The best dog-friendly camping near Pretty Beach

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A suburb in the central coast area of New South Wales, Pretty Beach lives up to its name with pristine shorelines that face Brisbane Water. Stay in town at waterfront caravan parks, or venture outside of Pretty Beach campgrounds for more opportunities in nature. Bouddi National Park is a unique combination of beaches, bushland, Aboriginal heritage sites, and tent pitches with private firepits. Or head to Brisbane Water National Park—it’s an ancient landscape of wildflower fields and rainforest with winding walking tracks, including part of the Great North walk. Across Broken Bay, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offers a look into more Aboriginal culture, as well as walking tracks, creeks, an old lighthouse, and cabin rentals with terraces along the shoreline.

95% (9.7K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Pretty Beach

2. Brightwater

99%
(114)
41km from Pretty Beach · 1 site · Tent, RV
Brightwater sits beside Olney State Forest and Kuluwan Flora Reserve. It is a 50-acre farm with a lovely spring-fed dam, with our nearby campsite. The site contains van parking, an open pavilion, an open deck by the stream, a fire pit, and a dunny. It is private and secluded, and with just one group staying at a time, you are guaranteed the space to yourselves. Please go straight ahead on Collins Ave and enter through the car entrance, NOT the truck entrance which is off to the right. If you come in the truck entrance I can't see you. There are many beautiful walking and bike trails in the area. Lots of wildlife to meet, including water dragons, wild ducks, and pythons, to name a few. There is also nearby evidence of the original occupants, the Darkinjung people. You are also welcome to bring a couple of horses! There's a safe paddock with a trough and nice trails in the area to explore. The Kulnura General Store and bottleshop is just 9km down the road for basic supplies.
Toilets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
AU$109
 / night

4. Kalighat River House 

17km from Pretty Beach · 1 site · Lodging
Accessible only by boat, this secluded and lovingly decorated house at Bar Point on the Hawkesbury River, (aka Deerubbin,) is only an hour from the Sydney CBD. This beautiful Artists retreat is surrounded by nature. You don't have to be an artist to stay with us, but we do offer free boat transfers for artists and musicians. You will arrive by boat and soak up the serenity. Large deck with river views. Located on the waterfront on the Eastern side of Bar Point. Our custom-designed Finnish sauna offers a unique and holistic experience, the combination of heat, dimmed lights, and the smell of cedar or essential oils creates a healing ambience that is both invigorating and comforting. The house is full of Art, books, games, and DVDs, there is also the 'yoga deck' behind the house with even more expansive views of the river - a perfect place to do some morning meditation or enjoy a bowl of pasta as the sun goes down, highlighting the orange of the sandstone cliffs across the river. Surrounded by National Parks and completely free of cars and traffic, this is a beautiful little retreat, perfect for a family or a group of friends to meet up and re centre. At Bar Point there are no shops or cafes so you must bring everything you need with you, basic pantry staples such as salt, pepper, cooking oil etc are provided. Kayaks, fishing poles and crab pots provided. Our own private residence is a separate apartment upstairs, there are no shared walls or internal stairs and you will have your own private entrance, however as it is a large, old wooden house you may at times hear us moving about upstairs, naturally we try to be as quiet as possible when we have guests visiting. We will leave you entirely to yourselves but if you do need any help or information or even a little guided walking tour of the locality we are very happy to accommodate you. Our sauna deck is a shared area which guests are welcome to use, heating the sauna takes an hour or two, so just let us know and we will get it all ready for you with fresh towels, scented oils and branches of freshly cut lavender or wormwood to create a beautiful ambience.
Toilets
Showers
Wifi
from 
AU$484
 / night

