National Parks - Introduction and General Information
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A visit to or camp out in a national park (state parks to North American visitors) or reserve is a wonderful way to enjoy the natural beauty of an area. But even with the utmost care, we do have an impact on the natural environment when we visit, and we need to ensure that it can recover.
Become an "Ecotourist" and when you use a tour operator or guide service to visit national parks, ask them if they are National Parks licensed or they observe the Ecotourism Operators Code of Practice.
Parks & Wildlife Code
National Parks are special places. Your co-operation is sought in the preservation of these areas. Parks are for quiet recreation.
Enjoy your visit, and please remember...
- to leave your pets and firearms at home
- to be careful with fires and use only fireplaces provided
- not to feed the native wildlife or interfere with the native plants and animals
- to remove all your rubbish from the park and leave your campsite as you found it
- to drive only on roads provided and observe all signs
- keep to walking tracks as they are designed to have minimal impact on the parks
Picnic and Camping Facilities
Most national parks have picnic facilities, with scenic lookouts or short walks and overnight walking tracks nearby. Many also have camp grounds suitable for camper vans and walk-in bush camping.
Short walking tracks and circuits are generally simple gravel paths. Some parks have raised boardwalks or other construction suitable for mobility impaired and wheelchair access.
Longer tracks are usually dirt trails, which maybe inaccessible during bushfire or "wet" seasons. Check with the local parks office before embarking on your visit.
Facilities provided by the National Parks and Wildlife Services include tables, fire-places and firewood, composting toilets (some places will still have pit toilets, but these are being upgraded), and shelter sheds. Fresh water is often unavailable and visitors should bring their own.
Some parks and reserves have a nominal entry fee for day visitors or overnight campers, collected by a local ranger or using a self registration station.
Many parks will also have private camping grounds or other accommodation near by.
The Unit of Measure
The unit of measure for the park sizes is the hectare (ha). One hundred hectares is one million square meters or one square kilometer. If you need to think in acres, one hectare is 2.46 acres and one acre is .405 of a hectare. We hope this is perfectly clear. Shall we talk a little about perches and roods?
