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

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

Dogs at Uluru
by: Linda

From what I understand, the caravan park, which is outside the national park, allows dogs. Leave the dog there with your caravan/tent site, while you visit the rock.

Having traveled extensively throughout Australia, with a dog (border collie) and kids, we have rarely found a spot that we couldn't visit. If you have a well behaved dog, you can always do as above, otherwise, kennels etc. are around.

Hey Birgit
by: Canadian

Just wanted to point out - I recently moved to Oz from Canada, where we camped in that country's many National Parks all the time with our 2 dogs by our side every step of the way. Now I can't imagine camping without my dogs. It's the perfect vacation for them too and totally ridiculous to think that a well behaved dog is a problem in a National Park.
In fact, since being in Australia, we have taken our dogs to many of the National Parks here and have never had a problem!

Dogs at Uluru
by: Matt

If Birgit wouldn't dream of taking her dog - maybe she shouldn't have one! Clearly she doesn't care for it the way that some of us care for our furry friends.

I am about to head to Uluru in the next couple of days and I understand that the caravan park (which I have been told is actually inside the boundaries of the National Park) does take dogs.

I will see what happens, but my dog won't be left alone. My wife and I will see Uluru separately if it means ensuring the safety of our best friend.

Dogs at Uluru
by: Birgit

So not only do you know Birgit's dog so much better than she does, you also know Birgit's circumstances better then she does herself?

Wonderfully easy to make assumptions and make up stories and then pass judgement, isn't it?

Leaving my dog alone????
As it so happens, she is much happier remaining in her usual surrounds with the usual people. Travel causes her major distress.

I repeat, I would not dream of taking her. It would be cruel.

The caravan park is part of the resort and the resort is outside the National Park. There is nowhere to stay inside.

Dogs in National Parks
by: Liza Dicks

It is incorrect to say you cannot take dogs into National Parks all over the world. In UK you can take your dog into National Parks.

I am sure the French would not leave their dogs at home when going camping they never leave them at home at all. There are no dual standards on this issue there. No you cannot take your dog into National Parks in Australia as they wish to preserve fauna and flora. However controlled burns are OK even though I have seem them get out of hand and destroy more than was expected and we too had to escape quickly let alone any wildlife.

Culling of wildlife is OK? I cant walk my dog along a beach which is National Park such as those north of Perth at Lancelin but you can fish there and drive onto the beaches. Is that not destroying the local wildlife? Sorry no sense in any of this and I don't buy it that the smell frightens away wildlife. How about Rottnest and quokkas who have to endure endless hoards of people many of whom abuse them but people are still allowed there as it makes money! Why cant you drive through a national park with your dog are you suggesting in Europe you cant do this either?

I was shocked when I came to know that in this country you cannot take your dog to parks.

Revenue Raising v's family members
by: Darwin Girl

I'm trying to plan a trip to my beloved Northern Territory, and it pains me to think that my dogs, who are my family members, have to stay at home. I couldn't rest or enjoy myself knowing that they were left out of our amazing experiences. They wouldn't be happy with the idea of being left out either.

Our pets rely upon us, not just for their basic needs, but also for their emotional needs.
There were some fantastic comments left on this post and I have to agree with the fact that banning pets from National Parks, particularly well behaved dogs who are kept on leases whilst visiting, is just another method of Government control!

How many other methods can the Government come up with in order to control and extort us? And, wasn't it the Australian Government who've caused extensive environmental damage with their 'fix it' solutions? For example, letting cane toads loose. Great idea!!! (sarcasm)! Now the NT is well and truly stuffed as a result. It was sad to witness. I wonder what they'll do to get rid of the cane toads. LOL!!! And we can't bring our pets into national parks because of the impact on the environment?

What about Malcolm Douglas
by: cowboydave

Yeah I really do not understand the no dogs allowed thing either to be honest. Just go and get a Malcolm Douglas dvd and you will see that he has traveled all over Australia in national parks and every thing with a dog as do many other tv travelers. It is just a stupid idea that people have in there head that all dogs kill Austlian wild life, I am pretty sure that would be called stero typing. It would be nice to see something done about this maybe even charge a small fee to make it worth the government while at least that way they could do what they do best and that is TAX us some more money for no reason. As far as I am concerned I will be taking my dog around Australia and good luck to stopping me people as long as he is on his lead there should be no reason. I have seen many a child kill small native animals for their own amusement while the parents are not paying attention and children are still aloud into these areas maybe they should be restrained a bit more....

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Ayers Rock Australia - Uluru Australia

Return to top

Return to Outback Australia Travel Guide home page