The Northern Territory is moving ahead with plans to introduce fees for tourists keen to visit dozens of famous swimming spots and parks.
Territorians will be exempt from the new pay-to-visit scheme, which is scheduled to take effect on April 3 next year.
The ABC reports that interstate visitors will be set back $25 if they want to visit a string of NT national parks with some of the most popular swimming spots, including Edith Falls, Litchfield and Mataranka hot springs.
The Government is calling the new scheme a Parks Pass, and it will offer day passes, two-week passes and an open pass with different prices for individuals and families.
Visiting some of the NT's most stunning spots is set to cost interstate visitors significantly more next year. PIC: MemoryCatcher / Pixabay
The ABC reports that the new fees will apply to 50 of the 85 NT government-managed parks and reserves across the Territory, including Nitmiluk National Park, Karlu Karlu, the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, the Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve and the famed hot springs at Elsey National Park, Mataranka.
The full list can be found here.
Visitors will still be required to pay camping and walking fees in addition to a Parks Pass, which means hiking the Jatbula and the Larapinta trails will cost even more next year.
Parks and Wildlife executive director, Sally Egan, told the ABC that the revenue from fees would be invested into the ‘protection, maintenance and safety of our parks and the creation of new visitor experiences’.
“Nothing at the moment that we are hearing or seeing is suggesting that people will have a real problem and it would stop them coming to the Northern Territory,” Ms Egan said.
However, Manuel Pamkal, an NT tourism operator who shares his Indigenous culture and art with thousands of tourists every year, told the ABC that he is worried that asking visitors to spend even more money could make some think twice.
“It’s not fair … when families come it costs them lots of money,” he said. “We all know that fuel prices have gone up, food, and they are already paying money for camping … I think swimming should be free.”
The government is expecting the Parks Pass could bring in $7 million.
Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford told the ABC that the Parks Pass could have a positive impact on drawing tourists to the Territory — if the revenue was spent in the right way.
“No-one likes to see an increase in charges,” he said. “But as we invest in our national parks, and these monies flow through to more rangers, better infrastructure and more services, that can only make the proposition to visit the Northern Territory, a better one.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Environment, Parks and Wildlife told the ABC that consultations with tourism operators had been extensive to ensure the Parks Pass was implemented in a way that worked for them.
“It’s a very small cost for interstate and international visitors overall and it pays for the parks, land and facilities to be cared for,” the spokesperson said.
Today is the last day to enter our latest Grey Nomad Members competition, so be quick … or risk missing out! Screw Pegs Australia is offering Grey Nomad members the chance to win one of two Fully Stacked Starter Packs – each valued at $117. The pack includes:
Click here to learn about GN member benefits, how to join … and how to win!
Thought it always unfair that campers subsidised day users using the same facilities. This makes it fairer for all.
GOOD! now use this money to fix or scrap the online booking system. We missed all the bucket list camps because we couldn’t book them this year! THINK! NT has very poor data reception so it can’t be booked or the the smart ones book from home but then don’t turn up.
ill visit the rest of australia and leave northern territory to the locals.
That isn’t a logical response given that other states also have similar fees.
Victoria is still largely free
Try WA, they have the same system at an exorbitant price AND still charge an arm and a leg to camp in their National Parks
When you are allowed to camp in some of the most magnificent locations such as Karijini, Lucky Bay and Cape Range at what I think are low cost fees, ‘exorbitant’ is an exaggeration. ‘User pays’ is a fair and reasonable principle which will happen more often to ensure costs of maintaining such sites are partially met by users. Don’t expect other tax payers and rate payers to subsidise your holiday.
Seeing you have listing of 50 parks reserves walking trails etc make it simple for all travellers and make it a Northern Territory Access pass that covers all. As a grey nomad traveller thanks for letting me know Early about another additional cost to our journey will be spending less $ in N T other states now look more inviting. When will the division between cultures in my country stop lm white Australian and proud of it.
Glad I’ve visited and seen most of the National Parks when it was free for everyone.
Most are over run with feral animals and weeds with limited staff and facilities..most of the funds are wasted on red tape and other dreamed up projects by the air conditioned top office management who have never had their hands dirty in the real world.
The cost of going to the NT is exobantant, with high fuel $. The added cost for park fees is just a nail in the coffin. NT is nice but getting to the stage that it is just not worth it due to the short season for tourism.
