Pets at Uluru

by Kim Brash
(Gladstone, qld)

ARE DOGS ALLOWED AT ULURU???? What did you do with your pets if they are not allowed???

Comments for
Pets at Uluru

No dogs at Uluru
by: Birgit

Hi Kim,
Dogs are most certainly not allowed at Uluru. It's a national park. Pets are not allowed in pretty much all national parks anywhere in Australia or the world.

What did I do? I leave my dog at home when I travel like most people do. There are few caravan parks and camping grounds that allow dogs, I can't take the dog into any national parks or nature reserves, and since travel for me is about camping and visiting parks and reserves, I wouldn't dream of taking my dog.

As for what other people do... There are three options: leave them at home, find someone to look after them in Alice or some place closer to Uluru that allows dogs, or board them somewhere in Alice.

It does not matter much where you travel, if you travel with a dog you will always run into the same problems. Uluru is no exception.

Have a look at the reader question below. There are some resources recommended that you may find helpful.

Camping in Oz with a dog

Here is the offical fact sheet about pets in NT Parks (PDF):

Hope you'll be able to sort out something!

Pets in the outback
by: Anonymous

So I can't have a dog, yet the aboriginal people have (had) dingos.
The blanket ban is ill informed and stupid.

Having an uncontrolled dog is certainly not on, but a well behaved dog under control should be no problem in many area. Yes native animals smell the dog, they smell you too and don't think you don't smell.

One watches some of the outback shows with renowned bushies, they have dogs. Are they not going into parks?

I am sure that stupidity will continue to rule but more and more older people are hitting the road and with pets. The opportunity is there for some enterprising people to offer more boarding for pets near these locked off resources

Dogs at Uluru
by: Birgit

Sure, you can have a dog. Nobody says you can't have a dog. You just can't take it into Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and pretty much all other Australian national parks.

It's a national park not a commercial enterprise. And it certainly is not a resource designed to please or make money of retirees. It's designed to protect native wildlife and the environment.

Where on earth did you get the idea that a "bushy's" dog would be allowed in a national park just because it's a "bushy's" dog???

It's a national park, not a caravan park. Whether you are retired or a bushy, you can't bring dogs into national parks. That "stupid blanket ban" is individually established, for each and every park by every state or territory, and it is the same for most national parks all over the world, because it makes perfect sense.

There are exceptions for guide dogs and there are also some designated areas in some parks, usually a car park or something like that, where dogs are permitted provided they are tied up and provided with water. Those designated area can usually be found in conservation reserves and regional parks, rarely in national parks.

Other examples for "stupid blanket bans" beyond the NT:

Pets in WA Parks
Pets in NSW Parks
Pets in Tasmanian Parks

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Submitted by: Birgit

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Comment
Sure, you can have a dog. Nobody says you can't have a dog. You just can't take it into Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and pretty much all other Australian national parks. It's a national park not a commercial enterprise. And it certainly is not a resource designed to please or make money of retirees. It's designed to protect native wildlife and the environment. Where on earth did you get the idea that a "bushy's" dog would be allowed in a national park just because it's a "bushy's" dog??? It's a national park, not a caravan park. Whether you are retired or a bushy, you can't bring dogs into national parks. That "stupid blanket ban" is individually established, for each and every park by every state or territory, and it is the same for most national parks all over the world, because it makes perfect sense. There are exceptions for guide dogs and there are also some designated areas in some parks, usually a car park or something like that, where dogs are permitted provided they are tied up and provided with water. Those designated area can usually be found in conservation reserves and regional parks, rarely in national parks. Other examples for "stupid blanket bans" beyond the NT: <a href="http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/87/1066/" target=_blank">Pets in WA Parks</a> <a href="http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/lookingafterparks/PetsInParks.htm" target="_blank">Pets in NSW Parks</a> <a href="http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=494" target="_blank">Pets in Tasmanian Parks</a>

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National park, not a business
by: Basil Faulty

WHAT a CROC. All National parks are run as a commercial enterprise, to suggest otherwise is niave....

Hmmmmm
by: Basil faulty

"It's a national park not a commercial enterprise. And it certainly is not a resource designed to please or make money of retirees. It's designed to protect native wildlife and the environment."

Maybe on the surface, but the extortionate fees would suggest otherwise. Made me laugh not one cent is actually spent on maintaining the rock, not one cent. In due course it will erode and become part of the desert.....It's visbly eroding as we speak, every night as the sun sets and the rock cools down it does wht every other rock does: shed it's outer layers as the contraction from the heat does its thing.
Where do all the fees go I hear you all ask....
Well there is maintenance on the vast machine set up to extract tourist dollars to support the rock and of course the pockets of the beaureaucrats in the NT government have to be lined.
Just think what would happen to the NT coffers if Uluru was not there?

Dogs at the Rock
by: Disco Duck

Who IS Birgit??

That would be me
by: Birgit

About Me

dogs in national parks
by: annie

Australian National Parks are full of wild dogs (not dingoes) but savage cross breeds. It is a shame NPWS do not get rid of these animals which kill native wildlife by the hundreds.
I agree, a well trained and controlled dog should be allowed in National Parks.
I think it is really sad people cannot take their pet with them when they travel. I do not have anyone to look after my dog and cannot afford to have her boarded, therefore I take her with me and she is no trouble when camping or walking.
Plan your trip around State Forests, dogs are allowed there with the exception of Victoria.

Dogs allowed at Uluru conditions apply
by: Annie

Have been doing some research about dogs at Uluru. There is a camping area called Sandy Way Rest Area 28km east of Yulara, which is 8.8km from Uluru. You could camp at Sandy Way RA - make sure your dog has plenty of exercise before you drive the 37km to view Uluru - as long as you do not let the dog out of the car (make sure you have water in the car, windows open and it is not during the heat of summer), your dog would be ok. Take a few photos and drive to your next destination.
You would not be able to do any tours as you could not leave your dog in the car for hours but at least you could see Uluru.
National Parks do not mind if you drive through their parks with your dog as long as you do not let them out.
Happy Travels