AUSSIE HIKERS

Hiking permits and park fees in Australia: a state-by-state guide

Australia's national parks are managed by the states and territories, except for a few Commonwealth parks such as Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa, Kakadu and Booderee. Each agency has its own rules about entry passes, camping fees and permits for multi-day walks. This guide explains how the system works in each jurisdiction, so you know what to check before you go.

Important: fees change regularly. We deliberately don't quote dollar amounts here. Always check the current price on the official agency website linked below.

Three kinds of charges

  1. Park entry or vehicle passes. Many parks charge a daily vehicle entry fee or need an annual pass. Walkers arriving on foot or by public transport often don't pay.
  2. Camping fees. Most campgrounds, including hike-in sites on multi-day walks, need a booking and a per-person or per-site fee.
  3. Track permits or walk fees. A small number of iconic multi-day walks cap numbers and charge a specific track fee. Examples are the Overland Track, Three Capes Track, Jatbula Trail and Thorsborne Trail.

New South Wales

Agency: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Website: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Many NSW parks are free to enter. Some popular ones charge a daily vehicle entry fee, including Royal, Kosciuszko, Ku-ring-gai Chase and parts of the Blue Mountains. Annual "All Parks" or single-park passes are available. Kosciuszko has its own pass structure, with higher daily rates in winter. Camping must be booked online for most campgrounds, including Coast Track campsites in Royal National Park. Some extremely popular sites, such as Figure Eight Pools, may need parking bookings or close in unsafe swell conditions.

Victoria

Agency: Parks Victoria Website: parks.vic.gov.au

Most Victorian parks are free to enter for day visits. Camping fees apply at most campgrounds, and bookings are needed for many, especially in peak periods. The Grampians Peaks Trail, Great Ocean Walk and Wilsons Promontory overnight hikes need campsite bookings and fees through Parks Victoria. Wilsons Prom hikers also need an overnight hiking permit. Car parking at Telegraph Saddle is often replaced by a shuttle bus at peak times.

Queensland

Agency: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Website: parks.qld.gov.au

Queensland national parks have no general entry fees, but camping permits are needed for all QPWS camping areas, including bush camps on the Great Walks. Popular walks such as the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island cap walker numbers, so book months ahead. K'gari (Fraser Island) needs a vehicle access permit as well as camping permits. Mossman Gorge in the Daintree is reached by a paid shuttle bus from the Mossman Gorge Centre.

South Australia

Agency: National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia Website: parks.sa.gov.au

Some SA parks charge vehicle entry fees, including Ikara-Flinders Ranges, Deep Creek, Belair and Flinders Chase on Kangaroo Island. Multi-park passes are available. Campsites must be booked online. The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail needs a trail booking and fee that includes campsite use. The Heysen Trail is free to walk, but some sections pass through private land and forestry reserves that close during the fire danger season, typically from December to April.

Western Australia

Agency: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) Website: exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au

Vehicle entry fees apply in many WA national parks, including Stirling Range, Karijini, Nambung, Leeuwin-Naturaliste (some sites) and Purnululu. Day, holiday and annual passes are available. The Bibbulmun Track's 49 campsites are free and can't be booked, and Cape to Cape walk-in campsites are also free. Campgrounds within national parks generally need bookings and fees.

Tasmania

Agency: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Website: parks.tas.gov.au

Every visitor to a Tasmanian national park needs a parks pass. Daily passes, holiday passes (eight weeks) and annual passes are available. The Overland Track needs a separate booking and fee during the booking season (1 October to 31 May). The Three Capes Track is a fully booked experience that includes cabins and transport. Tasmania encourages walkers on longer routes to log their intentions in trailhead registration books.

Australian Capital Territory

Agency: ACT Parks and Conservation Service Website: act.gov.au/parks

Namadgi National Park and Canberra Nature Park are free to enter. Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve charges a vehicle entry fee, with annual passes available. Camping in Namadgi needs a booking at designated campgrounds. Remote area camping has its own conditions.

Northern Territory

Agency: NT Parks and Wildlife Commission (Territory parks) and Parks Australia (Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa and Kakadu) Websites: nt.gov.au/parks · parksaustralia.gov.au

Interstate and overseas visitors need an NT Parks Pass to visit Territory-managed parks such as Litchfield, Nitmiluk, Watarrka (Kings Canyon) and Tjoritja / West MacDonnell. NT residents are exempt. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa and Kakadu need their own park passes, sold by Parks Australia. The Jatbula Trail has capped numbers and needs a booking. Larapinta Trail campsites may need booking and fees at some trailheads. Several central Australian walks close early on very hot days.

Commonwealth parks

Parks Australia manages Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa, Kakadu and Booderee National Parks jointly with their Traditional Owners. Each has its own pass. Booderee is near Jervis Bay in the Jervis Bay Territory.

Tips for avoiding surprises

Why fees matter

Park fees help pay for track maintenance, toilets, rangers, search and rescue support and conservation programs. Paying them helps keep Australia's walking tracks open and safe.

This guide gives general information only. Fees, permits and rules change. Always confirm current requirements on the official agency website before your walk.