Is Van Life Possible with a Dog?

For us, van life in Australia with our pup, Miley, was the ultimate dream! It has been a mix of freedom, chaos and pure joy that we couldn’t imagine doing without her.

We're here to say that is 100% possible to explore Australia with a dog! Here’s a rundown on what it’s like to hit the road with your four-legged furry friend!

Endless Joy

Every day with Miley brings us endless entertainment. Whether she’s chasing waves, swimming with the fish, bounding in the snow or sprinting a million miles an hour towards a bird, seeing her froth life and exploring all different parts of the country is infectious and rewarding knowing that she is living the best life any dog could ask for.

The endless joy Miley brings reminds us why we ditched the 9-to-5 and chose this lifestyle. No matter what kind of day we had (even if the van breaks down and we are left stranded) she always finds a way to cheer us up.

Extra Planning Is Needed

Van life with a dog means you need to be a bit of a planner. Some campgrounds, beaches and parks have restrictions on dogs but there are always plenty of pet-friendly options out there. A quick Google search or handy apps like WikiCamps or using our handy guide can make finding them a breeze!

Some areas that restrict dogs mean we have to leave Miley behind in the van so we can still explore, which is why it's so important to have a comfortable and safe space for her in the van while we're gone. Of course, this might mean our time in certain places is cut short, but at least we don’t have to miss out completely!

Exploring National Parks

The million-dollar question everyone asks about travelling with your dog is: what about visiting national parks?

Well, it can definitely be a bit tricky at times, depending on the rules of each park and whether there are any pet sitters nearby. For us, we've always managed to find a sitter or if the restrictions only apply within the park boundaries, we’re able to leave Miley safely in the van for a few hours outside the boundaries and walk that extra little bit into the park to explore.

We always make sure never to let her out of the van while in national parks to avoid fines from rangers and to keep her safe from pest control poison baits.

Some parks and conservation areas do actually allow dogs in certain zones, so it’s worth doing a bit of research beforehand to make a plan or organise a pet sitter for the day!

However, having a dog does mean missing out on camping in national parks, which is probably the biggest downside, since some of those campgrounds are absolutely amazing and super affordable. But more often than not, there are dog-friendly camps nearby! (Karijini National Park is amazing for this!)

Fur and Mud: The Messy Reality

Let’s be real, van life with a dog can make your van pretty dirty! Miley is a Cavoodle, and her fluffy coat traps sand and dirt like a magnet, bringing the outside back inside. That means you’re constantly cleaning sand and dirt off the bed, seats, floors and just about everywhere else. But we wouldn't have it any other way, the mess is worth the endless joy of travelling with her!

She’s only tiny, so she sleeps with us on our bed. That said, she somehow manages to hog the entire bed at times! We’re not sure how manageable this would be with a larger dog, they’d definitely need their own bed somewhere in the van.

Of course, we’re heavily biased, but we reckon Cavoodles are the perfect van life doggo. They're small, their coats are hypoallergenic (so no shedding), and they hardly ever have that distinctive dog smell.

You’ll learn to embrace the mess, it’s proof of a life well-lived with your best mate.

Health and Happiness

Keeping Miley in top nick is priority one. Australia’s wild with venomous snakes bush ticks and other creepy crawlies, meaning you’ve gotta be vigilant. Monthly flea/tick meds and annual vet checks are non-negotiable. We pack cooling mats & a cooling vest for those scorching hot days and go on hikes at morning to avoid the heat. We make sure to get her out and about for her daily exercise and it helps to break up those days with extra long drives!

Overall, the extra planning, muddy/sandy paws are worth it for her boundless joy she brings us on the daily. We couldn’t imagine van life without her.

So pack the leash and hit the road with your furry friend! Australia’s waiting, and with your dog by your side, it’ll be your biggest adventure yet!