When do national park bookings open in Australia?
It depends on the state. Queensland and South Australia roll 12 months ahead, Victoria releases in blocks, the Overland Track and the Jatbula Trail release on fixed dates once a year, and New South Wales and the Northern Territory publish no window. Official booking pages read 9–10 October 2026. Audacia does not take bookings.
Dates coming up
The fixed releases, soonest first. Where a date has not been published we say so and link to the official page rather than guess.
| Opens | What | Notes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| From November 2026 (day not published) | Tasmania's new Parks and Wildlife booking system starts rolling out | Covers campsites, park passes, walks and tours. Fees and rules may change; no start day or rules are published yet. | PWS news |
| Not published | Ningaloo Coast campground releases after 1 September 2026 | The trial's last published release was 1 September 2026. The park authority said a further announcement would follow in September; none was found on the pages read. | Ningaloo trial FAQ |
| Tue 15 Dec 2026, 10am (Queensland time) | Thorsborne Trail permits, 2027 season (1 Mar–31 Dec 2027) | The whole season is released at once. The park page also says 9am AEST in its FAQ, so check Park Alerts nearer the date. | Thorsborne seasons |
| Wed 10 Feb 2027, 10am | Great Ocean Road parks, summer 2027–28 (18 Dec 2027–29 Feb 2028) | From 2027 the summer-peak release is the second Wednesday of each February. | GORCAPA |
| Not published | Jatbula Trail, 2027 season | The 2026 season opened at 9am on Tue 3 Feb 2026. The 2027 opening has not been published. | NT news |
| Not published | Parks Victoria's next release (stays after 30 June 2027) | The release schedule lists none; Parks Victoria points to its e-newsletter for release news. | Release schedule |
| First Tuesday in July (Tue 6 Jul 2027, 9am AEST) | Overland Track, 2027–28 season | The park's FAQ gives the rule, "the first Tuesday in July each year"; 6 July 2027 is that Tuesday. The 2026–27 season opened on 7 July 2026. | Overland Track FAQ |
Queensland
| Topic | Window and opening | Official link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping, all parks | A rolling 12 months: the last night must fall within 12 months of today. The window moves daily, so there is no single opening day. The booking page advises booking at least six weeks ahead for popular spots. | Camping bookings | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Thorsborne Trail (Hinchinbrook Island) | The 2027 season (1 Mar–31 Dec) is released at 10am on 15 Dec 2026, all at once, through a virtual waiting room. The park says peak-season (May–September) permits sold out within an hour of the 2026 release. | Seasons | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Carnarvon Gorge | Camping can be booked 12 months ahead, online only. The Gorge camping area opens only in the Easter, June–July and September–October Queensland school holidays. | Carnarvon Gorge FAQ | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Bunya Mountains | Bookings "should be made up to 12 months in advance for school holidays, long weekends and large groups". | Bunya Mountains camping | 9 Oct 2026 |
How far in advance can I book camping in Queensland national parks?
Up to 12 months ahead, on a rolling window. A refund is automatic if you cancel more than two days before the permit starts.
When do Thorsborne Trail permits open?
Permits for the 2027 season open at 10am (Queensland time) on Tuesday 15 December 2026. The 2028 release date has not been announced.
New South Wales
| Topic | Window and opening | Official link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping, all parks | Not published. The booking FAQ and booking conditions mention a "booking window" that depends on the property but never give its length. Book online 24/7 or call the National Parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757 (7am–7pm). | Booking FAQ | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Camp Blackman (Warrumbungle) | Booking window not published. Book online through "Search availability" or by phone; powered sites may be in short supply at busy times. | Camp Blackman | 10 Oct 2026 |
How far ahead can I book NSW national park camping?
National Parks and Wildlife Service NSW does not publish a booking window on the pages we read. Some third-party sites quote a figure, but no official page confirms one, so we don't repeat it. The Contact Centre on 1300 072 757 is the way to settle it for a particular campground.
Victoria
| Topic | Window and opening | Official link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks Victoria | Released four times a year, about 6–9 months ahead, at 10am. High-demand releases use a lobby and a random virtual waiting room, with no advantage to being in the lobby early. Stays to 28 February 2027 are open now; the 1 March–30 June 2027 stays were released on 28, 29 and 30 September 2026. No later release is published. | Release schedule | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Great Ocean Road parks (since 1 Jul 2026) | Run by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, 12 months ahead except for the summer peak. Summer 2026–27 opened on 8 Jul 2026; summer 2027–28 opens at 10am on Wed 10 Feb 2027. | GORCAPA booking information | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Grampians Peaks Trail | How far ahead, release dates and group size are not published on the booking page. Changes are free to another date, location or campground through "Manage My Booking". | Full trail booking | 10 Oct 2026 |
When do Parks Victoria bookings open?
In four releases a year at 10am. The latest published release covered stays from 1 March to 30 June 2027; Parks Victoria has not published a release for stays after that.
When do Tidal River bookings open?
Tidal River campground (Wilsons Promontory) was the first of three staggered release days for 1 March–30 June 2027 stays, on Monday 28 September 2026 at 10am. Cancelled sites go back on sale at once and there is no waitlist. The next release has not been published.