I have to agree with Pat,paid rangers do very little to enhance the outlook of these NATIONAL PARKS, walking trails overgrown,failed booking system which has doubled camping fees of campsites with no improvement to them,ie bins and dump points, we are full time travellers who will now avoid the NT,a place we spend a lot of time and money in the past,congratulations fools
NT price gouging again clearly the beauracrates don’t realise the grey nomads would spend that money in a local business not into self serving govt departments . We have made our last visit and will not spend a cent there again.
Had planned to do the Northen territory next year but think ill head for Queensland instead
With the cost of Living,,EG, Fuel, groceries,,I think the N,Ps, will price Families,pensioners ,an a lot of people out,Don’t mind paying ,but not through the Nose,
So by the looks of things quite a number of visitors will need to go and pay the extra cost so they can first up get the money to spend on the improvements and these visitors will of course miss out on any improvements.
Reasonable charge if it covered ALL N.T. Parks and reserves. NSW Govt charges for entry individually to most National Parks unless you qualify as a Pensioner for a free pass. Commonwealth Govt. charges entry fee for Jervis Bay Point Perpendicular National Park regardless. Qld looking to charge Interstate visitors fee. Wonder where the N. T. Govt got their idea from? Not too hard to figure out.
I don’t mind paying for a pass if the funds pay for safe walking and signage in the place I’m visiting (unlikely). I think they forget GST on fuel fills, meals, stays, lost by scaring off visitors is worth far more than a pass fee. Without visitors, the small local economies tank. Still, govts love another tax
In WA we have a parks pass. The difference is that locals, interstate and international tourists pay the same. The NT system is discriminatory. I have no problem if everyone pays.
Yes an annual all parks pass costs $120 and an annual concession pass costs $75. This is the way it should be.
Its a very small fee of $10 for a day, $30 for 2 weeks or $60 for a year, actually low compared to many other states and a small amount of an overall budget for a trip.
You don’t think that the projected 7 million dollars raised might be totally used up administering this scheme
Ther are more predatory crocs in offices than in the water in the Territory.
Concession ppls should be free this is a rip-off I not going
I agree with Manuel, not impressed to be charged to go walking in MY country! Or swimming in a natural waterhole. Seems like we are having to dig deeper into our savings to just enjoy what is our heritage – and yes, I am a white 3rd generation Aussie! I also served 3 times over 12 years in the Australian Defence Force in the NT. Bit of a shame really – we love the Territory!
I agree with your comment John. I served in the Defence Force and fought in Vietnam. Why do we have to pay for something that we put our life on the line for? Bloody disgusting.
What a shame that our National Parks are being loved to death. It is time to question population growth and the impact on our little planet.
Our Governments could also declare more National Parks to help, however, in the end there are simply too many people. It is not sustainable.
We won’t be visiting NT , these things should be free for all.
Any money that will be made will be frittered away on everything but what it should be used for. Other states look more attractive now that’s for sure.
Another place I will give pass. Is this another closed sacred site.
I don’t mind paying for the NT Parks Pass nor camping fees, however why would they want you to pay extra for doing a walk within the Park? Seems unreasonable when you have already paid out the initial two costs.
It would deter me from visiting many parks. In fact I would think twice about going to the NT parks at all. Fuel, camping and caravan park costs have gone up to the point where many can’t afford to take the long trips involved in visiting the NT parks. It also leaves a bad taste in my mouth to be forever paying the Government to do what it should be doing in any case. All this for seven million dollars a year, if their lucky. What percentage of the overall expenditure is this? It is a deterrent and must have an effect.
Some of the parks ,places on the list are not worth paying for and are better left as they are not modified
W.A. has been charging admission to it’s parks for years.
The cost effective approach is to purchase a yearly pass when you enter the NT (it will not break the bank), then just go and have fun.
It may help improve amenties at some of these locations.
This certainly will not stop us from going back to NT.
Sorry to here about the new charges. We have been to the NT about 6 times. Now we will be just driving though it on our way to WA. NO MORE STOPPING IN NT.
When we go traveling in aust now we r on the pension we have to count every cent and as for national parks when people r traveling they have a pet so a lot of us can’t go in even with our pet on a lead so we don’t go there anyway and some caravan parks want to charge u extra for a pet so all this is getting out off hand and cost of exploring our country is to watch it on tv.
