Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture
Due to a reassessment of the risk to some visitor nodes and parks from the current fire emergency across the Top End, some sites within Elsey National Park will reopen this afternoon and the Territory Wildlife Park will reopen from Saturday 29 August 2020.
The parks and reserves that will reopen include:
- Territory Wildlife Park
- Parts of Elsey National Park – Bitter Springs and Mataranka Thermal Pools
The following parks and reserves will remain closed for the safety of Territorians and visitors:
Northern Australian Parks to remain closed
- Parts of Litchfield National Park – Reynolds 4WD Track including Surprise Creek Falls, Sandy Creek Falls, Table Top walking track and Walker Creek day use area and camping area
- Butterfly Gorge Nature Park
- Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park (remains closed)
- Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park
- Parts of Mary River National Park – Hardies 4WD track area and Delta Block, Point Stuart Coastal Reserve and Wildman 4WD track
Savannah/Gulf Parks to remain closed
- Parts of Nitmiluk National Park – Jatbula Trail, Southern Walks, Northern Rockhole and Sweetwater walks and swimming
- Parts of Elsey National Park
- Judbarra / Gregory National Park – Note the Big Horse Boat Ramp remains open.
These sites are expected to reopen Monday 31 August 2020, dependent on weather conditions.
Further park closures may occur at short notice dependant on emergency conditions. Always go online to check if a park is open before travelling to our NT parks and reserves.
Visitor safety is paramount. If you are visiting or staying in a park or reserve:
- Monitor the fire and weather situation through your local radio station, securent.nt.gov.au and www.bom.gov.au/, remembering that you are often out of mobile range on our parks;
- Be prepared and have a Bushfire Plan;
- Adhere to all signage in parks and reserves; and
- If you are asked to leave by a ranger or other authorised personnel, observe all directions and undertake them swiftly.
To find out whether a park is open, go to https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park/find-a-park-to-visit or call the Bushfire Information Hotline on 89464147.
As stated by Chris Day, Senior Director, Parks and Wildlife
“We are happy to announce that the Mataranka Thermal Pools and Bitter Springs within Elsey National Park will reopen this afternoon and the Territory Wildlife Park will reopen tomorrow, 29 August 2020.
“We thank Territorians and visitors for abiding by the closures and ask you to continue to stay updated throughout the weekend. If you are thinking about visiting a park or reserve this weekend, please monitor the fire and weather situation and check that the park is open before you go as emergency conditions can cause closures at short notice.”
