Three Aussies banned from tourist hotspot in Indonesia for five years

Three Australian tourists have been black-listed from an Indonesian national park after they were busted on CCTV for an illegal act.

Three Australian tourists have been blacklisted from a climbing a volcanic mountain in Indonesia for five years after scaling it illegaly.

The trio were caught on CCTV hiking Mount Rinjani, an active volcano located within Gunung Rinjani National Park on the island of Lombok, despite official hiking routes being closed.

Officials from the national park posted CCTV footage on its Instagram page, which showed the three Aussie tourists on the popular hiking trail closed during the rainy season due to dangerous conditions.

The tourists were each fined $365 after their movements were monitored though surveillance between March 2 and 3.

The three Aussie tourists have now been blacklisted from hiking the mountain. They were caught on CCTV illegally scaling Mount Rinjani. Picture: Instagram/btn_gn_rinjani

“Mount Rinjani National Park Office handled three climbers from Australia who were climbing illegally on the Sembalun climbing tourist route after previously being monitored by surveillance cameras (CCTV) installed at Plawangan Sembalun,” the park wrote in the post.

“The sanctions imposed [were] in the form of a hiking blacklist for five years and a fine of 5 (five) times the normal entrance ticket.”

Mount Rinjani is an active volcano and a popular hiking destination on the Island of Lombok, Indonesia. Picture: iStock

Officials said the three Aussies’ activities challenged the boundaries that should be respected during the closure period of climbing tourist destinations.

They also reportedly signed a letter stating they would not hike there again.

According to local media, climbing activities are strictly prohibited during the closing period, which is in place until April 2025, to allow for ecosystem restoration and to avoid dangers posed by heavy rains and strong winds during the seasonal transition.

“The mighty Rinjani mountain of Gunung Rinjani is a massive volcano which towers over the island of Lombok,” the national park states on its site.

“At 3,726 meters tall, Gunung Rinjani is the second highest mountain in Indonesia.”

Part of the famous ‘ring of fire’ this mountain also holds spiritual significance for the local people, the site explains.

“It’s thought that the name Rinjani comes from an old Javanese term for ‘God’.”