WEnt to most of those places years ago, wont bother going anywhere in NT anymore.
I will not be heading that way. I’m sick of subsidies to pay for little improvement. How are you going to improve. Utter bull.
Just a money grab to support fat cat wage increases.
Just another reason to never return to the Top End. Expensive caravan parks, drunks in public parks, ridiculous alcohol rules that don’t work, and now this. We’ll never be back.
Looks like I will be cancelling a couple of bookings at Litchfield and Mary River and head to Qld instead. Why no concessions or a set fee per car? For 2 Grey Nomads an adult open pass is going to cost $120.00 if you want to stay there for 2 – 3 months. Shame I was looking forward to going to Dundee Beach (not on the list) now not looking as if I will be going there either.
Get rid of national parks. Australia should be for Australians not just the locals and should be free. You will not C me in the NT.
Most other states charge for visiting National Parks. As long as fees are spend towards maintenance and safety to use the area I have no problem. I normally get an annual pass even if only staying a few weeks in that state
Many other states have charges and fees. The NT only adds to the list of extra money you have to shell out. No real cost details have been released yet so I will make my plans accordingly. If it’s too expensive I will go elsewhere. Can’t say I’m happy about paying a camping fee, a parks fee and a walking fee. After visiting several sites it will all add up that’s for sure.
I think I will be spending my time staying on the East coast, it is unfair for interstater’s have to pay entry.
Another money grabbing scheme that will drive people away. I thought the whole point in having a tourist industry was to encourage people to come and keep coming back so they can spend up big in the local economy.
Keep ripping them off with nothing to show for it and they will disappear (to Bali where the facilities are 5star immaculate and great value for money! ) Wake up NT . We have just come from a tour of the territory and every where the government had it’s hand in the tourist pocket. From Kakadu to Katherine. Ayers rock $76 to get in to look at a rock and that was seniors rate for 2 how a family can afford to tour the Territory is beyond me.That said most enjoyable and value for money meal was at the humpty Doo hotel (the clean one in town not the other one).
WA is no better the closer you get to tourist attractions the higher the price and the lower the quality of everything
I think there should be a National parks pass. That would stop all the discussion.
The National Parks in the NT is a failure from the hierarchy now .
You can discover some beautiful place that you hadn’t planned to visit and find a camp area totally vacant because you need to book online.
Can’t book online because there is no phone service .
I was amazed to find so many campers last year camped by the road outside of the Davenport National Park because they couldn’t book online!
The camp sites were all totally vacant at Whistle Duck Creek and Policeman’s Waterhole.
I met two Rangers here , both great guys who said they are disgusted in how their bosses are running the NP’s in the NT .
They told me they were told they would need to wear cameras so they could record the confrontations with campers who hadn’t booked and paid for campsites .
Thank god the Rangers refused and some said they would resign from their job before acting like riot police.
Unfortunately again we see fees going up and up. Fuel and food is already impacting on travel and now this. We have just returned from Western Australia and found their prices for Park entry huge to the extent we bypassed many of them and now its set for NT. Definitely makes you think twice about visiting National Parks around the country.
I for one am not going to subsidise the locals for a free time on my money. Other states are just as good. If I ever decide to go to the N.T, again it will be by air and staying at a decent Hotel if I can find one.
See Ya!
Having to pay for National Parks then paying additional fees, No Way
It saddens me to see some of the comments from my fellow Grey Nomads. There appears to be a sense of entitlement just because we worked and paid taxes during our working lives and now we are retired we should pay for nothing or pay very little, at the expense of current tax payers and local rate payers. Well my friends, you need to get real and understand the ‘user pays’ principle will be applied more and more going forward, and you will have to pay your fair share if you want to enjoy the locality and facilities, otherwise you will run out of regions and states to visit.
Also, what happened years ago such as free access to parks is different today, with the pressure of increasing visitor numbers, expectations such as toilet facilities, ramps for the disabled, rubbish removal; this all costs money and should be partially funded by users.
Not for me I’ve been n’t many times but no more paying to swim and walk?no thanks
This is one way to lose tourism, I originally was from the NT and now visit there every year, for holidays , but now we will have to think twice about going there , and spending our money at parks, shops takeaways and the biggest one fuel prices.