Sunnie the golden takes the wheel (not literally) and guides you through a pet friendly NSW South Coast escape - covering the best dog-friendly spots in Merimbula, what to pack, and why pet friendly camping and cabin stays make the whole trip easier.

17 June 2026

This is Sunnie. She has strong opinions about beaches, an impressive puppaccino habit, and two humans - Mia and Brody - who she graciously allows to accompany her on holidays. Together, the three of them recently made the drive down to Merimbula on the NSW South Coast for a pet friendly escape at Tasman Holiday Parks. Sunnie documented everything.

Why Merimbula? Let me count the reasons.

There are places humans go on holiday that are not especially interesting to dogs. This is not one of them. Merimbula, on the NSW South Coast, is the kind of town where the beach is five minutes from your front door, the coffee shop knows your order, and the locals welcome four-legged guests without so much as a second glance.

I came here with my humans, Mia and Brody, and I am very pleased to report it was everything I was hoping for - and more. The beaches are wide and wild, the air smells incredibly good, and virtually everywhere we wanted to go, I was allowed to come too. That is basically my entire criteria for a perfect holiday destination.

The Stay...

Home base: Tasman Holiday Parks Merimbula

We stayed in a pet-friendly cabin at Tasman Holiday Parks, and I want to be very clear that this decision made the whole trip easier. Not just for me - for my humans too, though they would never admit how much they needed the help.

The cabin meant I could sleep inside with my people, which is non-negotiable as far as I am concerned. After a full day of beach swims and sand rolling, there was space to stretch out properly, air conditioning for the warm afternoons, and a kitchen where I could supervise the preparation of snacks. It felt less like a holiday accommodation and more like a home base we could actually relax in.

The location is brilliant, too. Town is nearby, the beach is close, and every spontaneous outing - coffee runs, evening walks, quick swims - was completely effortless. When you are travelling with a dog, that kind of proximity matters more than you might expect. Nobody wants a 40-minute drive between them and the beach when someone in the group is whining to get back in the water. (That someone was me.)

The itinerary...

A perfect day, as told by me...Sunnie 🐶

You may be wondering what the ideal Merimbula day looks like from a dog's perspective. Allow me to walk you through it.

It starts early - because I make it start early - with a trip to Fleetwood Coffee for my humans' morning flat whites and, more importantly, my puppaccino. I like to sit nearby, look extremely good, and accept compliments from strangers while Mia and Brody pretend the outing was their idea.

From there, we head straight to Bar Beach for what I consider the main event: full-speed zoomies across the sand, swimming with extreme enthusiasm until someone says "okay, that's enough now," and then a little more swimming anyway. Bar Beach has the kind of open space and rolling waves that make a dog feel genuinely free, and I highly recommend it to every dog reading this.

After a big morning, back to the cabin for a rest - essential recovery after so much professional activity - before heading out again in the afternoon. Evenings in Merimbula go golden and calm in a way that is best appreciated slowly, preferably on a coastal walk where everything smells interesting.

Where to go...

Sunnie's recommended spots 🐾

Bar Beach: Wide open sand, excellent waves, prime conditions for zoomies and swimming. My personal highlight of the whole trip.
Short Point: Off-leash freedom with sweeping headland views. Worth every step of the walk to get there.
Fleetwood Cafe & Mitchies Jetty: Serves puppaccinos. That's all I need to say, though I will add the coffee for humans is apparently very good too. P.S Mitchies is a waterfront spot which is even better from zoomies!
Merimbula Mangrove Boardwalk: A leisurely afternoon stroll through the mangroves with genuinely excellent sniffing opportunities at every turn. Unhurried and beautiful - one of those walks that reminds you what holidays are actually for.

What to pack 🦴🐶

The essential dog travel kit

My humans packed well, and I am prepared to give them credit for it. Here is what came with us - and what I would recommend to any dog dispatching their people to prepare for a similar adventure.

A note on towels: if beach trips are involved - and they should be - one towel is never enough. Bring two. Minimum. You will thank me for this, and I will graciously accept the thanks.

Advice...

What humans overthink (and really don't need to)

A lot of humans worry that travelling with their dog will be difficult. Restrictive. More hassle than it's worth. I am here to tell you that this is largely a story you are telling yourselves.

When you choose a pet-friendly base like Tasman Holiday Parks, and a destination like Merimbula where dog-friendly beaches, cafés, and walking tracks are genuinely built into the fabric of the place, the logistics mostly take care of themselves. We do not require elaborate arrangements. We do not need our own itinerary or special programme. We just need to come along, stretch our legs, and be part of the adventure.

The best holiday I have ever had was not complicated. It was a cabin near the beach, good walks, coffee stops where I was welcomed, and my people nearby the whole time. That is it. That is the whole formula.

The verdict 🐾

The cabin stay at Tasman Holiday Parks Merimbula gets my full endorsement. The comfort after big beach days, the easy access to town and coastline, and the genuine sense that dogs are welcome here - not just tolerated, but actually welcomed - made this the kind of trip I would do again without hesitation.

Merimbula is proof that travelling with your dog does not mean compromising on the holiday. It means the holiday is simply better.

- Sunnie · Merimbula, NSW