Australia So Much to See

What passes and permits will you need when travelling in Australia?  Obtaining permits to transit through Aboriginal land

The following advice refers to transit permits; used by the tourist when taking roads passing through specific Aboriginal lands where permits are required.  Your permit will state the conditions of entry.  Generally only camping is permitted in designated areas, and the permit is for transit by road with no diversion, other than to purchase fuel and or supplies at communities along the route.  To spend time in Aboriginal lands for other reasons such as mining exploration or research, a different application needs to be submitted.  The following apply to the more common tourist routes.  More specific permits may be needed to visit other Aboriginal areas which are generally not on the main tourist routes and application processing may take some weeks.  Permit fees may apply to enter some Aboriginal communities. 

In Western Australia, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website has on line application forms for travel through Aboriginal lands.  In most cases there is no charge for these permits.  A permit to travel the Great Central Road between Northern Territory and Laverton can be obtained from the Ngaanyatjarra Office in Alice Springs in person or by fax (eg from Yulara Visitor Centre or Tjukayirla Roadhouse).  While some transit permits can be obtained quickly, others, such as to closed communities and roads including the Gary Junction Road, require special approval.  This can take a number of weeks, and approval is not guaranteed.  Apply  here   

Some permits require payment, and the most expensive is to visit  Surveyor General’s Corner, with a per car fee of $100 plus $20 per person, which includes the cost of a local guide. SeeNgaanyatjarra Entry Permits, including visiting Surveyor General's Corner.  For Surveyor General's Corner a guide from the Irrunytju Community is required.  Fees $100 per vehicle plus $25 per person.  Phone (08) 8956 7998 or email irrunytjucda@nglands.org.au

A permit is required to travel the entire length of the Canning Stock Route at a total cost of $175.  See details on Permits to travel the Canning Stock Route.  The opportunity to travel to Katjarra (Carnarvon Ranges) was provided through a Trial Permit during the month of July 2014.  This did not continue after the trial period.  The ranges, to the west of Well 6 on the Canning Stock Route, have remained closed to the public since 2008.  

In the Northern Territory, there are four land coumcils, each with a separate website. 

The Central Land Council

Administers permits for the southern section of the state.

In South Australia permits are required to travel through Aboriginal lands in the northern part of the state.

For travel over aboriginal lands in the northern part of South Australia, which includes for example, the Giles-Mulga Park Road from Mulga Park Station to Wingellina, contact the Anangu Pitjantjatjara/Yankunyjatjara Land Council.

For more about permits to travel the Anne Beadell Highway click here.  See permits for contacts to obtain permits for Maralinga Tjaruta Lands, Woomera Prohibited Area and Mamungari Conservation Park.

There are no specific routes which require Aboriginal lands transit permits to be pre-arranged in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria or Tasmania. 

A permit for the route to the tip of Cape York in far north Queensland is included in the Jardine Ferry ticket.  See Question and Answer Permits required to travel Cape York Peninsula

There is a small Aboriginal land area on the west coast of Tasmania at Preminghana, named after the Aboriginal name for the hill now known as Mount Cameron West.    Permission to visit can be obtained from the caretakers who live on site.  Access to Mount Cameron West (Preminghana) is not permitted.