5. Fern Gully

97%
(290)
42km from Pretty Beach · 13 sites · Tents, RVs
Check in: MUST BE BEFORE 7PM. YOU MUST ARRIVE ON SITE BEFORE 7PM. No check in available after sunset. Text us at least 2 hours before if you are going to be late. Enter the driveway and park at the front carpark. Walk to the house and meet Les and/or Jade for directions to campsite location. Please make your booking prior to 1pm for same day arrival. The property is 40 acres of beautiful bushland, backing on to the Olney State Forest. Camp on a grassy site overlooking the dam or nestled in amongst the trees. Pets allowed. Keep your dog on leash at your campsite and under supervision at all times. Clean up after your dog. Fire pits provided on each campsite. Do not dismantle fire pits. Campsites have no toilet or shower facilities, and no electrical connection. Please bring your own water. Dry organic firewood for sale $15 for 15kgs Bag on request. Fresh free-range eggs for sale when available. Please respect our home and property and leave the campsite in the good condition you found it. The property is just 7kms from the M1 motorway (take the Morisset exit off the M1) and Morisset just 10kms away with shops and fuel. There is plenty to do in the Morisset area including visiting the pretty Gap Creek Falls in the Watagans National Park or kayaking around beautiful Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake. There are some great areas for hiking, bike riding, bird watching and more. Set on the western foreshore of Lake Macquarie, which has the bush in its backyard. Find a patch of shade for a picnic in Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area where you can spot kangaroos and other wildlife. The saltwater lake is a haven for sea turtles and dolphins and you might see sea eagles and kookaburras, too. Fern Gully is just 1.5 hours drive from Sydney! We look forward to meeting you.
Campfires
Potable water
Picnic table
from 
AU$55
 / night

A suburb in the central coast area of New South Wales, Pretty Beach lives up to its name with pristine shorelines that face Brisbane Water. Stay in town at waterfront caravan parks, or venture outside of Pretty Beach campgrounds for more opportunities in nature. Bouddi National Park is a unique combination of beaches, bushland, Aboriginal heritage sites, and tent pitches with private firepits. Or head to Brisbane Water National Park—it’s an ancient landscape of wildflower fields and rainforest with winding walking tracks, including part of the Great North walk. Across Broken Bay, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offers a look into more Aboriginal culture, as well as walking tracks, creeks, an old lighthouse, and cabin rentals with terraces along the shoreline.

95% (9.7K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Pretty Beach

2. Brightwater

99%
(114)
41km from Pretty Beach · 1 site · Tent, RV
Brightwater sits beside Olney State Forest and Kuluwan Flora Reserve. It is a 50-acre farm with a lovely spring-fed dam, with our nearby campsite. The site contains van parking, an open pavilion, an open deck by the stream, a fire pit, and a dunny. It is private and secluded, and with just one group staying at a time, you are guaranteed the space to yourselves. Please go straight ahead on Collins Ave and enter through the car entrance, NOT the truck entrance which is off to the right. If you come in the truck entrance I can't see you. There are many beautiful walking and bike trails in the area. Lots of wildlife to meet, including water dragons, wild ducks, and pythons, to name a few. There is also nearby evidence of the original occupants, the Darkinjung people. You are also welcome to bring a couple of horses! There's a safe paddock with a trough and nice trails in the area to explore. The Kulnura General Store and bottleshop is just 9km down the road for basic supplies.
Toilets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
AU$109
 / night

4. Kalighat River House 

17km from Pretty Beach · 1 site · Lodging
Accessible only by boat, this secluded and lovingly decorated house at Bar Point on the Hawkesbury River, (aka Deerubbin,) is only an hour from the Sydney CBD. This beautiful Artists retreat is surrounded by nature. You don't have to be an artist to stay with us, but we do offer free boat transfers for artists and musicians. You will arrive by boat and soak up the serenity. Large deck with river views. Located on the waterfront on the Eastern side of Bar Point. Our custom-designed Finnish sauna offers a unique and holistic experience, the combination of heat, dimmed lights, and the smell of cedar or essential oils creates a healing ambience that is both invigorating and comforting. The house is full of Art, books, games, and DVDs, there is also the 'yoga deck' behind the house with even more expansive views of the river - a perfect place to do some morning meditation or enjoy a bowl of pasta as the sun goes down, highlighting the orange of the sandstone cliffs across the river. Surrounded by National Parks and completely free of cars and traffic, this is a beautiful little retreat, perfect for a family or a group of friends to meet up and re centre. At Bar Point there are no shops or cafes so you must bring everything you need with you, basic pantry staples such as salt, pepper, cooking oil etc are provided. Kayaks, fishing poles and crab pots provided. Our own private residence is a separate apartment upstairs, there are no shared walls or internal stairs and you will have your own private entrance, however as it is a large, old wooden house you may at times hear us moving about upstairs, naturally we try to be as quiet as possible when we have guests visiting. We will leave you entirely to yourselves but if you do need any help or information or even a little guided walking tour of the locality we are very happy to accommodate you. Our sauna deck is a shared area which guests are welcome to use, heating the sauna takes an hour or two, so just let us know and we will get it all ready for you with fresh towels, scented oils and branches of freshly cut lavender or wormwood to create a beautiful ambience.
Toilets
Showers
Wifi
from 
AU$484
 / night

