Permits to use aircraft and drones in parks
To fly an aircraft or drone in permitted parks and reserves in the Northern Territory (NT), you may need a permit.
There may also be restrictions on where and when you can fly due to cultural, safety or environmental reasons.
When flying, your aircraft or drone must be airworthy and flown safely according to the law. Read more on the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) website.
You also need to follow the rules for flying drones in parks.
Types of permits
You need a commerce and trade permit to fly a:
- piloted aircraft eg. helicopter
- drone for commercial purposes eg. to sell or promote a product or business.
To fly a drone for recreational purposes, you may need an operation of aircraft permit depending on the park or reserve.
Check the list below. You can also get a copy of this in the schedules for drones in parks policy.
Schedules - drones in parks policy PDF (388.7 KB)
Schedules - drones in parks policy DOCX (18.0 KB)
To get a copy of the drones in parks policy, contact Parks and Wildlife.
Permitted with permit
| Park or reserve | Restriction | Reason for restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Berry Springs Nature Park | Permitted November to March before 9am and after 5pm | Visitor safety |
| Elsey National Park | Watch out for other aircraft | Within 5.5km of Mataranka Homestead Airport |
| Finke Gorge National Park | No flying from Kalarranga Lookout | Cultural considerations and visitor safety |
| Garig Gunak Barlu National Park / Cobourg Marine Park | Must consult senior ranger on where drones may be flown prior to flying | Cultural and residential considerations |
| Howard Springs Nature Park | Permitted November to March before 9am and after 5pm | Visitor safety |
| Litchfield National Park | No flying within the Wangi Falls area or at Sandy Creek Falls | Within 5.5km of Wangi Helipad and Sandy Creek is a landing site for helicopters, as well as visitor safety |
| Mac Clark (Acacia peuce) Conservation Reserve | Permits may be considered | Cultural considerations |
| Ruby Gap Nature Park | Permits may be considered | Cultural considerations |
| Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park | No flying at Glen Helen Gorge or Finke 2-Mile | Within 5.5km of Glen Helen Lodge Helipad |
| Watarrka National Park | Not to be flown over Kings Canyon, the Creek Walk or at Kings Canyon Resort | Visitor safety, cultural considerations and within 5.5km of Kings Canyon Airport |
Permitted without permit
- Adelaide River Foreshore Conservation Area
- Howard Springs Hunting Reserve
- Blackmore River Conservation Reserve
- Manton Dam Recreation Area
- Butterfly Gorge Nature Park
- Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve
- Channel Point Coastal Reserve
- Stray Creek Conservation Area
- Daly River (Mt Nancar) Conservation Area
- Stuart's Tree Historical Reserve
- Douglas River / Daly River Esplanade Conservation Area
- Tree Point Conservation Area
- Bullwaddy Conservation Reserve
- Keep River National Park
- Caranbirini Conservation Reserve
- Limmen Bight Marine Park
- Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park
- Limmen National Park
- Frew Ponds Overland Telegraph Line Memorial
- Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
- Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve
- Anna's Reservoir Conservation Reserve
- John Flynn Historical Reserve
- Arltunga Historical Reserve
- John Flynn's Grave Historical Reserve
- Attack Creek Historical Reserve
- Owen Springs Reserve
- Barrow Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
- Ryan Well Historical Reserve
- Central Mount Stuart Historical Reserve
- Tennant Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
- Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve
- Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve
Not permitted
| Park or reserve | Reason for restriction |
|---|---|
| Black Jungle Conservation Reserve / Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Buffalo Creek Management Area Conservation | Conservation - shorebird habitat and within 5.5km of Royal Darwin Hospital |
| Casuarina Coastal Reserve | Within 5.5km of Darwin International Airport and Royal Darwin Hospital |
| Charles Darwin National Park | Within 5.5km of aerodrome - Darwin International Airport |
| Djukbinj National Park | Cultural considerations |
| Fish River Gorge Block | No visitor access |
| Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Harrison Dam Conservation Area | Cultural considerations |
| Holmes Jungle Nature Park | Within 5.5km of Darwin International Airport |
| Knuckey Lagoons Conservation Reserve | No-fly zone |
| Leaning Tree Lagoon Nature Park | Cultural considerations |
| Mary River National Park (with the exception of Stuart’s Tree Historical Reserve) | Cultural considerations |
| Melacca Swamp Conservation Area | Cultural considerations |
| Oolloo Crossing Conservation Area | Restricted airspace |
| Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Nature Park | Cultural considerations |
| Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park | Restricted airspace |
| Windows on the Wetlands | Externally managed |
| Barranyi (North Island) National Park | Cultural considerations |
| Giwining / Flora River Nature Park | Cultural considerations |
| Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Judbarra/ Gregory National Park (including Victoria River Depot Historical Reserve) | Cultural considerations |
| Kintore Caves Conservation Reserve | Conservation - bird and bat habitat |
| Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park | Cultural considerations and within 5.5km of Nitmiluk Airport |
| Chamber's Pillar Historical Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Dulcie Range National Park | Cultural considerations |
| Heavitree Gap Police Station Historical Reserve | Private residence |
| Iytwelepenty / Davenport Range National Park | Cultural considerations |
| Karlu Karlu / Devil's Marbles Conservation Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Kuyunba Conservation Reserve | Adjacent to Pine Gap, a secure area |
| Napwerte / Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Native Gap Conservation Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| N'dhala Gorge Nature Park | Cultural considerations |
| Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve | Cultural considerations |
| Trephina Gorge Nature Park | Cultural considerations |
| Woodgreen Conservation Reserve | Limited visitor access |
| Yeperenye / Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Park | Cultural considerations |
| George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens | Within 5.5km of Darwin International Airport |
| Territory Wildlife Park Conservation | Captive animals and free-flying birds. |
For regulations on Kakadu National Park or Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, go to the Australian Government's Parks Australia website.
Fees and processing times
There is no fee for an operation of aircraft permit.
A commerce and trade permit has a $55 application fee.
All applications may take 5 or more business days to be processed.
Before you apply
With your application, you must include:
- the weight class and description of your drone or aircraft
- your CASA reference or applicable licence number (if you have one).
If you’re a commercial applicant, you must also include the following:
- Australian business number (ABN)
- map or site plan of your proposed location
- details about when and where you’ll be operating
- an ASIC company extract with director names issued within the last 6 months - if you’re applying on behalf of a company
- public liability insurance of at least $20 million
- workers compensation insurance (if you’re required to have it) - find out more on the NT Worksafe website.
If you need workers compensation insurance, you can provide evidence after you submit your application. You must do this before your permit can be granted.
How to apply
You can apply online or by email.
Online
To apply by email, follow these steps.
Step 1. Fill in the relevant application and attach supporting documents.
Operation of aircraft permit application - recreational drone use PDF (159.1 KB)
Operation of aircraft permit application - recreational drone use DOCX (66.7 KB)
Commerce and trade permit application - aircrafts and commercial drone use PDF (169.4 KB)
Commerce and trade permit application - aircrafts and commercial drone use DOCX (69.3 KB)
Step 2. Submit your application by email to pwpermits@nt.gov.au.
Contact
Call the Parks and Wildlife permits office on 08 8999 4795 (Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm) or email pwpermits@nt.gov.au.
Last updated: 09 February 2024
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