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Supporting Our Parks

Office of the Chief Minister

Changes to the management of Territory parks and reserves will help to protect, modernise and improve our parks while bringing the Northern Territory in line with other jurisdictions.

Changes from 1 July 2021 include:

  • Introduction of an online booking system
  • Increased camping fees (of up to $3.40 per night in 2021)
  • Multi-day walking fees for some trails

The Online Booking System will streamline bookings and offer more certainty for visitors. It will also provide improved safety because there will be better information about where visitors are and provide visitor statistics for future planning and the growth of experiences.

Online bookings for campsites will be monitored by rangers and authorised campground hosts to ensure compliance with bookings.

A tender will soon be released for the provision of an online booking system including software licenses, hosting and support for a period of 48 months. Once a successful applicant has been selected, more information will be released in relation to how the booking system will work for users.

Camping fees in the Territory have not been increased for over 20 years. Changes to camping fees will be staged over three years. From 1 July 2021, this means an increase of up to $3.40 per night across all Territory Parks and Reserves.

It means investment back into the maintenance and safety of our parks, and the creation of new visitor experiences.

Multi-day walking fees will help to provide better, safer trails and campsites. Fees will initially be introduced at three of our iconic trails – the Jatbula, Tabletop Track in Litchfield and the Larapinta Trail in Central Australia.

In July 2022, a parks pass for interstate and international visitors will be introduced. All Territorians should be able to explore and enjoy our parks, and that’s why parks passes will only apply to interstate and international visitors.

All Territorians will continue to have free day access to Territory parks.

Revenue from the fee changes will be channelled into parks and reserves across the Territory, with a percentage of fees on parks that are jointly managed paid to governing land councils on behalf of Traditional Owners.

The NT Government manages 85 parks, reserves and protected areas across the Northern Territory. 33 of those areas are formally joint managed with Aboriginal Traditional Owners.

For more information including a breakdown of our Territory Parks and Reserves, Territorians can visit https://depws.nt.gov.au/parks-and-wildlife-commission/changes-to-our-parks

 

 Quotes from Minister for Parks and Rangers, Selena Uibo:

“The Northern Territory is home to more than 65,000 years of continuing cultural heritage centred around our lands and seas. Our parks and reserves are home to remarkable sites and endless opportunities to adventure and wander. 

“It is imperative that we are able to care for, maintain and improve our parks. Camping and walking fees for Territory parks have not been increased in over 20 years, and increasing fees will help to generate some of the funds required to support our parks. 

“The revenue from fees that will flow to Traditional Owners in 33 of our parks will provide the opportunity to create jobs on-country and develop Aboriginal tourism opportunities.

“These changes to our parks will protect our spectacular natural landscapes, whilst creating new opportunities to enhance visitor experiences and attract tourists from across the country and the globe.”

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