Camping Dogs National Parks Tasmania
Dogs are strictly prohibited in National Parks and many state reserves in Tasmania. Unfortunately, people do try to take dogs into Tasmania’s pristine and precious National parks, but luckily park rangers are on hand to quickly remove and apply fines (You will be fined a minimum of app. $330 if caught taking a dog into a National Park or state reserve where dogs are prohibited). Interestingly, often other campers are quick to call all people attempting to bring dogs into Tasmanian national Parks by alerting authorities. Please note that we never recommend that you directly confront campers doing the wrong thing. The reasons why dogs are prohibited are very basic and we think obvious – it is primarily to protect Tasmania’s amazing array of native wildlife, many of which are rare, endangered, or endemic to Tasmania. Dogs can introduce disease, or attack wildlife. And despite the fact you may think your lap dog is not a threat to native wildlife, their presence can be disruptive given wildlife are vulnerable to the predation, disturbance, and disease that dogs may cause, barking or scents are enough to scare away native wildlife, spread disease and attract other dogs which may invade from surrounding locales, and pets that escape can become feral and pose a major threat to many native species. Trained guide dogs for vision and hearing impaired persons are permitted in Tasmanian National Parks, however, you must carry and produce relevant identification with you. We also recommend that if you are planning to take an assistance animal with you into a National Park in Tasmania, please contact the local Parks office before you enter. This lets them know, and hopefully causes you or staff any unnecessary embarrassment.
If you are visiting Tasmania with your dog and want to visit or camping in areas where dogs are prohibited, we recommend you book a pet sitter in the area. Check MADPAWS more information, or search for local kennels in the area you are planning to visit
The good news is there are lots of great Reserves where you can take your dog on a lead. The following is a list of Tasmanian State Reserves where you CAN take your dog:
- Bay of Fires Conservation Area – on lead and on designated walking tracks only within the Bay of Fires Conservation Area.
- Coles Bay Conservation Area – The area is a mix of on and off-lead areas, as well as prohibited zones. Dogs are STRICTLY Not Permitted in nearby Freycinet National Park.
- Coningham Nature Recreation Area – The area is a mix of on and off-lead areas. The area is also used by horse riders, it is expected that dog walkers move aside for horse-riders to pass to avoid disturbing the horse.
- Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site – tThe area is a mix of on and off-lead areas.
- Evercreech – Dogs can be taken to Evercreech on-lead.
- Goblin Forest Walk – Dogs can be taken to the Goblin Forest Walk on-lead.
- Esperance River Picnic Area – Dogs can be taken to Esperence River Picnic Area off-lead, provided they be close to their owners and are under effective control at all times.
- Hogarth Falls – Dogs can be taken to Hogarth Falls but must be on-lead and stay on designated walking tracks only.
- Hollybank – Dogs can be taken to Hollybank and are only permitted on-lead.
- Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area – Dogs can be taken to Kate Reed Nature Recreation Area, but need to be on-lead at all times to ensure the safety of other track users.
- loontitetermairrelehoiner – Dogs can be taken to loontitetermairrelehoiner on-lead except from 15th September to 15th of April, dogs are not permitted on the track between dusk and dawn due to nesting shorebirds.
- Montezuma Falls – Dogs can be taken to Montezuma Falls dogs on-lead, but it is unsafe for pets to drink from or swim in the creeks due to heavy metals from historic mining
- Peter Murrell Reserve – The Peter Murrell Reserve is a mix of on and off-lead areas.
- Recherche Bay Nature Recreation Area – Dogs on-lead can be taken to the Recherche Bay Nature Recreation Area campgrounds and are allowed on some beaches where signed
- Tahune Airwalk – Dogs can be taken to Tahune Airwalk but must remain on-lead.
- Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area – On-lead dog walking is allowed in some areas of the Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area.
Camping with dogs Tasmania
There are a number of reserves with campgrounds that allow for dogs to visit, provided they are well-controlled and on-lead in the appropriate areas as per local signage:
