Up to $89 a night: Here's what we know about proposed changes to national park campsite fees

Camping could get more expensive in national parks if a proposed new fee system is approved.  

Changes to the price of national park campsites in NSW and on the Mid North Coast are currently being proposed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). 

The proposal aims to address “ghost bookings” – or no-show campers – and discourage people from booking more sites than needed. The potential rate increases would also be used to raise revenue to improve management of the campgrounds.

Introduction of a tiered system and “peak season”

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service manages 895 parks and reserves across the state, home to more than 365 campgrounds. The North Coast branch, which covers an area from Tweed Heads in the North and the south of Newcastle, includes 91 national parks.

Camping fees in national parks and reserves are currently inconsistent across campsites. NPWS is proposing an introduction of a six-tier system across all campgrounds, where the price is based on facilities and demand.

Explaining the proposed “tiered fee system”

Under the new proposal, campgrounds with no facilities would be considered Tier 1 and would be free. Currently, these sites make up only 10 percent of the NPWS campgrounds across the state and cost about $3 per night.

Campgrounds with hot showers and flushing toilets would be considered Tier 6 – the highest tier – and would cost $89 per night in peak season and $54 per night in low season.

Tier 2,3,4, and 5 campgrounds would have fees aligned with facilities provided like pit toilets, barbecues, tables, shelters, and cold showers, and would depend on how often the campgrounds are serviced by staff.

Fees of most campgrounds in the state are the same all-year round. NPWS is proposing a low-season and high-season price change, making it more expensive during peak visitation periods to encourage camping in off-seasons when the fees are cheaper. On the Mid North Coast, high season – or the most expensive time to camp – would be during summer and school holidays.

What do the changes look like?

Point Plomer campground – between Crescent Head and Port Macquarie – and Diamond Head campgrounds offer cold showers and on-site management. Under the proposal, the campgrounds would be deemed Tier 5, proposed to be priced at $38 low season and $65 during high season. This fee includes all occupants with no charge for extra people, the site, and booking fees.

Trial Bay Gaol at Arakoon near South West Rocks offers hot showers and on-site management which would make it a Tier 6 campground with a proposed price of $89 per campsite per night during peak season and $54 during off-peak season.

Other campgrounds on the Mid North Cost range from Tier 2 to Tier 4, with no Tier 1 or proposed-free campsites on offer.

A NPWS spokesperson told the Mid North Coaster many of the proposed changes would make camping in national parks more affordable.

This includes lowering camping fees outside high season to encourage visitation in non-peak periods and lowering camping fees in locations where demand is low.

Removal of additional fees

Currently, visitors are charged an additional booking fee when booking a campsite and extra charges apply when more than two people are on a single campsite. This proposal would remove those fees.

Discounts would apply for smaller sites suitable for up to two people and for groups using dedicated group sites.

Increased refunds for cancellations

As it stands, NPWS offers a 50 percent refund when a campsite booking is cancelled up to 30 days before the arrival date. A 75 percent refund is given for cancellations made 31 or more days in advance.

The NPWS proposal would increase refunds to 80 percent when bookings are cancelled up to three days before arrival, and 50 percent for cancellations on the date of arrival or to shorten a booking during a stay. 

When a park closes due to an emergency or operational reason, 100 percent refund is provided. If the new system is adopted, a consumer price index increase would be applied every year.

The community can provide feedback on the proposal before midnight, May 25, by completing a five-minute survey and/or providing a submission.