Doing business at Kakadu | Commercial tours
Phone: 08 8938 1107 | email: kakadu.permits@environment.gov.au
If your business wishes to carry out commercial tours in Kakadu, you will require a permit or licence.
- For most tours, you will need to apply for the standard land-based tour permit. This covers daytime tours into Kakadu’s many public access areas such as Ubirr, Nourlangie and Twin Falls.
- For wet season access into Ubirr, you will need to apply for a seasonal permit to access a restricted area.
- For certain special activities and new proposals, you will need a licence. This applies to activities to commercial bushwalking tours, tours that take you into restricted access areas, and activities that are exclusive or can only be offered by a certain number of operators (eg safari camps). This includes the activities that were previously covered by ‘special permits’.
Please note:
- You will require public liability insurance to the value of $20 million to obtain a permit or licence.
- It is compulsory for all tour guides working in Kakadu to have successfully completed the Kakadu Knowledge for Tour Guides program. This program provides entry-level training covering all the things a tour guide should know when working in Kakadu - including key areas of visitor safety, understanding the park's natural and cultural values and history, minimising environmental impact and legal compliance.
Permits for standard land-based tours
About this permit
Kakadu National Park is a Commonwealth reserve under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Individuals and other commercial entities (e.g. companies and associations) wishing to conduct commercial activities in the park, including commercial tours, need to have a permit issued by the Director of National Parks.
Permits are issued subject to conditions that help to identify, protect, conserve and manage biodiversity, heritage and other values of national parks and provide a system through which industry and the public can share in these responsibilities.
From 1 January 2013, tour operators accredited under Tourism Accreditation Australia Limited (TAAL) programs will be able to apply for three-year standard land-based permits. For information on programs licensed by TAAL, see Tourism NT’s website: tourismnt.com.au/industry-resources/tourism-accreditation.aspx. One-year permits will still be available, will not require TAAL accreditation and applications are accepted at any time.
Permit fees
The one-year fee for a standard land based permit is $100 (for up to four trips each year) and $500 (for more than four trips each year). The three-year fee is $500 (for up to four trips each year) and $1,500 (for more than four trips each year) and is paid at the time of application.
How to apply for this permit
If you intend to apply for a permit to operate a land-based tour, please download the application form, complete it, print it out, sign it, and post or fax or email a scanned copy of the signed application and associated conditions with all required attachments and payments to the address indicated on the form.
Please allow a minimum of 14 days for processing.
The documents are available as PDF or DOCX files.
- Commercial land-based tours permit application form (PDF - 638 KB) | (DOCX - 233 KB)
- Kakadu Knowledge for Tour Guides - Information for Tour Operators (PDF - 403 KB)
If you are unable to access these files, please contact us by emailing Kakadu.permits@environment.gov.au to organise a suitable alternative format.
Permits to access Ubirr during the wet season
About this permit
Over the wet season, between 1 December and 1 April each year, Ubirr is managed as a restricted area. During this time independent travellers may only access the site between 2.00 pm and sunset, however tour operators may apply for a permit and a key to access Ubirr between 8:30 am and sunset. Tour operator access into Ubirr during this period is granted on the basis that permitees and their guides will work together with park staff to help protect this significant site by adhering to permit conditions.
How to apply for this permit
If you intend to apply for a permit, please download the application form and tour guide agreement form, print it out, sign it and post or fax or email a scanned copy of the signed application and associated conditions to the address indicated on the form.
Please allow a minimum of 14 days for processing.
The permit application form and agreement form are available as both PDF and Word files. Further information is provided in a PDF and a PowerPoint file.
- Tour guide agreement form for wet season access to Ubirr (PDF - 67 KB) | (DOC - 149 KB)
- Application for a permit for Ubirr wet season access (PDF - 250 KB) | (DOCX - 167 KB)
- Information for tour operators and guides - Ubirr wet season access (PDF - 1.52 MB) | (PPT - 1.69 MB)
If you are unable to access these files, please contact us by emailing Kakadu.permits@environment.gov.au to organise a suitable alternative format.
Licences
Quick links
About licences
If you want to conduct tours covering certain special activities at Kakadu, you will need a licence. This includes:
- Commercial bushwalking tours
- Tours that take you into particularly sensitive areas, where access is limited (eg Ikoymarrwa/Lower Moline Rockhole or Jarrangbarnmi/Koolpin Gorge)
- Activities with a particular environmental impact (eg sports fishing tours)
- Activities that are exclusive or can only be offered by a certain number of operators (eg safari camps).
These activities were previously covered by ‘special permits’, which are due to expire in March 2014. The first licences for these activities will start on 1 April 2014.
How to apply for a licence
The next application round for tourism licences will be held in October 2013. Following that each year application rounds will be held in January and October for any unallocated and unlimited licences. For further information please contact the Tourism Services Officer on 08 8938 1170 or email Kakadu.permits@environment.gov.au.
The Licence application form including activity conditions is available as both PDF and Word files. Further information is provided in a set of Guidelines on how to apply, and two separate information sheets.
- Licence application form (PDF - 911 KB) | (DOCX - 132 KB)
- Guidelines on how to apply for licence (PDF - 109 KB) | (DOC - 102 KB)
- Information for tour operators and guides - Jarrangbarnmi ( Koolpin Gorge) (PDF - 118 KB) | (DOC - 953KB)
- Information for tour operators and guides - Ikoymarrwa (PDF - 1.52 MB) | (PDF - 147 KB) | (DOC - 83 KB)
If you are unable to access these files, please contact us by emailing Kakadu.permits@environment.gov.au to organise a suitable alternative format.
New proposals
Licences also cover any new proposals for tourism activities at Kakadu. We are keen to hear from tour operators who wish to establish a new activity at Kakadu. Subject to the normal Board approval, licences will be offered for innovative tourism activities that meet the requirements of Kakadu's Tourism Master Plan.
Licences are structured so that the fees reflect the type of activity, the level of investment and return and outcomes for the park and Bininj/Mungguy traditional owners.
Please talk to us about your proposed activity. Call Tracey Diddams, Tourism and Visitor Services Manager, Kakadu National Park on 08 8938 1107 or email tracey.diddams@environment.gov.au.
Licences will be offered for a minimum term of five years. To hold a licence tour operators will be required to hold accreditation through a TAAL recognised program.
