Gold Coast caravan park first to develop dog-specific play area

WHEN it comes to family holidays, one caravan park is looking to tip the scales in the pooch’s favour.

The Big 4 Gold Coast Holiday Park in Helensvale has installed a dog park for holiday make

ONE caravan park is looking to tip the scales in the pooch’s favour when it comes to family holidays.

What was once considered a holidaying faux pas, the demand for pet-friendly accommodation is growing and BIG 4 Gold Coast Holiday Park is pioneering the way with a supersized off-leash doggie park.

Would you take your dog to a pet-friendly caravan park? Let us know in the comments below.

The Helensvale-based tourist park is one of the first in Australia to build a dog-specific play area, after assistant managers Allie and Shane Keogh put the idea to the park’s owners.

“Because you’re not allowed to walk your dog around the caravan park without a leash, we thought a special fenced park would be perfect for letting the pets run free,” Mrs Keogh said.

“Everyone liked the idea and we went from there.”

A Gold Coast Tourism spokesman said pet-friendly accommodation was popular among caravan travellers.

“Certainly as more people travel they are looking for more ways to travel and travelling with pets is increasing in popularity,” he said.

“Venues catering for pets and offering pet-friendly services are going to appeal to that growing niche.”

The park features a range of canine exercise equipment including a seesaw, hurdles, weave poles and more. Park owner Theo Whitmont said he hopes to buck the trend of keeping the pet pooch at home or in a pet motel when the family goes on holidays.

“We understand dogs are part of many families,” Mr Whitmont said.

“So we think pups deserve to holiday in style like the rest of our guests.”