A Dog-Friendly Adventure: Melbourne to Naracoorte (via Dimboola and Murtoa!)

Looking for a unique road trip that’s dog-friendly and packed with hidden gems? Our recent adventure took us from Melbourne to Naracoorte, with a stop in Dimboola on the way there and a detour through Murtoa on the way home. It might not be the quickest route, but it sure was worth it for the scenic spots and peaceful overnight stop.

Stop 1: Dimboola – The Perfect Bush Escape for a Dog

Dimboola was our first stop, and Buddy wasted no time stretching his legs and sniffing his way down the walking tracks. The free camp here is a peaceful spot nestled among a mix of tree species - just be mindful of the occasional gum tree! From the free campsite, we walked past the football oval to go straight to the river, then followed the river around the bend (you bet I was singing ‘Just around the Riverbend’ the entire time), which took us to open grass and the ‘beach’ swimming area. The swimming here isn’t super accessible; it’s steep to get down to the water, but there is a park bench from which to enjoy the view and plenty of potable water taps around.

This was just about right on the bend, so from here, the walk takes you down past the paid caravan park Riverside Holiday Park Dimboola, where a local artwork trail starts. It parts from the river and winds back towards the sporting clubs and playground, past the toilets to the road we drive in on to get to the free camp. 

Of course, a big draw card for visiting Dimboola was the Salt Lake, which we visited first thing in the morning before heading to Naracoorte. We drove over to the roadside car park before making our coffee and taking it down to the lake. It’s rare to find dog-friendly attractions like this since they’re largely in National Parks, so I was excited to take Buddy and see how he would behave with the salt - predictably, he tried to eat it. 

• Distance: 340 km from Melbourne, 37 km from Horsham

• Campsite Info: Open layout, no designated spots but easy to find a level area

• Amenities: Basic, on-site toilets were a bit of a walk, over by the bowls courts at the entrance.

• Cost: Free 

• Cell Reception: ⭐️ ⭐️ (patchy but manageable)

• Links: Anycamp, Pink Lake Dimboola

Dimboola Recreation Reserve

Pink Lake Dimboola

Stop 2: Naracoorte – Showgrounds & Caves

My mum is from Naracoorte - so I’ve been plenty of times growing up, but I’ve never taken this route before, nor stayed at the showgrounds. With its dog-friendly showgrounds and famous caves to explore, the town is a popular tourist destination of a decent size. The showgrounds were a great place to camp, offering plenty of grassy space, old stables and a nice loop driveway around the long sites, all perfect for sniffing around. 

I decided to leave Buddy with my mum and went for a trip to the caves with my cousins; I hadn’t been since I was a kid and realised I couldn’t remember a thing about them. There are several caves to delve into - with different themes; if you’re not sure about being underground, I recommend the XXX as it’s open and a little bit like descending into a sinkhole; birds were flying in, and out the entire time we were there! (far above our heads, don’t worry). 

• Distance: 449km from Melbourne, 146 km from Horsham, although we went via Bordertown from the Pink Lake, so we travelled 194kms instead. 

• Campsite Info: Spacious sites, mostly flat ground, easy access

• Amenities: Plumbed toilet block (separate M & F)

• Cost: $30 per night

• Cell Reception: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Excellent signal

• Links: Naracoorte Showgrounds, Naracoorte Caves National Park

Photo: Naracoorte Caves + Buddy being a doofus in town (Reel incoming!)

Detour Through Murtoa – Because Why Not? (Actually, because there was a fire)

On the way home, we opted for a detour via Murtoa rather than the more direct route from Naracoorte due to the Christmas fires in the Grampians. I just didn't want to get in the way of any fire trucks or people evacuating the area! The Wimmera Highway from Horsham to St Arnaud isn’t the smoothest ride, but stopping at Rabl Park Lake was a great decision. While Mum and I had a peaceful picnic lunch, Buddy loved trotting along the water’s edge.

There is also Marma Lake, which is larger and has a caravan park based on its shores. From there, we punched Bendigo into the GPS to prevent us from being routed back via Horsham and came into Melbourne from the North (making it a 337km trip). Being in the bus, I had to slow down a hell of a lot on the rough roads, but it turned out to only add about an hour rather than coming back via Horsham, so take it easy if you're towing a van or in any other vehicle with some weight to it! You won’t be slowed down too much overall. If you do have time to visit Bendigo on your trip, it’s a great path to take for some more interesting roads and towns to drive through, such as St Arnaud. 

• Distance: 294 km from Melbourne (directly), 31 km from Horsham

• Pitstop Info: Parking was a breeze, very nice playground and clean toilets

• Link: Rabl Park Playground 

Rabl Park Lake, Murtoa

Final Thoughts 

This road trip may not have been the most conventional route, but it was well worth it. It made a trip that’s fairly routine to me an adventure again! From peaceful walks in Dimboola to the natural wonders of Naracoorte and the charm of Murtoa, it’s a trip we’d happily do again.

🐶 Follow Buddy’s adventures: @buddythebusdog 🗺️ 

Got a favourite dog-friendly road trip route? Let us know in the comments!