Aussie hikers stunned by camping cost of new 42km rainforest trail
The 42km four-day hike in the Tweed Byron Hinterland will cost hikers about $173 to camp along the trail, with each site holding up to two people.
The hefty price tag on this new hiking trail is leaving Aussie shocked.
The 42 kilometre 4-day hike in the Tweedyent hinterland will cost hikers about $173 to camp along the trail, with each site holding up to 2 people.
The campsites include raised wooden platforms that can either hold two small tents or one medium sized tent.
Also at each of the campgrounds, And non-flush toilets, picnic tables, shelters, and rainwater tanks.
However, some hikers feel the cost is almost as steep as the terrain, with many taking to social media to claim the trail is bloody expensive.
A spokesperson for New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service explained there are higher operational costs involved with the trail due to its remote location.
They said there is no fee.
for walking on the track, but staying three nights in the campgrounds along the track costs $172 80s for up to 2 people.
That is about $28 80s per person per night twin share.
The spokesperson added, all visitor fees are reinvested directly into the management of national parks, helping to maintain tracks, campgrounds, signage, and conservation programmes.
What do you think?

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former national parks ranger warns of 'disconnection' over planned hikes to camping fees
A former NSW National Parks ranger has added her voice to the chorus of opposition to the state's plan to dramatically overhaul the pricing structure of its campgrounds, and make certain sites materially more expensive for travellers to stay at. Wildlife advocate Louise Andersen recently left the Parks service and worries that if some families are ultimately priced out of major camping sites, it will result in a "really unfair" system that could lead to a "disconnection from nature" simply because some Australian families can't afford to camp in the same way. While the deadline for public consultation on the proposed changes closed weeks ago, adventurer and outdoor filmmaker Mike Atkinson has been leading the charge in calling for the state government to rethink its new pricing plan, launching a petition with the NSW parliament to "keep camping affordable" which has so far accrued more than 10,200 signatures. Louise contacted Mike recently, sharing that experienced rangers like her also harboured concerns about the slated changes. While she initially wanted to remain anonymous, she has now gone on the record. "Since the proposal was announced, I've spoken to several former NPWS (National Park and Wildlife Service) colleagues, and the consensus is clear," she wrote to him. "There is no support for the fee increases." Despite leaving the Parks service, Louise still avidly promotes the hidden gems in Australia's backyard on social media. "We're in this line of work because we care deeply about the outdoors, biodiversity, and protecting country. Unfortunately the proposed price hikes risk undermining this mission... If access becomes unaffordable for most, we risk alienating the very people we're trying to engage," she said. Louise worries that higher fees will "both negatively affect both visitor experience and the attitudes towards the parks". Pricing will be pegged to inflation, meaning yearly increases while the proposal will introduce seasonal price variations, meaning campers will pay more in peak times. Overall, sites will be divided into tiers with the lowest tier reserved for simple clearings with no facilities which will remain free. Campgrounds from tier 2 to tier 5 (which make up 85 per cent of sites) will range from $22 in high season for the most basic campground to $65 for sites that have water and access to a flushable toilet. The top campsites, tier 6, which have hot showers and BBQ facilities, will cost $89 per night in peak season. 🏕️ Major crackdown coming to state amid surge in illegal camping 💲Aussies warned over new $464 fine for 'common' camping act 📲 New Space X service to give boost to regional Aussies, campers While Parks authorities aim to simplify things by potentially scrapping surcharges for extra people in group bookings, popular campgrounds, particularly around Sydney, will become materially more expensive to stay at during popular times. Speaking on Mike's podcast this week, Louise imagined a scenario where Aussie families would be more compelled to fly to Bali than go camping in the state. "You can imagine a young family from Sydney who want to go on a holiday for a week during school holidays. They drive six hours to Coonabarabran ... a whole week worth of camping, there's the cost of fuel to get there, the cost of food ... all of that really adds up ... you may as well book a trip to Bali," she said. While Mike's crusade against the price hikes has been positively noted in state parliament by Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, he is hoping to get his petition more formally debated by MPs because once an ePetition has more than 20,000 signatures, it must be mentioned in parliament. His petition is being backed by Nationals MP Scott Barrett, who said it is essential that national parks are "accessible to as many people as possible". "They're everyone's assets, not just the top echelon," he told Yahoo News. "Everyone should be able to get into a national park, stay there the night, light a fire, roll out a swag and enjoy some of the best country that this state has to offer." Barrett recently spent six months with his family travelling around Australia with a camper trailer where he stayed in national parks, and says this fight 'is personal'. "We should be encouraging people to get out into these areas, not making it out of reach of a lot of people," he said. For NSW residents interested in signing the petition, you can find it here. It will remain open until August 21. According to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, more than 200,000 campers and national park visitors were consulted to develop the proposal. "Further community feedback will help the NSW Government to decide on next steps and whether proposed changes are adopted and implemented," its website says.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tourists and locals 'drop everything' to glimpse rare sight in Aussie boat harbour