Tasmania
| Topic | Window and opening | Official link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites and park passes | Not published for general campsites. A new booking system begins rolling out "from November 2026"; the Freycinet guide uses 3 November from the park's own page. | PWS news | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Overland Track | Opens 9am AEST on the first Tuesday in July each year; expect a queue. Booking season is 1 October–31 May, with 34 independent walkers per departure date. How far ahead a departure can be booked is not published. | Overland Track FAQ | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Freycinet camping (Richardsons Beach, Honeymoon Bay, Ranger Creek) | Booking window not published. The park has paused new bookings for stays from 3 November 2026 until the new system starts. From that date: cancel more than 30 days ahead for a full refund, 5–30 days for 75%, under 5 days none. The Wineglass Bay, Hazards Beach and Cooks Beach walker campsites need no booking and have no camping charge; a parks pass is required. | Freycinet camping | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Maria Island | The ferry must be booked to visit; book ahead because numbers may be capped at busy times. Darlington is the paid campground (fees paid at the Triabunna gateway); Encampment Cove and Frenchs Farm are free. How far ahead and cancellation terms are not published. | Maria Island | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Three Capes Track | Booking window and opening not published. Up to 48 walkers start each day, with no waitlist; check the availability page for cancelled spaces. | Three Capes FAQ | 9 Oct 2026 |
When do Overland Track bookings open?
At 9am AEST on the first Tuesday in July each year. The 2026–27 season opened on 7 July 2026; by the park's rule the 2027–28 season opens on Tuesday 6 July 2027.
How far ahead can I book the Three Capes Track?
The official FAQ does not state a booking window or an opening date. Check the Parks and Wildlife Service availability page.
South Australia
| Topic | Window and opening | Official link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| National parks camping | Up to 12 months ahead, on a rolling basis rather than a fixed release day. First come, first served; cancellation terms not published on the pages read. | Popular campsites | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Gawler Ranges, Innes, Mount Remarkable, Coorong | No separate rule is published for these parks, so the state rule above applies. Busy times named by the state: Gawler Ranges in winter school holidays and early spring; Innes on spring and summer weekends; Mount Remarkable from late August to mid-September ("a few months in advance" advised); the Coorong in summer, especially Christmas. | Popular campsites | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Desert parks (including Ikara-Flinders Ranges) | Online booking is required before travel, up to 12 months ahead. The only source found is a 2017 notice, so confirm on the current booking site before relying on it. | 2017 notice | 9 Oct 2026 |
South Australia says Christmas stays at Waitpinga should be booked by October, and that Memory Cove and Lincoln and Coffin Bay fill weeks ahead from mid-December to January.
Western Australia
| Topic | Window and opening | Official link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ningaloo Coast (trial) | Released in monthly blocks at 10am AWST on the first Tuesday of each month, each reaching six months ahead. Releases ran from May to 1 September 2026; the trial has no published end date and nothing is published after 1 September. | Ningaloo trial FAQ | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Purnululu (Bungle Bungles) | Up to 180 days ahead on Park Stay WA. Online bookings open only for the May–September tourist season; other months open once the opening and closing dates are confirmed. | Kurrajong campground | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Karijini (Dales Campground) | Bookings have been essential since 1 June 2019, up to six months ahead on Park Stay WA. That is a 2019 notice, so confirm on Park Stay before relying on it. | DBCA notice (2019) | 9 Oct 2026 |
When do Ningaloo camping bookings open?
During the trial, at 10am AWST on the first Tuesday of each month, for stays up to six months ahead. The last published release was on 1 September 2026; the park authority had said an announcement about stays from 1 April 2027 would follow in September, and we found none.
Northern Territory
| Topic | Window and opening | Official link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping and walks | Not published. Booking is online only and you cannot pay at the park or reserve on the spot. Help line 1300 281 121, 8:30am–4pm ACST. | Parks booking system | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Jatbula Trail | The 2026 season opened at 9am on Tue 3 Feb 2026. The 2027 opening is not published. Refunds are 100% at 15 or more days before the start and 50% at 8–14 days. | NT news | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Larapinta Trail | You must book and pay online before you go, with a campsite booking for every night. Season dates and the booking window are not published. | About the Larapinta Trail | 10 Oct 2026 |
| Kakadu | Parks Australia's August 2026 camping brochure gives fees but says nothing about which sites must be booked, how far ahead, or cancellation. | Camping brochure (PDF) | 10 Oct 2026 |
When do Jatbula Trail bookings open?
The 2026 season opened at 9am on Tuesday 3 February 2026. The 2027 date has not been published by the Northern Territory Government, so check the official booking page rather than rely on a guess.
How far ahead can I book Larapinta Trail campsites?
The official pages do not state a booking window. They do say every night on the trail needs a campsite booking made in advance online.
Popular walks that sell out
- Overland Track (Tasmania): opens the first Tuesday in July; 34 independent walkers per departure.
- Jatbula Trail (Northern Territory): opens in early February in recent years; the 2027 date is not published.
- Thorsborne Trail (Queensland): the whole 2027 season opens 15 December 2026; peak-season permits sold out within an hour of the 2026 release.
- Three Capes Track (Tasmania): up to 48 walkers start each day; the booking window is not published.
- Larapinta Trail (Northern Territory): a campsite booking is needed for every night; the booking window is not published.
How to book without missing out
- Use the official booking page linked in each table, and check it on the day. Dates and rules change; this page records what the official pages said on the date shown.
- For high-demand releases Parks Victoria and the Overland Track use a waiting room or queue. Join before the opening time, though Parks Victoria says there is no advantage to being in its lobby early.
- Cancelled Parks Victoria sites and Thorsborne permits go back on sale at once, with no waitlist, so check back.
- Where this page says "not published", the park authority has not said. Its help line is the only way to settle it.
Audacia does not take bookings and has no official link to any park authority; every booking is made on the authority's own site. This page was researched with AI from the official booking pages listed above, to our editorial standards. If something here is out of date, tell us.