you dog explore our region with you:

Echuca Moama

• Moama Beach –Park at the Kerrabee Sound Shell and walk through the woodland area, or simply park at the beach. There’s barbecues and picnic benches, and your dog can play in the river.
• Horseshoe Lagoon – The paths and boardwalks at this sheltered area in Moama makes for a lovely place to walk your dog and enjoy the natural surrounds any time of the day, and all year round.
• Moama Off-Leash Dog Park – If your dog loves company, has bundles of energy and loves wide-open spaces, the fully-fenced, landscaped park is the perfect spot. Explore the rest of our region and you’lll find lots of natural landscapes to enjoy with your pet. Try these for starters:
  
  • Mathoura: Gulpa Creek Walk
  • Barham River Walk & Sculpture Walk
  • Barham Riverside Park
  • Tooleybuc Riverwalk
  • Tooleybuc: Mensforth Park.

Other pets

Please note that your lovely cat is welcome at some places, but only if they remain leashed or inside. We love our native birds. Sadly, so does your cat! Make sure you call ahead first.

For other pets such as chooks, rabbits, pigs – guinea or otherwise – lizards, etc), it’s best to check ahead with accommodation operators and national park services. Generally, the best idea is to leave them with friends.

Discover River Country ... where the best memories are made.