Walk bookings system in Tasmanian National Parks causing confusion

Hikers using Tasmanian National Parks are frustrated over a walk registration system, calling it confusing and convoluted. Here’s why.

Freycinet Experience Walk: Walking Tour in Tasmania. Source: Supplied

A scheme to register bushwalkers on some of the state’s iconic walks is not mandatory, although the Parks and Wildlife Service says it doesn’t like to use the word “voluntary”.

Walkers have complained that the system is confusing — with Parks own web pages wrongly stating walkers must book and implying they should not depart if daily quotas are full.

In addition to the requirement to purchase a Parks pass, there are three systems of bushwalker registration in place in Tasmania: a voluntary paper-based registration sign-in sheets at some walks, mandatory registration and payment on the Overland and Three Capes tracks —|and a third online system that while optional, is portrayed as the opposite.

The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service web page for the Eastern and Western Arthurs walks say “you need to register for this walk”; as does the pages for Frenchmans Cap, the Lake Rhona and Mt Anne circuits.

The Walls of Jerusalem page says “you must register for this walk”.

wukalina Walk, TAS Photo.

Rangers have no powers to enforce the scheme and there are no sanctions for those who chose not to register via a third party booking site.

“While we don’t want to use the word ‘voluntary’; the registration system is not mandatory and we don’t have the means to enforce it,” a Parks spokeswoman said.

“The registration system is well accepted by the walking community.

“We have anecdotal feedback that indicates the level of compliance varies across tracks.

“We hope that continual education and communication will continue to increase compliance.”

Tasmanian National Parks Association president Nick Sawyer said the system was a good idea in principle but the implementation was patchy and confusing.

“There’s no actual compulsion, it’s entirely voluntary,” he said. “The world voluntary seems to have fallen off their website in the last year or so.

“They’ve carefully fudged their words to make it sound like you are obliged to register.

“We’ve certainly raised some concerns about Parks about the general way they’re going about it — they’re trying to give the impression that want everyone to register.

“In some cases it’s pretty unclear about what trips you’re expected to register for. It’s effectively a rather crude booking system for campsites.”

He said there had been anecdotal reports of people booking blocks of multiple departure dates so they could wait for the best weather outlook, meaning others missed out.

Dan Broun from Fishers and Walkers Tasmania said his group was supportive of measures that looked after the environment.

But he said there was concern the booking scheme could be a precursor to the introduction of fees on some walks.

“We are very much against fees because it removes the egalitarian nature of bushwalking,” he said.

Parks says the system was introduced due to high demand after bushfire and Covid restrictedaccess.

“The walker registration system is free and has been in place for two years,” Parks said in a statement.

“Although there are currently no compliance requirements in place for bushwalkers to register, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service strongly encourages all walkers to do so as it ensures walkers have the best visitor experience and also manages environmental impacts.

“It is important that visitors continue to register to help protect these pristine locations.”

“PWS will continue to engage with walkers to assess the success of the system.”