Online booking for desert parks

Posted 01 June 2017.

From today visitors to South Australia’s desert parks will need to book camping,

accommodation and entrance fees online before they travel.

The transition to online bookings, a nationwide trend, has been occurring across South

Australia since August 2014 with the majority of the remaining parks coming online from

1 June.

In the SA Arid Lands region, parks that will now be booked online are Ikara-Flinders

Ranges National Park, Innamincka Regional Reserve, Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National

Park, Witjira National Park, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park, and Vulkathunha-

Gammon Ranges National Park, including Grindell’s Hut, Nudlamutana Hut and the

Balcanoona Shearers Quarters.

Natural Resources SA Arid Lands Manager of Parks and Co-management Tony Magor said

for many people the new online booking system will be a more convenient experience.

“We are finding visitors are welcoming the opportunity to plan and book ahead from the

comfort of their home, knowing that their site will be secured and they won’t have to

carry the correct amount of cash,” Mr Magor said.

“They are able to book their favourite campsites up to 12 months in advance of a

planned visit which is particularly convenient during peak periods when some camping

areas are in high demand.”

Self-registration stations (also known as iron rangers), which have continually been

subjected to vandalism and theft, will no longer be in use and cash payments will no

longer be accepted.

“This means staff will now have more time for carrying out park management activities

instead of emptying and repairing iron rangers,” Mr Magor said.

Visitors can be assured that they will be assisted through the transition to the new

system.

“We acknowledge that there will be confusion as we move to the new online booking

system and our rangers will exercise a grace period to allow visitors to transition.

“A number of businesses in strategic, remote locations have become agents; they will

have signage that online payment is available and can assist visitors before they drive out

to the park.”

For further information about online booking and to make a booking visit:

www.parks.sa.gov.au

For information about parks or Desert Parks Passes contact the Desert Parks Pass

Administration Officer in Port Augusta 08 8648 5328 or DEWNRDesertParks@sa.gov.au

|Feedback on the online booking system is important to continue to improve visitor

service; comments can be sent to DEWNR.OnlineBookings@sa.gov.au