Permits for camping overnight or out of bounds

You do not need a permit to enter most of the parks and reserves in the Northern Territory (NT).

Most parks and reserves in the NT have designated campsites, also called designated camping grounds, where you can camp without a permit.

You can go to a marked campsite any time the park is open.

You need to pay camping fees.

When you need a permit

You need a permit for all of the following:

• to bushwalk overnight 
• to bushwalk and camp off-road or in a place that is not a marked camping area
• to enter some parks including:
  • Channel Point Coastal Reserve
  • Cobourg Peninsula - Garig Gunak Barlu National Park.

Before you apply

Before you apply to get a permit you must you understand all the rules and guidelines for safety, comfort and permits in parks and reserves.

How to apply

To apply for a permit you must follow these steps:  

Step 1. Fill in the camping or bushwalking permit form.

• camping or bushwalking permit form PDF (319.4 KB)
• camping or bushwalking permit form DOCX (98.7 KB)

Step 2. Attach a map or a plan of your walking route and camp sites to your permit application.

Step 3. Submit you application and map by email, fax, or in person to the concessions and permits unit.

After your trip

When you return from your trip you must contact the Parks and Wildlife employee named on your permit to tell them you have left the park and that everyone in your group is safe.