Local residents and tourists visiting a small Aussie coastal town were treated to a rare display by a humpback whale which made a wrong turn and entered a boat harbour. Local whale-watching tour operator Gemma told Yahoo News visitors were going about their morning on Thursday last week when they quickly "dropped" what they were doing to race down to the water's edge at Augusta Boat Harbour in WA's southwest to capture the exciting moment. "Whales come in really close to the harbour, but we don't have them coming in here," she said, adding she can only think of one other time such a moment has ever happened. The whale quickly realised it had reached a dead end and began making a loud "trumpeting" noise, alerting all those in the area to its presence. "When [whales] are excited, distressed or unsettled, they do trumpeting," Gemma explained. "Everyone could hear that and came running down to the harbour. People were lining the wharf, all in shock." Relief came after 10 minutes of the whale circling the harbour when it "figured out" where the exit was and made its way back to the open ocean. Gemma couldn't overstate the rarity of the event, "We work with them all day every day, and it's very unusual," she said of the behaviour. 🐋 Amazing drone footage confirms start of exciting phenomenon off Aussie coast 🚨 Tragic detail spotted on whale as time runs out in rescue mission 🌊 Warning after 'unusual sightseer' in Sydney Harbour The West Coast of Australia is known for one of the largest whale migrations in the world. Up to 45,000 of the marine mammals travel from the frigid feeding grounds of Antarctica along the coast up to warmer waters along the Kimberley region between May and June before returning later in the year. But their populations haven't always thrived. The species, which can grow up to 17 metres in length and weigh 40 metric tonnes, was forced to the brink of extinction by whaling in the 1960s until a ban was introduced to protect them. Gemma has seen the population recover before her own eyes, working at her family's business, Whale Watch Western Australia. "It's been a wonderful recovery since the 1960s," she said. "It's clear to see out on the water, they're everywhere. It's a wonderful success story." Interest from tourists is growing too, with visitors keen to catch a glimpse of the remarkable creatures. "People want to see the wildlife which is really encouraging," she said. "We have guests coming from all over the world." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Secret boarding pass code 'no airline traveller wants to see'
Stringent immigration checks and cases of travellers being turned away at the border have left many Aussies second-guessing their need to travel to the United States in recent months. And one traveller heading to America was recently left with a sinking feeling when she received her boarding pass at Brisbane Airport with the code SSSS printed on it. The code, which stands for "secondary security screening selection", is the "four letters no traveller wants to see on their boarding pass" when travelling to the United States, according to United passenger Ruby. Sharing her experience, Ruby said the code is known as "every traveller's worst nightmare" to those who regularly visit the US because those who receive it are subjected to additional security screening before they are allowed to board. "I've travelled to over 30 countries so am aware of the stigma around it," she told Yahoo News. Ruby told Yahoo that upon checking into their flight at Brisbane airport ahead of a three-week holiday, her fiancé – who is a US citizen – had "no problem", but she was told she required additional checks. "When I got to the bag drop and my boarding pass was printed, I got the dreaded four S's," she explained. "They didn't check my paperwork or say anything, which was surprising." It wasn't until she arrived at the gate and was ready to board that she was "pulled aside" to a table for the additional screening. "After you've scanned your boarding pass, they said 'go over there' and they had me hand over my passport, which they reviewed. I put all of my stuff out on the table and they swabbed everything, including my bag, laptop, hands and stomach. I've never had that before," she explained. Ruby said that travellers can be flagged for "all sorts of reasons" with some saying it's "random". "It's kind of a lottery for seasoned travellers," she said. Luckily, Ruby was allowed to proceed with her journey but it wasn't the end of her security woes. At immigration in San Francisco, she said, "they were really grilling me". "You never know with the US," she warned. Despite that, she still urged Aussies to enjoy the country, adding that "it's still safe" and "if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be worried". "Go have fun, but be careful and stay safe," she said. 😳 Tourist 'traumatised' after being strip-searched at Sydney Airport 🛫 Warning as simple $50 mistake leaves Aussie tourist stuck at airport 🌻 Travelling mum highlights little-known feature at airports Prominent immigration lawyer Melissa Vincenty told Yahoo News she has been subject to the screening herself and has even seen children get flagged. "As soon as you see it you think 'oh man'," she laughed. But added the additional security checks are common and nothing to worry about. "This has been around since the 9/11 legislation when they made the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the Department of Homeland Security," she explained of the change made in 2003. While neither the TSA nor airlines publish the criteria used when boarding passes are issued, Vincenty believes that the selection process is random. "They are required by law to randomly select passengers," she explained of the security screening. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.