It seems as if grey nomads aren’t the only ones recoiling at the high cost of entry to the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park.
According to recently released Tourism NT statistics, the number of international visitors heading to the iconic park has plummeted in recent years. The latest regional profiles data show that, on a three-year average to 2015, 27,000 international visitors holidayed at Kakadu National … less than half than the number arriving in 2008.
The international market has failed to recover from the global financial crisis when 60,000 overseas visitors enjoyed the wonders of Kakadu.
In a move probably not designed to halt the slide, Parks Australia recently increased entry fees by 60%, making the cost of a single adult ticket $40 during the dry season. Concession card holders pay $30. NT residents can access the park for free.
Interestingly though, an increase in local and interstate visitors, has seen the overall numbers of visitors to Kakadu rise from 96,000 to 124,000 in the past year. One explanation is that NT residents who don’t pay for entry are choosing to visit the park more because those great fishing spots are suddenly an awful lot less ‘crowded’. Kakadu National Park manager, Pete Cotsell, told the NT News that, despite the new fees, visitation to the park had increased by 14% cent in April.
“We are conscious of recent fluctuations in international visitation to the Top End,” he said. “And we are working with Tourism NT on marketing initiatives focused on reversing this trend.
Parks Australia says it is committing $6 million over the next two years towards infrastructure to enhance and improve access to Kakadu. Access into Kakadu’s some of most famous attractions has long been an issue. Despite the fact we are now well into the dry season, the road to Jim Jim Falls has only just opened, and the road into Twin Falls is still shut and is expected to remain so for at least another week. ,
As a matter of contrast, around 142,000 international tourists visited Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park on average between 2013 and 2015.In 2008, the number of overseas visitors stood at 200,000.
* Does the entry fee put you off going to Kakadu, or is it just such an integral part of the Big Lap that it simply can’t be missed out almost at any cost? What do you think a fair entry price would be? Comment below
No the entry fee does nothing bother us we are going next year as last time we missed Kakadu did not have time but nothing is going to stop us this time love the northern territory that is why we are going back
Interesting the fact that NT folk have free access to Kakadu, is that the case with all NT national parks?
Good if NSW national parks gave free access to folk who live local to NPs., our closes beaches are in a NP & we have to pay for a access.
S Gray, It’s all about the money … a fee for everything we do. If NT residents are allowed free entry, then it is discrimination to charge others. Here in NSW, when entering a NP, i just tell them i will hit them with a lien under UCC 1-308, which means you can take their property off them. I always get in for nothing …
We must remember that under Common Law , ALL roads in the Commonwealth are free to travel on. The fact that they make some part of Oz a NP, & want to charge us to drive in it is immaterial … This is not a political comment, it is the truth for all to see & know that our rights are being taken from us. If your moderation does not permit me to tell the truth, then being part of the Grey Nomads will not be of much use. I have much to learn from other Grey Nomads on travel, but there is much more than travel to learn …
I agree Jim Fox, we own the NATIONAL parks and shouldn’t have to pay any fee to enjoy them!
Unfortunately, although they are called National parks, they are run by the state governments.
Surely the description national park means that the same rules should apply to all Nationals of Australia.
I will remember the commonwealth right to access any of the roads next time someone tries to make me pay to drive through one of the parks.
Heading up there this year. Wondering what you get for our $ 80.00 (2 of us) how many nights camping , are there van sites and ammenities? Any replies greatfully received
We traveled to the NT in May/ June 2013. Fees to kakadu was $25 each + the caravan park fees. Did the yellow water cruse that included breakfast for $198.00. A couple of tee shirts $80.00 and then the sunset cruse for $50.00.
Yep we could afford it and if you were going to the NT would be a shame to miss, but you can understand the mentality of ” Kaka Don’t’.
Same sort of cost a couple of years ago when we traveled to Uluru .
As a territory resident I’m pleased to get free entry, and living next to the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park I get concessional rates at $22.50 for 6 months. Not too bad, when I lived in NSW as a pensioner I had a free pass to their NPs. You have to apply for it. Seems VIC is very expensive now
An Australian pensioner from any state can apply for a free pass to NSW parks, which has to be renewed each year.
I live in Qld and have a pass to NSW parks.
It wasn’t a problem that the N T’s were free it was that there was no sliding scale. So if you just wanted to go in for the day from either end you paid the same amount as some one that went in rfor 4 days Not fair