PERMITS TO TRAVEL

Hi Outbackjack

I always apply for permits for the places where we go to, as these days if you are unlucky enough to get caught, there is no real excuse.

As we usually travel to quite remote locations, my permits are usually free, which makes it even better.

We used to do the Simpson on a very regular basis and to be very honest, did not get real value for money with the Desert Parks Pass. We now know that there are far better places, where the chances of seeing other travellers will be very slim.......the way I like it.



See you in the bush with my permit and it will be for free.



Cheers


Stephen

Most permits are free and those that come at a cost are less common routes and destinations.

Motherhen

I got the only one required for my trip: a permit from the CLC to drive the Great Central Road. But it was free. =)

i guess you can also ask as to how many have $90,000 4wd's and dont bother to insure them, 98% of people get away with it so why bother to insure, you could also drive all around Australia without a drivers licence and an un-registered car and not get pulled over once and get away with it, that would save you thousands..
We drove from the Gulf to SA via birdsville and broken hill, then to west aussie, Albany, to Perth, to Kal and accross to the big rock, up to Alice and back to the Gulf, all over six weeks and never got pulled over once, we could have saved thousands with no rego or licence or permits and could have been drinking wine all the way ...
Never even had one flat tyre so why did i bother to have 2 spares ...
But why would you ?????
Guess my point is if you intend to travel thousands of Klms then it is going to cost you thousands any way, you have to factor in permit costs, bit like fuel, it costs far more out bush, fact of life and that makes it even better as it puts it out of reach of the "average" person so when we do get time to go bush the "non-average" person is the only ones out here (us whackos) ......
The other side to it is the small issue that you could well stand to LOSE your car if caught in a "restricted" area that requires a permit, permits are a "legal" requirement and do a tad more than rip money off you, it gives them stats for future funding, it gives them details of vehicles to LOOK FOR when you screw up and dont arrive at the other end, it give the cops at the WA end an idea of who is stuck on the Central Road when it rains and can liase with the NT cops as to who to look for .......
It will be the best insurance if things go pear shaped, they will come looking for you, get stuck on a restricted road WITHOUT a permit and YOU pay the search bill and NO insurance company will even talk to you ...

Hi outbackjack 1

Over the last 25 years of outback travel I have always applied for permits even though I do not wholly agree with them.
I have never had a permit checked until in October 2012 travelling from Yulara to Warburton we were pulled over by WA Police a few ks East of Warakurna.
The Police were not locals and were travelling to Docker River.

As they approached they flashed their lights for us to stop for a random check, possibly to break the boredom of their journey.

No problems and they were very pleasant but they did ask to see our permits as we were going to travel down Connie Sue then hanging a lefty at Neal Junction.

Being a bit anal I had the permits neatly filed inside a ring binder folder with other trip info, labelled and all.

I think that they were so impressed they didn't have anything more to say except "See ya fellas. Have a good trip".

Do the police have rights over permits. I don't know.

Anyway, that's my experience.

You always need the permit. especially when you do not have one.
In the late 70s I was going yabbying east of Burra, & needed some meat for the pots, so I shot a feral goat on a private station, ( I knew the owner)
Just going about my own business, skinning the goat & annoying no one when 8 park rangers arrived on their way to Canopuis for a meeting, Came over for a look & one asked to see my hunting permit. ( What NO PERMIT ????) Very embarrassing having your name in the local rag in the court sections. Took plenty of ribbing from locals offering me free goat meat,
A lesson well learnt, Get a permit when it is required.
Daz

With a memory like mine I don't have any issues at all in obtaining permits whether I pay for them or not.
I use them as a reference for when I travelled through that part of the countryside.
Cheers
Paul

Hi Jack,

I doubt that people who don't get permits would be likely to say so on this forum! Another question might be who has had a permit checked, by whom and where.

For the record we do get permits, despite some reservations. Have been asked did we have permits (but no actual check) at Dalhousie, and GCR permit checked at the entrance booth to Yulara.

Cheers,

Val

Jack

I am vehemently opposed to the permit system because I believe it is the major cause of indigenous isolation/dislocation from the rest of Australia. It enables crooks, miners and religious nutters to exploit remote communities while keeping legitimate travellers out. It conceals some of the indigenous problems like substance abuse, inadequate housing, poverty etc from proper public scrutiny.

Having said that, I always obtain permits for my travels. Apart from the APY lands where an application is $20 per vehicle, I am not aware of other permit fees. Yes, you will pay to visit the Hay River Track, or to visit SGs Corner or stay at El Questro, but these aren't "permits" as such. I don't know what the fee for travelling the Simpson is, but most national parks attract fees, esp in NSW.

The permit application process is very easy and quick. Be prepared for knockbacks in some regions (APY Lands)

Bob