A Dog’s Paradise at Paradise Beach 🐾🌊
- Sam Cooke
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 9
If you're after a peaceful beach escape where your dog can run wild and you can soak up some serious serenity, Paradise Beach in Victoria might just be the hidden gem you've been searching for.
I spent a few glorious days there recently with my best mate Buddy, and let me tell ya – we both had the time of our lives.
Daily Stair Sprints (aka: Glutes of Steel 💪)
The campground sits just above the beach, which means stairs to climb down the sand dunes on the other side of the brush. I found myself climbing up and down those steps three times a day, thanks to Buddy dragging me down to the water every chance he got—but hey, at least my glutes enjoyed it.
Buddy’s Beach Adventures
Buddy was living his best life. He was obsessed with chasing waves and playing with the cuttlefish he found washed up on the shore (delightful for him, slightly gross for me). He’s not a fan of deep water, so we stuck to the shallows – just enough for a splash but not too much to throw off his doggy confidence.
Because I travel solo with Buddy, I don’t go deeper than where I can stand when the waves peak. The currents here are no joke, so always err on the side of caution if you're heading in.
Peace, Bush & No Crowds 🌿🌊
One of the best things? The absolute quiet. All you can hear are the waves crashing and the bush buzzing – pure magic. The campground only has 12 sites, and even though it was only half full while we were there, I can’t imagine it ever feels packed. We had the whole beach to ourselves most of the time.
Tick Talk (or lack thereof)
A few fellow campers warned me about ticks, especially with a dog, but there were no signs or notices from Parks Vic, and we didn’t see any. That said, Buddy’s always up to date on his flea and tick meds – a must when you’re travelling around as much as we do.
A Pit-Stop in Sale
On our way home, we stopped at The Hunting Ground in Sale for brunch, which I picked up to take to Lake Guthridge. While waiting for my delicious Bacon & Egg Roll, I realised that there were Botanic Gardens on the other side of the lake - dog-friendly of course - so that's where we headed!
There were peacocks and more cockies than Buddy knew what to do with - literally, he would normally chase them, but he didn't only trot towards them curiously. I loved them, and never pass up an opportunity to check out botanic gardens, as you'll soon learn!
Reception, Parking & Other Practical Bits
Reception: One bar of 5G at the campsite – enough to make a call, but don’t expect signal on the beach.
Parking: Easy enough in a small van or with a basic camping setup. If you’ve got a towed vehicle, reversing in might take a bit of patience – not all sites are super accessible.
Amenities: Drop toilets (they do the job), no showers.
Cost: I lucked out and stayed for free thanks to a Parks Vic promo. Normally, you’d book through their website.
Environment: Open grassy campsites surrounded by bushland, lots of gum trees with the odd pine thrown in.
Location:
246km from Melbourne
39.1km from Sale
Campsite Tips
If I went again, I’d lock in Site 10 – it has its own picnic table and space for a small crew. In fact, if I went with the fam, we could spread out across Sites 9 and 10 – there’s enough space for four vehicles and no other direct neighbours. Most sites are laid out like that, so you're never crammed in, even when it’s full.
Links
📸 Keep an eye on insta as there will be some reels coming soon!
If you're after a slice of quiet coastal paradise where your pup can run free, splash around and live like a beach bum, Paradise Beach is 100% worth the drive. Just bring your bug spray, your walking legs, and your best mate.
Let me know if you end up heading that way – Buddy would give it a five-paw rating 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
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