Parks Pass vs camping vs Larapinta trail fees

A day visitor who needs a Parks Pass pays entry. A camper pays entry (if required) plus a Category A/B/D night. A Larapinta overnighter on consecutive trail days pays entry (if required) plus camping plus the overnight trail fee. A Standley stop adds a private ticket.

Kakadu and Uluru–Kata Tjuta are Parks Australia products. Do not expect the NT Parks Visitor Pass to cover them, or their tickets to cover Tjoritja.

If a tour brochure says “park fees included,” ask which system. Many day tours cover entry only.

Required for most non-NT residents entering NT Government-managed parks including Tjoritja. NT residents are typically exempt with proof (for example an NT licence) — verify. Buy only at parkbookings.nt.gov.au.

Official visitor-pass table (checked 14 Aug 2026): 1-day adult $10 / child $5 / family $25 / concession $8; 3-day $20 / $10 / $50 / $16; 2-week $30 / $15 / $75 / $24; 1-month $45 / $22 / $110 / $36; annual $60 / $30 / $150 / $48.

This is not camping and not a walking permit. Screenshot the confirmation before you lose reception.

Designated sites only. Book and pay online before arrival. Official Category B (checked 14 Aug 2026): adult $10 / child $5 / family $25 per night. Category A $15 / $8 / $38; Category D $20 / $10 / $50. NT Parks lists Ormiston Gorge as Category B.

No pets, no generators. Fires prohibited at Ormiston; designated pits only elsewhere; collect wood outside the park. Treat tank water. Bring your own drinking water as the default.

Caravans: official Ormiston page lists caravans at that Category B camp — confirm live for Ellery and Redbank. Camp only in the site you booked.

Official walking-trail-fees page (checked 14 Aug 2026): $25 per person (adult or child 5–17) per night, capped at $125 for 6+ consecutive nights; under 5 free; no family rate. In addition to camping. Book online.

Day sections from a vehicle trailhead do not pay this fee. Consecutive overnight trail days do. Do not invent a “we might stay out” and skip the booking.

Read official plan, sections, facilities and current-conditions pages before you commit. Official park-open (14 Aug 2026): treat all 12 sections as Grade 5 Difficult until further notice.

Angkerle Atwatye / Standley Chasm is not covered by Parks Pass, camping or the Larapinta trail fee. It has its own gate, hours and ticket.

If a Larapinta section passes the chasm, you still obey private hours. Do not hop the gate. Confirm on the operator site before you plan a midday passage.

Park entry, camping, Larapinta trail fees, Mereenie Loop permits and Standley tickets are never affiliated here. Optional stay, tour and gear links on other pages are a different product, labelled as such.

If a link on this article points at parkbookings or nt.gov.au, it is official. Follow it. Ignore anyone selling you an “NT Parks pass” from a marketplace.

Buying an annual pass and assuming a camp site is included. It is not.

Paying the trail fee for a day walk you will not camp on. You did not need it.

Arriving at Ormiston at 4 pm hoping to pay a ranger for a night. There is no on-site payment.

Assuming Glen Helen lodge camping is an NT Parks Category B site. Gorge = NT Parks. Lodge/camp = operator. Confirm the operator is open before you plan dinner.

Night before a day trip: Parks Pass only (if required) + screenshots of park-open and the road report.

Before a camp night: Parks Pass (if required) + each camp night on parkbookings + food and water from Alice.

Before consecutive Larapinta overnight days: all three official systems + any Standley ticket + a written exit at the next vehicle trailhead.