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Traveling with your Dog
By Virginia Pennefather (Veterinary and receptionist)
When I go away on holidays, I like to travel with my dog. I also regularly
compete in agility and obedience trials which are conducted up and down the
coast, and by necessity I’ve become a bit of an expert on canine-friendly
accommodation around NSW.
A firm favourite is the North Beach Caravan Park which is situated on the beach
at Mylestom, at the centre of the Coffs Coast. This quiet village is located on
the banks of the Bellinger River. Its beauty is its tranquility and the location
makes an excellent base for Bellingen, Coffs, Dorrigo & Urunga. The journey
usually takes about 4 ½ hours from Sydney (the Pacific Highway upgrades have
improved travel time immensely).
Accommodation options include powered and unpowered sites of one and two bedroom
cabins. Each cabin is air conditioned and fully equipped with everything a
family may need for a good value holiday. There’s a pool, children’s playground
and kiosk. You’ll need to bring your dog’s bedding and his food and water bowl.
For me, the greatest attraction is the park’s proximity to the beach. Just a
stones throw from the steps of your cabin is the track leading to the off-leash
beach. Be warned, the off-leash section is unpatrolled so you may need to seek
the advice of an ocean-savvy person regarding where to swim, but it is visually
spectacular in its remoteness and if your dog is anything like mine, he’ll go a
little crazy with joy when the sand hits his toes (this never fails to put a
smile on my face).
After you and your family members are suitably exhausted by your jaunt up the
beach you could settle down to a BBQ meal on your cabin verandah, or you could
walk to the Mylestom Recreation Club and mix it with the friendly locals. The
drinks are cheap and the in-house Chinese Restaurant is not bad at all. If you
are feeling adventurous the surrounding towns of Urunga, Bellingen or Dorrigo
offer all manner of culinary fare and liquid refreshment.
Of course all the tourist attractions of Coffs Harbour are available about 30
minutes up the road. (The availability of cheap bananas this year was worth the
trip alone!)
Please remember that the use of any dog-friendly facility is a privilege, not a
right. Guests are reminded to keep their dogs on lead whilst within the park
grounds and it is imperative that you clean up after your pet – nobody likes
stepping in it.
For full details regarding this lovely holiday destination, visit
www.nbcp.net
“Disclaimer” Your intrepid reporter unfortunately pays her own way whenever she
visits this or any other dog-friendly accommodation spot.
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