Dogs on Australia's East Coast

[nils]

Hi to all with boating experience in the North- East of Australia (North of Airlie Beach). We have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks who behave well on day sails but need their daily walks. They survived five years of boating in the Kimberley so we are aware of the crocc, shark and stinger problems. We just moved to the East coast and are not sure if it is possible/practicable to cruise North with them considering all the national parks. What about the walkies between low and highwater mark. How stringent are the rules observed and do people get fined? We consider a 3 month cruise during the dry and I would be thankful for some first hand info.

Nils

[jacquie21670]

Well Nils it looks like no-one has answered and while I havent cruised outside of the SEQ area, we find it a constant pain with all the regulations in Queensland. Dogs are not allowed on any National Park islands controlled by either the Queensland EPA or the Great Barrier Reef marine Park Authority. Basically that means no islands north (and including) fraser island. As long as your dog can stay on board or you dont mind heading to the mainland to let him off, you should be right. As you mentioned, there are no dog rules in marine parks which only go to the low tide mark and National land based parks dont start until the high tide mark. Stay between the tides (this doesnt include Great Barrier Reef Authority Islands north of bundaberg) and you and your dog/s are not breaking the law. You will find lower numbers of rangers on islands other than in Moreton Bay and Fraser Is. but they are there and if you get caught, fines are not unheard of. Usually a warning comes first though. Doesnt it drive you mad that you can FWD on a beach but not have a dog there!!

[cat man do]

[quote=jacquie21670;Doesnt it drive you mad that you can FWD on a beach but not have a dog there!![/quote]

But you can park a cat on them

Dave