A great way to find campsites in Australia that are dog friendly is via the Hipcamp app. We booked a campsite via Hipcamp on the Shambhala Campground for a long weekend, which turned out to be a great decision – or must I say a great decision from our friends who did the groundwork and actually found the spot. But let’s not focus on the small details 😉
The campground is located on a 95 acre property in Bloomfield between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown. If you don’t have a high clearance vehicle it may be a bit of a bumpy road to get to the campground but it’s so worth it!
Biggie relaxing at Shambhala Campground
When driving to the Shambhala Campground coming from Cairns, you can choose to either take the Bloomfield 4WD track or take the highway going over Lakeland. Both routes take about 4 hours to get to the campground. For the way up we decided to take the Bloomfield 4WD track which was an amazing experience. However, you’ll need a 4WD when taking this route and be aware that there are multiple water crossings. Let the adventure begin! 😀
Biggie ready for the next adventure
When you decide to take the Bloomfield 4WD-track you drive just past Port Douglas and take the Daintree Ferry over to the Daintree. This on itself is already an experience but be prepared to wait as it can take some time before you’re able to get onto the ferry.
We had to wait about 20 minutes before we were able to cross the Daintree River with the ferry.
A one-way ticket costs $23 and a return trip $39. For more information on the Daintree Ferry, check out their website.
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the Daintree National Park. We therefore didn’t make a pit stop and just enjoyed the beautiful drive throughout the Daintree.
When the 4WD-track ends, you continue your way to the small town Wujal Wujal. At the end of this town and still being on Rossville Bloomfield Road, you take a left onto a dirt road which will lead you to the campground.
We actually missed the ‘exit’ and drove too far, ending up at the Bloomfield Middle Shop where we had to call the owner for directions. Therefore, if you drive past the Bloomfield Middle Shop you know you have gone too far and need to turn around.
Bloom field track dog friendly water hole
If you don’t have a 4WD or are just looking for an easy drive to get to the campground, you can also get there by driving over the highway. When leaving from Cairns, you drive towards Port Douglas and then follow Lakeland after which you’ll be able to continue your trip to Bloomfield. We took this route on the way back and were happy we did as the scenery is absolutely stunning!
Port douglas range camping with dogs
There are currently 3 campsites, all of them royal in size and allow up to 7 people per site. We stayed on the top-left campsite, which was a great large open grassy space and had a small shed which was very handy.
The view from this site is absolutely amazing as you are a bit higher up and completely surrounded by the tropical rain forest. There is a fire-pit which was perfect for cooking and to relax around in the evening.
Making fire is serious business whenever we go camping, so we always make sure we bring enough fire wood. However, if you do fall short there is plenty of fallen timber around the property you can help yourself to.
There is also a small but lovely creek that flows through the property which was great for the dogs to cool down. We were told though to not let the dogs wander around the creek as there may be crocodiles around. You got to love FNQ, hey :). Even though there is probably a small chance of them actually being up there, we’re rather safe than sorry and kept Biggie on the leash and closeby. The boys tried to catch some fish in the creek, unfortunately without any success.
The area is absolute stunning with plenty to see and do so we’d highly recommend to go out and explore the area during the day.
Shambhala campground baloo posing
There is an amazing waterhole located about a 20 minutes’ drive from the campground. And the best part is that you can bring your dog because it’s just outside the Cedar Bay National Park! The water is clear and it’s not too deep so you can take your dog for a nice refreshing swim.
Biggie had the best time at the waterhole swimming and playing with his friends.
As it’s very easy to drive by this amazing waterhole we have put down the coordinates below so you can check this spot out for yourself!
These are the coordinates for the waterhole: 15°49’59.4″S 145°19’56.5″E
Bloomfield track dog friendly water hole
To get to Shambhala Campground, you can either take the Bloomfield 4WD track or the highway going over Lakeland. If you are driving from Cairns, you can take either route, both of which take about four hours to get to the campground. If you take the Bloomfield 4WD track, you will need a 4WD vehicle, and there are multiple water crossings to be aware of. The campground is located on a 95-acre property in Bloomfield between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown.
Currently, there are three campsites at Shambhala Campground, all of which are spacious and can accommodate up to seven people per site. The top-left campsite is open and grassy, and it has a small shed, fire pit, and an excellent view of the tropical rainforest.
Yes, Shambhala Campground is dog-friendly, and it can be found on the Hipcamp app. Dogs are allowed on the property and are permitted to swim in the nearby creek. However, dogs are not allowed in the Daintree National Park, so if you’re taking the Bloomfield 4WD track, you should skip that stop.
The Bloomfield 4WD track is a road that you can take to get to Shambhala Campground. If you decide to take the Bloomfield 4WD track, you will need a 4WD vehicle and be aware that there are multiple water crossings. The track starts just past Port Douglas and takes you to the small town of Wujal Wujal. At the end of this town, you will take a left onto a dirt road, which will lead you to the campground.
Yes, there is a dog-friendly waterhole located about 20 minutes’ drive from the campground. It is just outside the Cedar Bay National Park, and dogs are permitted to swim in the water. The waterhole is clear and not too deep, making it an excellent spot to take your furry friend for a refreshing swim. The coordinates for the waterhole are 15°49’59.4″S 145°19’56.5″E, and it can be found on the Bloomfield track.
Camping is the best! Main reason I love camping soooo much is that I always get food from the BBQ.
Running around in the fresh air all day and swimming is my fave, especially when my besties are coming with as well. This spot has everything I ever wanted and I had a pawsome time!
I give it 10 paws for awesomeness!