Tourist fees for NT parks released, to be active in 2023

The government has released the fees for tourists to enter NT parks from 2023.

TRAVELLING families will have to pay $150 for an open pass into the NT’s parks, following the release of fees.

The Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security released the structure of fees for the Parks Pass, which will be introduced in 2023.

The fees will apply to national and international visitors only. Territorians will be exempt from a fee to enter NT Parks.

The Parks Pass does not apply to urban parks and reserves.

NT Parks fees. Picture: Supplied

Revenue resulting from the of changes will be used to support the care, management and development of the parks estate. It will continue to share revenue with the Traditional Owners of jointly managed parks.

NT walking trail already booked out for the year

The 62km Jatbula Trail is now fully for the year according to the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Facebook page.

Keen hikers are urged by Parks and Wildlife to keep an eye on the booking page for any upcoming cancellations so they can get their chance to see Territory beauty.

Jatbula Trail has now been booked out for the year. Picture: Parks and Wildlife NT.

UPDATE, 2pm Tuesday: The online reservation site for Territory campers is officially open.

But the NT News understands it was not without its issues.

After the initial crash of the website when it launched this morning, it’s also believed to have linked to the Queensland booking site.

EARLIER: PACK your weekend bags and a tent because dry season camping is around the corner and is about to become simpler than ever to reserve yourself a spot in a scenic Territory location.

Going live on Tuesday at 9am, campers and multi-day trail walkers for the first time ever will be able to reserve their camping spots in Territory parks through a new and improved online booking system.

Parks and Rangers Minister Selena Uibo praised the new booking portal and said the Territory was now in-line with other jurisdictions around the country and their booking processes.

Parks and Rangers Minister Selena Uibo announces the new online system so campers and multi-day hikers can easily reserve their spot. Picture: Floss Adams.

“The benefits is that campers will be able to see what’s available across all eligible Territory parks and what’s available based on seasons,” Ms Uibo said.

“The online booking system will also allow our rangers to do what they do best, which is to conserve and manage land and alleviate some of the burden of the administration on their daily duties.

Parks and Wildlife executive director Sally Egan shows Parks and Wildlife Minister Selena Uibo how easy it is to book on through the new portal which go live on Tuesday at 9am. Picture: Floss Adams.

“We’ll have a full team of customer service operators in our parks team who will be there to assist and we will be taking an educative approach to the transition into the online booking system.”

Ms Uibo said “you will be disappointed if you do go out and you don’t book online and the spot you anticipate to be free might be taken because someone else has done the right thing and booked online prior to heading out”.

The new online booking system will allow a campers to easily reserve a camping spot. Picture: Floss Adams.

Family-run business in Litchfield National Park Zebra Stone offers natural resource experiences, food and beverages, and camping.

Although the small business offers camping for $10 a night, owner Ruth Duncan welcomed the Parks and Wildlife new booking system.

“We found that there were so many people around last year for the dry season so anything you can do to make sure people can get a campsite is all good,” Ms Duncan said.

She described Zebra Stone camping as an “overflow place” where if people miss out on a spot through Parks and Wildlife, there would always be room for people to camp on her businesses property. “It’s a great place for everyone where if they miss out on a spot and it doesn’t matter if you have a flash rig or just have a swag, you can always camp with us.”

The system which is said to create ‘greater certainty’ will deliver a range of improvements to the Territory experience and provide more planning options.

Parks and Wildlife Rangers will also be available to assist visitors to ensure a booking is secured prior to camping. Parks and Wildlife will also extend free Wi-Fi services for 12 months in Wangi, Karlu Karlu and Watarrka.

Anyone already on a remote park on March 1 will not be required to leave the park to book.