Dog-Friendly National Parks in Northern Territory
Dogs are generally not allowed in national parks in the Northern Territory, both the parks administered by Parks and Wildlife NT and those administered by Parks Australia. However, there are a few exceptions.
Dogs are permitted in the following areas of national parks in the Northern Territory:
Dogs are also permitted in the following nature parks and conservation reserves, generally on-leash unless other specified:
Dogs are allowed in the carpark and day-use areas at Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
For more information, including details on other type of parks that permit pets, see this information sheet.
Like New South Wales, Queensland strictly does not allow pet dogs in any of its national parks. However, dogs and other pets are welcome in selected conservation parks, state forests and recreation areas in the state, as long as they stay on a leash.
Dogs are allowed in the following conservation parks and recreation areas:
You can visit the Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area with your dog
While dogs are not allowed in all state forests in Queensland (unlike in NSW), dogs are also permitted in these Queensland state forests:
For more information and tips on dog-friendly campsites in these areas, check out this guide.
Where can I bring my dog?
On-leash dogs permitted on:
On-leash dogs permitted away from picnic areas and childrens play areas.
On-leash dogs permitted away from picnic areas and childrens play areas.
On-leash dogs permitted at:
On-leash dogs permitted in all areas.
On-leash dogs permitted at Delicate campground and Delicate Beach.
On-leash dogs permitted at campgrounds, picnic areas, public roads and walking tracks.
On-leash dogs permitted in all areas.
On-leash dogs permitted in all areas.
On-leash dogs permitted at:
On-leash dogs permitted on designated walking tracks in the park and in the nearby foreshore parks to the east and west.
On-leash dogs permitted in all areas except hired pavilions and childrens play areas.
On-leash dogs permitted in all areas.
On-leash dogs permitted in all areas.
On-leash dogs permitted on a 3km section of the beach south of Birubi Headland.
On-leash dogs permitted on:
Why Are Dogs Usually Prohibited from National Parks in Australia?
Multiple reasons are given as to why dogs are usually prohibited from almost all national parks in Australia. However, the main reason is the impact of dogs on native wildlife, whose protection is a key purpose of many national parks.
As well as dogs potentially injuring or killing the wildlife, from small birds and reptiles up to large marsupials such as kangaroos, dogs can also indirectly harm native wildlife. The sight, sounds and smells of pets can cause stress to native animals, potentially leaving their homes or abandoning their young.
In addition, there are risks to pet dogs from visiting national parks. Most national parks use poisonous baits, particularly 1080 baits, to control foxes and other feral animals. These baits are fatal to dogs. Dogs are also at risk of snake bites, plus can be injured by kangaroos and goannas.
The ACT is home to only one national park, Namadgi National Park, which takes up almost half of the land area of the territory. Dogs are not allowed inside this national park.
However, the ACT also contains multiple nature reserves and a wide variety of parks, many of which permit dogs inside of them, whether off-leash or leashed.
To view the latest list of dog-friendly parks in the ACT, go to the Find a Park page on the Parks ACT website, select to filter by Features and select one of “Dogs on-leash”, “Dogs off-leash”, “Dogs – conditional”, “Dog exercise area” or “Enclosed dog park”. (Don’t select them all, or nothing will be returned.)
Dogs are allowed on-leash in these nature reserves:
Dogs are also allowed off-leash in a number of parks including the following:
Pet dogs are not allowed in any national park in NSW. This even extends to carparks. For instance, while it’s usually fine to have a dog in your car when driving through a national park on a publicly accessible road (such as a highway), you are not allowed to stop and visit the national park, even if you leave your dog in your car.
However, dogs are allowed in the majority of the regional parks in NSW, which are also looked after by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Go hiking with your dog in many regional parks such as Blue Gum Hills Regional Park
Dogs are allowed in these regional parks:
For further details and any updates, check out this page. Note that dogs need to remain on-leash, plus are not allowed in picnic areas and children’s play areas, where applicable.
Additionally, in NSW dogs are allowed in all state forests, as long as they remain under your control. Some of the best dog-friendly bushwalks in NSW are to be found in state forests.
What national parks in Australia allow dogs?
One of the biggest bugbears of pet-owning grey nomads is the longstanding ban on taking dogs into national parks … but it seems things aren’t about to change any time soon.
A spokesperson for Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) told the GNT there were “no proposals to review the Nature Conservation Act or Recreation Areas Management Act in this regard”.
As in other states, with the exception of ‘assistance dogs’, the furry companions of travellers are banned from the vast majority of parks in Queensland.
“People visit these national parks and protected areas to enjoy wildlife and the natural environment free of the presence or impacts of pets or domestic animals,” said the DES spokesperson. “Domestic animals, especially cats and dogs, can pose a threat to an area’s natural values and native fauna.”
It’s a similar situation in South Australia. While there are some parks where dogs are allowed on-lead where the risk to native wildlife is low, Grant Pelton from SA Department for Environment and Water Group Executive Director for Parks and Regions said these were very much the minority.
“National parks regularly use poisonous ground baiting to target introduced species, which could be fatal to dogs,” he said. “Also native animals are vulnerable to diseases that dogs may carry, plus barking and scents left by dogs can scare wildlife and attract other predatory animals.”
“I love traveling my country and I love my dog,” he said. “It’s time to stop putting unjust limits on everything and allow us to live and enjoy Australia.”
He suggests a series of conditions could be applied that would neutralise the perceived problems in allowing dogs into national parks. He thinks these should be: registering the dog with a local council and having it microchipped; registering it with Parks and Wildlife for a small yearly fee; de-sexing it; always having it on a leash; having it temperament tested; and requiring owners to always carry waste bags.
“I have seen maybe one or two pets in a park over my time but hundreds of feral dogs and cats,” said Mr Porajaski.
However, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says the problem is slightly more widespread. From July 2015 to June 2018, it issued more than 920 penalty infringement notices to people taking live animals into a national park or recreation area management (RAM) area without approval.
While these infractions can incur an on-the-spot fine of $130, these were not always applied, and some offenders escaped with a warning.
One ‘dream solution’ proposed by some grey nomads is for a dog-sitting service to be set up at the entrance to major national parks … but, again, that’s not on the official radar.
“Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is not aware of any proposals for dog-sitting services,” said a DES spokesperson. “Providing such a service off-park would be up to private businesses.”