Four years of full-time van life across Australia will teach you a thing or two about travelling with a dog. For Dom and Jesso, it's become second nature - and their latest stop with their beloved dog Chop? The spectacular coastline of Yallingup in Western Australia's Margaret River region, where they based themselves at Tasman Holiday Parks – Yallingup Beach.

2 July 2026

Meet the crew

Dom and Jesso have officially done a lap of Australia - all of it - in their van with Chop by their side. They're the kind of travellers who've figured out the rhythm of pet-friendly road tripping and want you to know it's genuinely easier than you think. We sat down with them to get the full lowdown on what made Yallingup such a standout stop.

"It felt really relaxed from the start"

For Dom and Jesso, the key to a stress-free trip is knowing your dog is welcome before you even arrive. At Tasman Holiday Parks – Yallingup Beach, that was a given.

"Travelling to Yallingup with Chop was honestly super easy," says Jesso. "Knowing she was welcome at the holiday park and there were so many pet-friendly spots nearby made the trip feel really relaxed."

That's the sweet spot of a great pet-friendly destination - not just a park that tolerates dogs, but a whole area that genuinely accommodates them. Yallingup delivers on both.

Follow their journey through WA 👉 Dom, Jesso & Chop

The perfect Yallingup day (with a dog in tow)

Ask Dom and Jesso to map out their ideal day and you get something that sounds pretty close to perfect - fur baby included.

It starts with coffee from the Yallingup General Store and one of the flaky Nutella pastries from Gugelhupf Bakery nearby. From there, the crew splits briefly: Jesso heads to Yallingup Beach for a surf while Dom takes Chop for a wander around Rabbits Beach.

Then it's a drive over to Smiths Beach for a swim and a stretch in the sun, before lunch at Swings & Roundabouts - where the wood-fired pizza is well worth the stop and Chop is welcome to come along.

And the closer? Sunset on the lookout benches at Tasman Holiday Parks with a little cheese board and the kind of ocean view that makes you wonder why you'd ever travel any other way.

"The views are probably some of the best we've ever had at a holiday park," says Dom. "The outdoor bench and BBQ area overlooking the ocean - such a perfect sunset spot."

What surprised them most

After four years and a full lap of the country, not much catches Dom and Jesso off guard anymore. But they're always happy to report back to anyone still on the fence about bringing their dog along.

"It's way more doable than people think," Jesso says. "It definitely takes a little extra planning compared to travelling without a dog, especially around national parks - but it's so worth it. Seeing how happy she is coming along on all the adventures makes it really rewarding."

Finding accommodation hasn't been the hurdle many expect either. "Whenever we've needed a cabin or accommodation it's actually been pretty easy to find pet-friendly options."

Their dog-travel packing essentials

Living in a van means Dom and Jesso travel with everything they own - but there are a couple of Chop-specific items they'd never leave behind.

The non-negotiables:
- A portable water bottle for walks and beach days
- Chop's hammock-style camp bed that folds up like a chair - "she's obsessed with it"

Simple, practical, and easy to pack. That's the van life way.

The "this is why we brought the dog" moment

It wasn't a sunrise surf check or a cliffside lookout that gave them the moment - it was the quiet stuff.

"Coming back to the cabin after a big day exploring and all cuddling up on the couch watching Netflix together," says Jesso. "Living in the van full-time means we don't always have a lot of space, so having a cosy cabin to properly relax in together felt really special."

Which brings us to the great cabin vs. campsite debate...

Cabin or campsite?

For dedicated van lifers, it might seem like a loaded question - but Dom and Jesso don't hesitate.

"The cabin wins for us, especially in winter. Having extra space, being warm and cosy, and being able to properly relax with the dog after a big day exploring is hard to beat."

It's the best of both worlds: the freedom of the road, with a proper base to come home to.

Their advice for anyone on the fence

If you're still weighing up whether to bring your dog on your next trip to WA - or anywhere in Australia - Dom and Jesso have a simple message.

"It's honestly not as hard as you probably think it is. You figure things out along the way, and there are so many pet-friendly places, services and holiday parks now that make it really easy."

And for those moments when you want to explore somewhere dogs can't go - certain national parks, for instance - they point to the growing number of pet-sitting services around the country as a reliable workaround.

"Places like Tasman offering pet-friendly sites and cabins really takes away a lot of the stress."

Plan your pet-friendly Yallingup escape

Tasman Holiday Parks - Yallingup Beach welcomes dogs at both powered sites and select cabins, putting you right on the doorstep of some of WA's most beautiful coastline.

Don't miss:
- Yallingup Beach & Rabbits Beach - morning walks with epic surf views
- Smiths Beach - dog-friendly and ideal for a swim
- Yallingup General Store - coffee and a browse
- Gugelhupf Bakery - pastry essential
- Swings & Roundabouts - pet-friendly lunch stop with great pizza
- Tasman Holiday Parks lookout - the sunset view to end all sunset views

Ready to bring your dog along? Browse our pet-friendly holiday parks across Australia and start planning your next adventure.