Permits for Aboriginal lands are essential for travel on Indigenous-owned land in Western Australia's Golden Outback. Not only do they protect the privacy of Indigenous communities, preserve Indigenous heritage and culture, and safeguard the natural environment, they also assist in ensuring your safety.
Western Australia's Indigenous people are embracing tourism opportunities as a means of economic sustainability for their families and communities. Increasingly they are inviting Western Australians, as well as national and international tourists, onto their lands to experience the Indigenous culture and lifestyle and the rugged beauty of Western Australia's Golden Outback.
The Outback Way between Laverton and Uluru is patrolled and fines will be issued if visitors have not obtained a permit. Permission to travel through these areas is granted through the Aboriginal Lands Trust at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
There is no cost for the permit, which is a legal requirement under the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority (AAPA). Permits are granted for a period of time to allow travel through the reserve by the most direct route. Permission can also be obtained from the resident Indigenous communities for applicants who want to travel off the main road.
There are two application forms that must be submitted; one to the Central Land Council and the other to the Aboriginal Land Trust. Allow two to three weeks for your application to be processed. It is the right of the traditional owners to refuse an entry permit. When travelling through Aboriginal Lands, drivers are prohibited to divert off the main road.
The following document 'Do I need a permit?' may also help determine what permits you may require for traversing Aboriginal Lands in Western Australia.