We turned our wheels towards the far north coast of NSW to try out the Shaws Bay Reflections Holiday Park, a dog friendly caravan park boasting the perfect location in Ballina.
There’s a lot to love about long weekends in Australia and being able to holiday by the ocean with your family and dog is just one of them. We turned our wheels towards Ballina on the far north coast of NSW, and found the best of the best at the dog friendly Shaws Bay Reflections Holiday Park.
Now, we don’t always travel with our dog. Due to his size and breed (a wolfhound), he is often not welcome at commercial caravan parks, despite being too old, friendly and lazy to be a problem to anyone. But when we were invited to stay in one of the newly built Tiny Homes (something I had been wanting to do for years), and were told that our furry friend was indeed welcome, I just couldn’t say no.
With the Richmond River directly in front of us, Shaws Bay just to our left and a tiny house in which I could eat my breakfast on the verandah with my family (dog under my feet), it was very easy to appreciate our life in Australia here.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this dog friendly caravan park is in the most superb location is Ballina, as all Reflections Holiday Parks operate as a social enterprise with any profit reinvested into the over 9,000 hectares of land that it manages on behalf of the people of New South Wales. It’s the only group of holiday parks that offers amazing day-visit destinations and maintains public recreation reserves for communities to enjoy.
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Accommodation options
Tiny homes and cabins
Three tiny homes, a number of cabins and many caravan/camping sites (both powered and unpowered) are available here.
All three tiny homes in this Ballina caravan park are waterfront on the Richmond River and dog friendly. The tiny homes have one bedroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, a not-so-tiny bathroom, and a living area with a sofa bed. The verandah is the winner, with river beach views and a fully enclosed fence so your pooch can’t get out and up to mischief.
The cabins are well-equipped with premium, standard, deluxe and dog friendly options available. Some are facing the river and others are set just a little back but still very close.
Caravan park sites
All of the campsites within the Shaws Bay Reflections Holiday Park in Ballina are dog friendly, offering a choice between powered and unpowered options for your caravan. Whether situated directly along Shaws Bay or positioned higher on the hill for stunning water views, you can select from a mix of grassy and slab sites.
Considering the proximity of the Historic Shaws Bay Hotel, which is great for dinner, it’s advisable to opt for a site closer to the water if you prefer to avoid the weekend live music noise.
How dog friendly is Shaws Bay Reflections Caravan Park in Ballina?
This caravan park in Ballina is incredibly dog friendly. Enclosed by a fence that doesn’t restrict your views of the water on three sides, the tiny homes and some of the cabins feature verandah fences suitable even for large dogs, like a wolfhound.
For your convenience, there’s a complimentary dog wash bay on-site, and dog waste bags are readily available throughout the park. While there isn’t an official exercise area for your dog, it’s not a concern as grassy areas are abundant and Ballina’s walking tracks can be found just outside the caravan park.
Of course, you still need to follow all the usual caravan park rules by keeping your dog contained, not letting them bark excessively and picking up all their messes.
Regular facilities
In addition to being dog friendly in an idyllic location, Reflections Holiday Park in Shaws Bay Ballina offers the standard amenities, including well-maintained facilities, a laundry, BBQ areas, and an indoor camp kitchen—a much-appreciated refuge when camping in the rain.
For families with children, there’s a swing set and climbing frame adjacent to the laundry. However, if you’re seeking a park with elaborate pools, slides, jumping pillows, and pedal carts, this may not be the ideal choice. In fact, it deliberately lacks these features, making it a serene and tranquil getaway.
While many families enjoy such amenities, I prefer the simplicity of swimming, fishing, and leisurely seaside strolls. It’s a refreshing alternative to standing around a crowded pool and playground all day while trying to ensure my kids don’t break a bone double-bouncing each other off the jumping pillow.
The location is the real winner here
Nestled alongside both Shaws Bay and the Richmond River, just a two-hour drive from Brisbane, the location couldn’t be more perfect. The water is right beyond the park’s open rail fence, so you don’t lose out on the views.
The renowned North Break Wall Walk is right in front, connecting to Ballina’s extensive 25-kilometres of cycle paths. Whether you’re into surfing, hiking, boating, or paddling, it’s all conveniently nearby.
While dogs are unfortunately not allowed on the Richmond River beach directly in front of the park, there’s ample grass, foreshore, and walking paths for enjoyable strolls with your furry companion. A dog friendly beach is within walking distance of the caravan park and you’ll find dedicated dog beaches in Ballina, such as Angels Beach and Patch’s Beach, as great alternatives. Patch’s Beach, accessible via the Ballina Ferry, makes for a delightful morning outing with your family and pooch.
Ballina serves as an ideal starting point for exploring the broader region, from the world-famous Byron Bay to the laid-back Lennox Head and Brunswick Heads. Don’t forget to capture your obligatory selfie in front of the iconic Big Prawn.
What we loved and what could be better
It was a bit of a downer that the Richmond River ‘beach’ right out front doesn’t allow dogs on it. It’s quite a nice beach and it would be so lovely to share it with your furry friend.
We loved that this caravan park is truly dog friendly and the location in Ballina is second to none, right next to the river, bay and north wall walk. The Reflections Holiday Park feels like a quintessential holiday by the sea caravan park and in a world of flashy entertainment, thats hard to find these days.
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