Tasmania's new camping system: what's changing and how much it costs
A new online booking system for campsites across Tasmania was rolled out this week, intending to introduce a more consistent approach to camping fees.
It has been described by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) as the first stage of a broader rollout, as part of an effort to stop "ghost camping" — where campers reserve sites with an unoccupied tent or van until they are ready to use the site.
This first stage will allow campers to find, book and manage their bookings for selected campgrounds that already require a booking fee.
It covers 10 Tasmanian national parks and conservation areas:
- Narawntapu National Park
- Maria Island National Park
- Freycinet National Park
- Mount Field National Park
- South Bruny National Park
- Fortescue Bay
- Peggs Beach Conservation Area
- Arthur Pieman Conservation Area
- Mount William National Park
- Lime Bay State Reserve
A campsite at Narawntapu National Park, in the state's north. (ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)
How does it work?
The booking platform provides information for each site, including amenities, nearby activities, and relevant alerts for the region.
The new system has introduced a flat rate per site for groups of up to six people, rather than being charged per person for a campsite.
For campsites at Freycinet National Park and Fortescue Bay, users will be able to view which numbered campsites are available, along with a map that displays the location of each site.
Those numbered sites can then be booked, and campers must use the site number which corresponds to their booking.
Campsites at Mount Field National Park, in the state's south, will need to be booked through the online system. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
The remaining eight locations all use unnumbered sites.
PWS director of tourism Tory Ross told 936 ABC Hobart those sites will function as a "turn up and camp, first-in, best-dressed" system once they have been booked through the online portal.
"What we have done to allow for some walk-ins and people that don't know about the system over summer is just withhold some of the inventory," Ms Ross said.
"So, there will be some spaces available if people just turn up."
Ms Ross said over the summer there will be more PWS staff at these sites to help campers who have arrived without booking online.
"We're really hoping that as awareness grows, people will comply with the camping booking system and that will help us manage that issue over time," she said.
How much will it cost to camp?
Campers will be able to book at a flat rate per site for groups of up to six people.
Groups of more than six people will need to book extra campsites.
Standard campsites can be booked for $18 per night, premium unpowered sites will be $24 per night, and premium powered sites will be $35 per night.
Existing rates for bookings made before the new booking system will be honoured.
The Tasmanian government said revenue generated through camp bookings will be reinvested into the management of Tasmania's national parks and reserves.
PWS said many campgrounds across the state will remain free and won't require bookings.
What other changes are planned?
Parks Minister Nick Duigan announced the new booking system at Narawntapu National Park. (ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)
In an announcement of the new service at the beginning of the week, Tasmanian Minister for Parks Nick Duigan said the system will expand over time to include other "products and experiences" managed by PWS.
These include walks, cave tours, accommodation, and park passes, all managed through a single online portal.
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