Travellers praise 'brilliant' idea spreading across Aussie caravan parks: 'About time'
More and more Aussies are choosing to travel with their pets, with caravan and camping sites now becoming more welcoming of animals.
A family holiday is hardly complete without the option of travelling with your pets, and as more and more Aussies opt for camping and caravan trips, there's never been a greater need for dog-friendly campsites and holiday parks.
So it was a pleasant surprise for one man who discovered a pet enclosure at a caravan park in Ararat, Victoria recently. And thankfully for dog-loving Aussies, they're popping up all over the country.
As someone who regularly travels with his dog, the Queensland man said "they're a great idea". "I can see them being really popular," he told Yahoo News Australia.
The traveller was visiting the Acacia Caravan Park when he stumbled upon the pet-friendly enclosure. He said it's the first time he's ever seen it, but loves the idea. He admitted he didn't know they were available so was unable to book one.
A photo shared online shows a caravan and a vehicle stationed on a grass lot with a fence and a gate surrounding the site. And others agree it's a "brilliant" and "fantastic" idea, and one we should be seeing more of.
A handful noted "there are a few parks that have started doing this now". Up until recently, most holiday or caravan parks don't allow pets on site.
"About time, caravan park owners thinking about what the travellers need. Good on them," another said.
Do you have a story about travelling with pets? We’d love to hear about it! Carly.bass@yahooinc.com
One such place is Big 4 Windmill Holiday Park in Ballarat, Victoria which has an entire pet-friendly section designed for those travelling with their furry companions, with some online raving about their recent stay.
"We stayed over the weekend, it's great, plus they have an enclosed run with a pond for dogs, and dog wash," expressed one. "It’s amazing, our dog loved the freedom," another said.
Pet-friendly sites at caravan park 'extremely popular'
Speaking with Yahoo, Sam Smith, a manager at the family-owned Windmill Park, said the pet-friendly sites are "extremely popular" and often they're the first to book out. So much so, that the owners, his parents-in-law, have plans on adding more over the next 12 months. Currently, there are 12 fenced-off sites.
"There's such a market for them, it's crazy," he said. "Everybody's travelling with their dogs now, so it just makes sense".
"They'll be our most popular sites in the park and not only for people travelling with pets but for kids too. We get a lot of young families booking them," he added.
"They're perfect for making sure your kids don't walk out anywhere. Not that caravan parks are unsafe, but you just know where they are if they're locked in. They can't go anywhere."
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Holidaymakers 'more relaxed' knowing dogs and kids are safe
Since introducing them a few years ago when the park became pet-friendly, Sam said they've noticed "99 per cent of dogs act completely different" compared to being "chained up" on a rope or long leash. But more importantly, it encourages more Aussies to travel with their animals.
"It's such a better environment for the pets and the families because everyone's so much more relaxed, you've got more space," he said. "And it makes it easier for people to take better care of their sites too".
Sam said they've noticed the enclosed sites are "kept a lot tidier" than other sites, likely because they're responsible for what's inside the boundary fences.
Others on Facebook said it could help "keep people out of your camp as well". It's not uncommon for other guests to wander in and around campsites.
Aussies now have 'more freedom' when travelling
Unlike some other pet-friendly sites, at Big 4 Windmill Holiday Park, Sam and the team have opted for astroturf, instead of real grass, and the sites are all complete with granite rock for cars to park on. During the winter months, regular grass turned into mud making it unpleasant for guests. And the new design "makes it easier to clean up after dogs," he said.
The enclosed sites sit within a dedicated pet zone complete with pet-friendly cabins and an off-leash grassed area. There's also a creek and two large pools for dogs to swim allowing guests with pets to get more" bang for their buck".
"Everyone loves it. It's really rewarding to see people who don't normally travel with pets because they're so restricted now have more freedom to travel," he said.
Previously, travelling families, including Jess Batheram and her partner Jed, have admitted they've been made to reconsider where they stay because of their pets. Many opt for free camping outside caravan and holiday parks which don't often allow pets.
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