Passes for visiting National Parks

South Australia also has a selection of options, including annual multi parks pass or a holiday multi parks pass which covers a two month period. These exclude Desert Parks and Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island which must be purchased separately. Passes which include camping fees are no longer available. Discount for concession cards are available. You can now pay park entry fees or book camping on line. When booking a campsite, you will then be asked to purchase a park pass or insert the number of your existing park pass.

South Australian Park Passes

South Australia's parks and reserves (excluding Flinders Chase National Park) are free to enter on foot or by bicycle.

Most national parks require a vehicle entry fee (for up to eight passengers). All vehicles must display their entry permit affixed to the windscreen of the passenger side of their vehicle to avoid a fine.

Desert Parks pass covers the desert parks for a period of twelve months, and comes with maps and a handbook, including information about safety.

In Western Australia, passes can be purchased on entry to each park (often by honesty box, so carry enough change), an annual pass can be obtained which covers most parks for a twelve month period, or a holiday pass which covers the same parks for a four week period. There are also holiday and annual park passes for individual parks. Concessions apply for those holding Seniors or other concession cards.

Most park entry fees, where applicable, are $17 per car (concession $10) unless you hold a park pass.

Camping fees are additional.

# Note price rises from November 2023.

Passes can be purchased on line

Park Passes do not cover the following attractions where separate fees apply. Monkey Mia near Denham, the Tree Top Walk near Walpole, boat access at Geikie Gorge in the Kimberley and the Dryandra Woodland night tours animal viewing. Costs for these can be seen on the printable fees brochure linked above.

How to Find a park in Western Australia.

States administer National Parks, and entrance fees vary from state to state and in some cases between parks within a state. Passes which cover most parks in that state for a year, or for a shorter holiday, can be purchased and depending on your travel plans and may be a saving. Discounts for park passes or daily entry fees may apply for holders of State Seniors Cards or other Concession Cards. It pays to ask.

Why are National Park entry fees and and park passes so differnet in each state? See Q&A Can I get one pass to visit all National Parks in Australia?

The following websites cover passes for each state.

In New South Wales there are several options which cover different parks. Which Annual Parks Pass?

Note price changes that took effect 6th October 2015, and that in future prices will be increased in line with the CPI index annually. Which parks charge entry fees? See the list of 45 of over 870 parks and the fees that apply.

Holders of a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card, or a DVA EDA, TPI or TTI pension can apply for exemption from NSW Park Pass payments. Application form for printing can be downloaded. Completed application forms may be submitted by postal mail, fax or email, and must include a photocopy of both sides of your Centrelink Concession Card or your DVA Gold Card. The exemption must be re-applied for annually, and the Exemption Card provided must be displayed in the vehicle when entering parks. This exemption now includes entry to the Kosciusko National Park without a special application being required. Special conditions apply to the Sydney Harbour National Park - Chowder Bay Precinct. Seniors Card holders can obtain 20% discount on annual park entry passes.

Park passes in Queensland are generally not needed for day visits

Queensland Parks

Queensland Parks and Forests

Avehicle access permit must be obtained before driving on Bribie Island, Fraser Island, Moreton Island, Cooloola and Minjerribah recreation areas and fees apply.

All vehicles must be registered and have a valid permit attached to the left side of the vehicle's windscreen. If the vehicle does not have a windscreen the permit must be displayed in another prominent position. Write your booking number on the blank vehicle label available on arrival at the park.

See Booking and paying for camping and for permits to visit specified parks in Queensland.

Setting up a log in required to use this service. See options for the campground booking system.

Northern Territory parks have not been charging entry fees, but this is set to change on 3rd April 2023. See details on Park Pass Fees and follow link to purchase on line.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Kakadu National Parks are separately managed and fees apply. Permits may be required to access some areas within Kakadu.

Northern Territory complete Parks listing

Peak and off peak fees now apply. A $40/$25 per person fee applies to all interstate and international visitors aged 16 years and over to Kakadu National Park. Concession rate $30/$19. Families $100/$65, Children 5 - 15 $20/$12.50. All Northern Territory residents are exempt. Pass covers seven days.

Kakadu Park Pass which can be purchased on line thorugh this site

A $38 per person fee applies to all visitors aged 18 years and over visiting Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, lasts three days, and can be extended for two further days without charge. An annual ticket can be purchased for $50. Northern Territory residents only can purchase an annual vehicle pass for $109, which covers all passengers in your vehicle. Check latest prices on book on this website: Uluru Park Pass

Purchase passes to Uluru-Kata Tjuta here

Channel Point and Cobourg Peninsula also require permits.

In Victoria fees are currently not charged for entry to National Parks but camping fees have been applied to more campgrounds and fees have increased considerably commencing 1st Jult 2014. See News

Bookings for camp sites can be made on line for some of the more popular Victorian parks. Camping fees apply. Booking campsites in specified Victorian Parks

For Tasmania, a holiday park pass covers two months. Annual and two year passes are also available, and concessions apply for these to concession card holders. Passes can be purchased while on the Spirit of Tasmania.

See Parks Tasmania. Note price rise 1st September 2020.

Bald Rock National Park New South Wales

Fascinating Mungo National Park in New South Wales

Back to Trip Planning Index ^

Passes and Permits for visiting National Parks in each state

Permits to transit Aboriginal Lands

Other permits, including Mining Company roads (where permitted), Canning Stock Route and Maralinga.

What passes and permits will you need when travelling in Australia?

Visitor Permits and locked gates regulate access to Channel Point Coastal Reserve, a small and isolated reserve on the coast, reached by travelling west from Litchfield National Park. While there is no entry fee, standard NT Parks camping fees for a campground with showers provided apply.

Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, Cobourg Peninsula. Permits are required for both travelling to Garig Gunak Barlu National Park through Arnhem Land and for camping once you arrive at the park. Camping Fees $220 plus transit fee of $12.10 covers up to 5 adult passengers for up to 7 nights.

Showers are provided.

In Western Australia, your Park Pass should show where you are to display this, be it a windscreen sticker or a pass to display on dashboard when parked within the Park.

• Day Entry Passes and Annual Local Park Passes must be displayed and clearly visible through the vehicle’s windscreen when the vehicle is in the park.

• Holiday Park Passes are to be displayed on the rear vision mirror or on the dashboard when the vehicle is stopped in the park. The pass is to be removed when driving (Road Traffic Code 2000 (S.263.1)).

• Park Pass Stickers (Annual All, Concession and Gold Star) are to be fixed to the lower interior of the driver’s side windscreen.

In New South Wales your pass if a sticker must be fixed to a section of untinted windscreen on the right-hand side of your motor vehicle where it does not obstruct the driver's vision. For motorcycles, it is recommended that the annual pass be stuck to a registration label holder (available from auto accessory stores) which is affixed to any suitable mounting or bracket at the front left-hand side of the motorcycle. Digital passes are now available without the need to wait for a sticker.

Did you know that smoking is prohibited in New South Wales National Parks?

Camping fees are separate to, and over and above, park entry fees. There is a great variation in camping fees between the states. On line books are now required at a number of parks campgrounds in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. See where to book for each state at National Parks Campgrounds

Australia So Much to See

Obtaining passes to visit National Parks and costs of passes

What passes and permits will you need when travelling in Australia?