Wally's Roost Dog Friendly Camping
This campground is great for a little get away. And the best part is that you can bring your dog along! The location of the camp site is perfect if you want to go out and explore during the day, as there are a lot of fun things to do around in the area.
The camp site is located a bit over an hour drive from Cairns, in Chewko. The site can be booked via Hipcamp.
Wally's Roost entrance gate
Wally's Roost The Campsite
The owners of the property are wonderful people, who are wildlife carers and have turned their property into a wildlife reserve for animals. We have seen multiple wallabies hopping by when we stayed there, and the owners also organise night viewings so you can check out possums as well as wallabies. Great fun for the kids (as well as for us adults)!
There are 3 sites available, with 1 having direct access to a seasonal creek. We have stayed at Wally’s Roost a couple of times now and all sites are absolutely beautiful. However, as our dog Biggie loooooves to swim he prefers to stay on site 3 called ‘’Wally’s Waterhole’’. This is the camp site with direct access to the creek. Site 3 also has a water tap which is very convenient for filling up your dog’s water bowl or doing the dishes.
If you’re not too bothered about having a swim in the creek or direct creek access, we really enjoyed staying on site 1. This spot has lots of trees which provides a great amount of shade and has a great firepit. As the campground is a bit more inland, the temperatures drop slightly at night which makes it perfect to light the campfire, have a bbq and relax by the fire. Biggie is normally exhausted by then from exploring all day and loves to take a nap by the campfire.
Wallys Roost Creek
Things to do in the area
Emerald Creek
If you’re up for some dog-friendly adventures during the day, Emerald Creek is only a 30-minute drive from the campground. Emerald Creek is a great place to go for a refreshing swim. The water can get quite cold depending on the time of year, but it’s worth it! And if your dog loves to swim, he/she will love it. You can walk all the way up to the waterfall if you’re up for it, which is a great walk for you and your dog. And the best part of it is that at the end you can take a swim at the bottom of the waterfall.
If you want to read more about Emerald Creek, check out our blog post about Emerald Creek.
Emerald Creek Ice Creamery
When we’re visiting this area, we normally always make a pit stop at the Emerald Ice Creamery. They have the best ice cream in the area and have a beautiful backyard where you can sit under the trees with your dog enjoying your ice cream.
Mareeba Drive In Theatre
Another fun thing to do in the area is the Mareeba Drive in Theatre, which is only a 15min drive from the camp site. The Theatre is dog-friendly and they are open every Friday and Saturday.
Other things to do in the area (not dog-friendly)
Other fun things to do in the area and worth a visit are Granite Gorge and Davies Creek. Unfortunately, both these places do not permit dogs hence you probably want to check these out when your doggie is not coming along for the ride.
Biggie at Emerald Creek
Frequently asked questions
Wally’s Roost Dog Friendly Camping is a campground located in Chewko, a bit over an hour drive from Cairns. It is a great spot for a little getaway where you can bring your dog along.
The owners of Wally’s Roost are wonderful people who are wildlife carers and have turned their property into a wildlife reserve for animals. They also organise night viewings for possums and wallabies.
Site 3 called “Wally’s Waterhole” is the best campsite for dogs that love to swim as it has direct access to a seasonal creek and a water tap for filling up water bowls or doing the dishes.
Emerald Creek is a great place to go for a refreshing swim with your dog, and the Emerald Creek Ice Creamery is a good spot for some ice cream while sitting under the trees with your dog. The Mareeba Drive in Theatre is also a dog-friendly spot for entertainment.
No, Granite Gorge and Davies Creek do not permit dogs, so they are not dog-friendly places to visit.
Yes, there is a limit of six people per campsite at Wally’s Roost.
There is no electricity available at the campsites at Wally’s Roost, but there is a water tap available at each site. Additionally, there is an outdoor shower for campers to use.
It’s recommended to book a campsite at Wally’s Roost as far in advance as possible, especially during peak season. It’s best to check the Hipcamp website for availability and book as soon as you know your travel plans.
Biggie’s verdict
I give this camping 5 paws! I love it when my pawrents book the spot with the creek as I can swim in the water all day. I am a Lab so I am the best swimmer hehe! At night-time it gets a bit cooler which is just amazing. And when we’re all sitting together at the campfire at the end of the day, I secretly close my eyes, being the happiest dog in the world.