Northern Aboriginal Lands

For transit permits across aboriginal lands in the northern areas contact the Northern Land Council. Their Head Office is in Darwin, whilst the Darwin/Daly Area Office is at Palmerston in Darwin. They also have offices at Jabiru for West Arnhem, Katherine for the South Region and Nhulunbuy for East Arnhem. Offices are also located at Ngukurr, Tennant Creek and at Timber Creek. You can download lots of good information, including Permit Application Forms from their web site.

 Central Aboriginal Lands

For transit permits across aboriginal lands in the central areas including the Mereenie Loop Road (which cost $2.50 per vehicle), contact the Central Land Council's head office in Alice Springs or you can download lots of good info and Permit Application Forms from their website.

Permits to travel the Mereenie Loop Road can also be obtained from the Glen Helen Camping Area Office and from the service station at Kings Canyon. You also need to apply to the Central Land Council for a permit to transit the Docker River Road from west of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park boundary to the WA border via the Docker River Community. (This is the second of the two permits needed when transiting the Docker River Road. For the other permit see under WA, Central Reserves Area above).


Please note that permits to transit the Colson Track from the French Line in the Simpson Desert to Numery Station are simply not being issued. (Again, this is due to past problems with damage caused to a number of sacred sites contained within the aboriginal land through which the track runs).

For those wanting to apply for a tranist permit for routes such as Papunya to the WA border, Sandy Blight Rd to the WA Border and Yulara to the WA Border, you can now apply to the Central Land Council online.

 Coburg Peninsula

For permits to access the Coburg Peninsula and to camp there, you need to contact the Coburg Peninsula Sanctuary and Marine Park Board.


A weeks camping (7 nights) at Coburg will cost you (in 2008) the princely sum of $232.10 per vehicle containing up to five (5) passengers. If you have a Troopy for example, and it is licensed to carry more than five passengers, it will be an extra $11 per person carried (above five) per week. Permits are only sold by the week so if you wanted to stay for say 8 nights, it would cost you another $232.10. Note also that as at March, 2008, there are absolutely no commercial activities operating at Coburg. The Gurig Store is closed till further notice. This means that absolutely no supplies whatever are available at Coburg. The fishing and boat hire charter business has also closed and that means that the commercial boat tours to Victoria Settlement are no longer available. Visitors therefore need to be totally self sufficient for their entire stay, and, if you want to visit Victoria Settlement you will need your own boat. Coburg Cottages which had a small number of quite comfortable cottages for rent has also closed. The Ranger Station is of course still open and operating. Check with the Sanctuary and Marine Park Board as to the current status of commercial activities when you apply for your permit.

 Arnhem Land

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If you would like to experience and explore the delights of the Gove Peninsula, you will need a permit from the Northern Land Council to traverse the Central Arnhem Road to access Nhulunbuy. You can camp for a night in a few nominated spots on the Central Arnhem Road as the distance to Nhulunbuy is in excess of 700 k’s. Some of these small sites charge camping fees of around $15.00 per night per vehicle. There is however, one free location. All the locations are shown on the mud map of the Central Arnhem Road which you will receive with your permit.

Mainoru Roadhouse

The Mainoru Roadhouse (phone: 08 8975 4390) which is located on the Central Arnhem Road about 220 kilometres from Katherine, just outside the boundary of the aboriginal land, also offers camping at $20 per vehicle per night with a limit of 4 persons per vehicle, anything above that and additional charges apply. If you are on your lonesome, it’s only $10 per night. The camping area is a grassed, shady site down behind the Roadhouse on the banks of a quite large creek. It’s a pretty good site in comparison to the others. Campers have access to a flush loo and a cold shower. Camping at the Roadhouse breaks the 700 kilometre trip into two easy legs. Whilst the locals generally drive the Central Arnhem Road in one day, that is not advisable for first time visitors. If the Roadhouse telephone doesn’t answer for some reason, try Mainoru Station which is about 17 kilometres inland from the Roadhouse on: (08) 8977 4107.

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Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala

Once you arrive at Nhulunbuy, you must gain a Recreation Permit to visit and camp at most locations where camping is permitted. The permits, which cost $25 per person, are valid for a 2 month period. Some special environmentally monitored camp sites are also available at an additional cost of $15 per vehicle and are valid for 5 days. One other special site is also available at a cost of $15 per vehicle per night. Advance bookings for this site are essential. Recreation Permits are available (on a personal visit basis only) from the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation.

Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation

PO Box 1551, Nhulunbuy, NT 0881
Location: Arnhem Road, Nhulunbuy opposite the Captain Cook Shopping Centre
Phone: (08) 8987 3992
Fax: (08) 8987 3224
Website: www.dhimurru.com.au

Yirrkala Dhanbul Community

Yirrkala Dhanbul Community Association Inc. CMB 1, Yirrkala, NT 0880
Phone: (08) 8987 3433
Fax: (08) 8987 2304
Website: www.yirrkaladhanbul.nt.gov.au

If you also wish to access Yirrkala, then you will need to write to the Yirrkala Dhanbul Community Association Inc. No camping is available anywhere within the Yirrkala area.

To gain a permit to visit the Gove Peninsula you MUST also book at least your first nights accommodation at one of the two commercial accommodation operators at Nhulunbuy. And, as the Land Council Office is not open over the weekend, you will need to book 2 nights accommodation if you intend to arrive on the Saturday. The cheaper accommodation in town is the very comfortable Gove Peninsula Motel, PO Box 314, Nhulunbuy, NT 0881. Telephone (08) 8987 0700. The cost in 2008 was $143.00 per double room. The only other accommodation is the Walkabout Lodge and Tavern on (08) 8987 1777.

Please also note that the Northern Land Council, under strict instructions from the dozens of affected traditional owners, are simply NOT issuing permits to transit the unnamed track which runs primarily west/east across Arnhem Land from Oenpelli, past Gumadeer, Maningrida and Ramingining, and then turns south to link up with the Central Arnhem Road.

Also, the Central Land Council are NOT issuing permits to transit the Wiso Track (also known as the Warrego Mine Road) which runs from Tennant Creek to Lajamanu, as they consider it impassable. However, permits to transit the NT section of the Sandy Blight Junction Track are once again being issued, but no camping is permitted anywhere along the NT section of the Track. (Also see the comments on the Sandy Blight Junction Track under WA above).

For permits to travel the Hay River area north from Poeppell Corner to Jervois Station (on the Plenty Highway), contact Jol Fleming at Direct 4WD Awareness at Alice Springs on (08) 8952 3359. Permit numbers are strictly limited each year to ensure the area remains unspoilt. Bush tucker tours are available en route at Batton Hill Camp courtesy of Lindsay Bookie, Chairperson of the Central Land Council, or a member of his family - This is a must do!!

 NT Parks and Reserves

All of the Parks and Reserves in the NT under the control of the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory have free access, but most charge modest camping fees for an overnight stay. Some have Ranger Stations, whilst others have self registration processes in place.

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Parks & Wildlife Commission of the NT

Goyder Centre
25 Chung Wah Terrace, Palmerston NT 0830
PO Box 496, Palmerston, NT 0831
Phone: (08) 8999 4555
Fax: (08) 8999 4558
Website: Parks & Wildlife Commission of the NT

If you are dealing with a National Park Service or any Government Agency and you have a Seniors Card, Pension or Concession Card of some description; always ask whether a discounted rate applies.

Uluru and Kakadu National Parks

Bear in mind also that neither Uluru nor Kakadu National Parks fall under the control of the NT Parks and Wildlife Commission. Access to Kakadu is now free, however a camping fee of $5.40 per person per night is charged in the Park run camping areas, (in 2008). The commercially run sites charge considerably more, usually around $25-$30 per site per night. Kakadu can be contacted on (08) 8938 1120.

Uluru still charges both an entry fee and camping fees in 2008. The camping fees for an unpowered site are $14.50 per person per night for one or two adults, plus $13.00 per night for any additional adults. Children under 16 are $7.50 each per night. Powered camping sites are available at $17.00 per person per night. Camping is only available at the camping area at Voyages Ayers Rock Resort Camping Area who can be contacted on 08 8957 7001. The cheapest Park entry fee is $25 per person for 3 days. However, if you have a Transit Permit for the Docker River Road, and are entering the Park for the sole purpose of your transit, then no entry fee is required to be paid. Your Permit will however be inspected and you will be told that you are not permitted to stop within the Park. Uluru Park Service can be contacted on (08) 8956 2299.

If you are traveling the Savannah Way from Borroloola to Burketown ensure you carry sufficient fuel for your journey as both the Wollogorang and Hells Gate Roadhouses are now closed. The only fuel available on that trip is at Doomadgee. Hours of fuel availability at Doomadgee may also be unreliable.

This article has been extracted from a document supplied by the contributing author and the Toyota Land Cruiser Club Of Australia Sydney.

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