Old Ghan Museum and Tearooms

The Old Ghan Museum and Tearooms share the National Road Transport Hall of Fame site on the southern edge of Alice Springs, where the original Ghan locomotives and a sheds-worth of trucks and heritage vehicles sit in the red dirt. Unusually for a museum, dogs are welcome through the outdoor exhibits, not just tied up at the gate.

The dog setup

Leashed dogs can walk the outdoor displays and train carriages with you, and the tearooms' outdoor seating suits a dog at your feet while you work through the scones. Check with staff before taking a dog inside the cafe building itself, and keep leads on throughout: the grounds are open, shared with vehicles and other visitors, and there is no fenced run here.

Worth knowing

The tearooms are a modest operation: tea, scones and light food rather than a full restaurant menu, and reviews are mixed on the food even when people rate the collection. Entry covers the Hall of Fame complex, so it is a ticketed outing rather than a free coffee stop. It pairs naturally with the caravan and camping options on the same site, which is part of why travelling dog owners keep it on the itinerary.

Getting there and parking

The complex sits off the Stuart Highway at Arumbera, about 15 minutes south of the Alice Springs town centre, with ample parking right at the gate. Coming from town, head south past the airport turn-off and follow the signs for the Hall of Fame.

Close by with the dogs

If you are staying overnight, Camping at the National Road Transport Museum puts you on site, and Temple Bar Caravan Park is close by. Back in town, Page 27 Cafe is a dog-friendly coffee option on the CBD side.

More options are on the NT dog friendly cafes guide and the Arumbera destination page.

Max: the ground is red dirt and it gets everywhere, paws included. Bring a towel for the car before you let the dog explore the truck sheds.