5. Fern Gully

97%
(290)
42km from Pretty Beach · 13 sites · Tents, RVs
Check in: MUST BE BEFORE 7PM. YOU MUST ARRIVE ON SITE BEFORE 7PM. No check in available after sunset. Text us at least 2 hours before if you are going to be late. Enter the driveway and park at the front carpark. Walk to the house and meet Les and/or Jade for directions to campsite location. Please make your booking prior to 1pm for same day arrival. The property is 40 acres of beautiful bushland, backing on to the Olney State Forest. Camp on a grassy site overlooking the dam or nestled in amongst the trees. Pets allowed. Keep your dog on leash at your campsite and under supervision at all times. Clean up after your dog. Fire pits provided on each campsite. Do not dismantle fire pits. Campsites have no toilet or shower facilities, and no electrical connection. Please bring your own water. Dry organic firewood for sale $15 for 15kgs Bag on request. Fresh free-range eggs for sale when available. Please respect our home and property and leave the campsite in the good condition you found it. The property is just 7kms from the M1 motorway (take the Morisset exit off the M1) and Morisset just 10kms away with shops and fuel. There is plenty to do in the Morisset area including visiting the pretty Gap Creek Falls in the Watagans National Park or kayaking around beautiful Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake. There are some great areas for hiking, bike riding, bird watching and more. Set on the western foreshore of Lake Macquarie, which has the bush in its backyard. Find a patch of shade for a picnic in Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area where you can spot kangaroos and other wildlife. The saltwater lake is a haven for sea turtles and dolphins and you might see sea eagles and kookaburras, too. Fern Gully is just 1.5 hours drive from Sydney! We look forward to meeting you.
Campfires
Potable water
Picnic table
from 
AU$55
 / night

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The best dog-friendly camping near Pretty Beach guide

Where to go

Bouddi National Park

Comprising the area immediately surrounding Pretty Beach, Bouddi National Park is made up of a diverse landscape of beaches, heathlands, cliffsides, and rainforest. Go swimming, fishing, or kayaking along the beaches. Or take walking tracks and biking trails through the park to significant Aboriginal heritage sites, wildflower fields, and even an old shipwreck. Bouddi Coastal Walk is renowned as one of the most beautiful walking tracks in the region, measuring 8 kilometres from Macmasters Beach to Putty Beach. Spend the night at tent campsites nearby, providing amenities like potable water, composting toilets, picnic tables, private firepits, and rubbish bins.

Brisbane Water National Park

Northwest of Pretty Beach, Brisbane Water National Park’s walking and cycling tracks take campers through scenic views and hundreds of Aboriginal rock engraving sites. Hiking trails throughout the park range from short loops to overnight treks. The park even hosts part of the Great North walk, from Wondabyne to Patonga and Patonga to Pearl Beach. Over 270 animal species make their habitats in the park as well, including rare and threatened birds like the glossy black cockatoo and spotted tail quoll. Caravan, camper trailer, and tent camping are available nearby and provide amenities such as flush toilets, potable water, hot showers, and dog-friendly campsites.

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Across Broken Bay, Ku-ring-gai National Park is the second oldest national park in Australia. It combines scenic views, natural beauty, and important historical sites. Bushwalking tracks and mountain-biking trails lead through the creeks, rainforests, eucalypts, and mangroves of the park. Or explore Aboriginal heritage through engravings and rock art at Red Hands Cave. Visit Barrenjoey Lighthouse to learn about the area’s maritime history as well. Campsites near the park provide all the amenities necessary for an adventure, including flush toilets, potable water, hot showers, and shared cooking equipment. Along with tent pitches, terraces and cabins are available for peaceful, private, beachfront escapes.

When to go

Summer is the most popular time to visit Pretty Beach with the sun, sand, and surf setting a scene for swimming and snorkelling. Spring is also ideal as it brings a wealth of vibrant wildflowers and blooming fields in the area. Winters in Pretty Beach are mild, with July temperatures averaging about 16°C. However, winters are also particularly popular for whale watching as humpback whales make their way northward from May to July, making Pretty Beach a great year-round camping destination.