We recently hit the road to check out Reflections Holiday Park Shaws Bay in Ballina on the far north coast of New South Wales. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much, not being a huge fan of holiday parks. But being both a dog friendly caravan park and located in the beautiful Ballina, it piqued my curiosity.
Now, I don’t always bring my dog along because a number of caravan parks over the years have said that he is either too big, or they don’t accept that particular breed. But Reflections Shaws Bay in Ballina, in true ‘dog friendly’ form, welcomed my large wolfhound cross with open arms into their caravan park. Not just in the campsites either, but also in one of their beautiful dog friendly tiny homes. I should point out that he is eight years old, very lazy and well past the challenging puppy stage.
This holiday park turned out to be one of the best I have ever stayed at. Not just because they were ‘truly’ dog friendly, but because of the fantastic location by the river in Ballina. More about that a little further down, including what is great and what could be better.
But first, check out our YouTube video of what we loved about the dog friendly Shaws Bay Reflections Caravan Park in Ballina.
Can’t be bothered reading? Watch this YouTube video instead!
Accommodation
Caravan park sites
All of the caravan park sites are dog friendly here at Shaws Bay, Ballina and both powered and unpowered sites are available. Set up right along the bay or perch higher on the hill for great views over the water. There is a mix of grassy and slab sites available but with the Historic Shaws Bay Hotel not too far from the park, it’s best to get as close to the water as possible if you don’t want to listen to the weekend live music.
Tiny homes and cabins
All three tiny homes are waterfront on the Richmond River and boast 1-bedroom with a queen-sized bed, a decent-sized ensuite, a fully equipped kitchen and a sofa bed in the living area. All are dog friendly! The fence around the veranda means you don’t have to keep your furry friend tied up all the time.
There are also a number of cabins within the park, both waterfront and set back a little. The cabins are well-equipped with premium, standard, deluxe and pet-friendly options available.
How dog-friendly is it?
Well, there’s a dog fence on three sides of the holiday park and the tiny homes have veranda fences worthy of a wolfhound. Some of the cabins have dog friendly front porches as well.
You’ll find dog waste bags around the park and there is also a free dog wash bay onsite. Although there is no official exercise area inside the park, you won’t need one as there is plenty of grass and walking tracks just outside.
Of course, you still need to follow all the usual caravan park rules such as keeping your dog contained, keeping them quiet and picking up all their messes.
Regular facilities
In addition to being dog friendly, Reflections Holiday Park in Shaws Bay Ballina has all the usual facilities, including large, clean amenities, laundry, BBQ areas and an inside camp kitchen, which is always appreciated when the weather is not so great.
For those with kids, there is a swing set and a climbing frame onsite next to the laundry. However, if you’re looking for a park with all the whiz-bang pools, slides, jumping pillows and pedal carts, this one is not for you. In fact, it has none of these things and it’s for this reason that it’s pure bliss.
I should add that I am always travelling with kids, so I say this from a parent’s perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed that Reflections Holiday Park Shaws Bay was dog friendly and had a chilled-out seaside caravan park vibe rather than being chock full of kids’ entertainment. Families can enjoy what nature has to offer right out front in the sand, sun and water.
I much prefer swimming, fishing and seaside strolls to hanging around crowded pools and playgrounds while trying to ensure my kids don’t break a bone double bouncing themselves off the jumping pillow.
The location is the real winner here
Nestled beside both Shaws Bay and the Richmond River and just two hours from Brisbane, it really doesn’t get much better. The water is just on the other side of the park fence, which by the way, is an open rail fence so you don’t lose out on the views.
Right out front is the well known North Wall Walk, which links with Ballina’s 25 kilometres of cycling paths. Surfing, hiking, boating and paddling – it’s all either right next to the park, or not to far away.
Sadly, the Richmond River beach directly in front of the park doesn’t allow dogs. However, there is still plenty of grass, foreshore and walking paths to stroll with your furry friend. There is a dog friendly beach within walking distance of the caravan park and other dedicated dog beaches around Ballina. Head to Angels Beach and Patch’s Beach to catch some surf. Patch’s beach makes for a great morning out with your family and pooch as you get to take your car over on the Ballina Ferry.
Ballina itself is well-placed for sightseeing the broader region, from world-famous Byron Bay to the laid-back Lennox Head and Brunswick Heads. Make sure you snap your obligatory selfie in front of the Big Prawn.
What we love and what could be better about this dog friendly caravan park in Ballina
We love these things:
- It’s ‘truly’ dog friendly.
- The location is amazing next to the Richmond River, Shaws Bay and North Wall Walk in Ballina.
- It feels like a quintessential holiday by the sea caravan park.
- You can hear the water lapping the sand at night and not much else.
What could be better:
- The Richmond River ‘beach’ right out front of the holiday park doesn’t allow dogs.
- If you book a caravan site towards the back of the park, it could potentially be a little loud from the nearby hotel when they have live music on. Try to get as close to the riverfront as possible.
