12 hours
One day by coach
From Ayers Rock Resort
- PassCompulsory, pre-purchase
- MealsBreakfast included
- CancelFree until 24 hours before
Group price check
Kings Canyon Rim Walk cost: the park pass and the day around it
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Compare Kings Canyon trips by price
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- One day by coach12 hours · price per person from $242
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View - Camping tour3 days · price per person from $557
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View - Guided trip3 days · price per person from $628
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View - Guided trip4 days · price per person from $901
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Currency conversion uses the ECB reference rate on GetYourGuide from-prices. The exact price is displayed when you book.
Walking the rim has one government fee, the NT Parks Visitor Pass, and a handful of extras around it. Here are the pass prices, who is exempt and what a guided day adds.
Editorial team, kingscanyontour.com · Updated November 7, 2026 · ~6 min read
Main facts
- The passVisitors to Watarrka National Park need an NT Parks Visitor Pass from NT Parks and Wildlife.1
- One day, adultA 1-day adult pass costs 10 Australian dollars and a child's costs 5.2
- ExemptNT residents do not need a visitor pass but may be asked to show proof of residency.3
- On our tourThe listing says the pass is compulsory and asks guests to pre-purchase it online.
- Tour priceOur 12-hour day starts from $242, with a cooked breakfast included.
The NT Parks Visitor Pass covers the walk
Tourism NT says visitors to national parks in the NT, including Watarrka National Park and Kings Canyon, need an NT Parks Visitor Pass from NT Parks and Wildlife.1 In the sources we read, the Rim Walk pass is the only park fee named for the walk, so it is the figure that matters when you ask what the walk costs. You pay it once for a period, and it allows visits to all parks and reserves managed by the NT Government within your valid dates.4
The pass does not cover the neighboring giants. Tourism NT says it does not apply to Kakadu National Park or Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which sell their own passes through Parks Australia.5 If your trip takes in Uluru as well as the canyon, treat them as two separate fees from two separate bodies and budget for each.
There is a clear exemption. NT residents do not need a visitor pass but may be asked to show proof of residency, such as a valid NT driver licence.3 Everyone else walking the rim, whether from Australia's other states or from overseas, should assume the pass is required.
NT Parks Visitor Pass
Pass prices by length and traveler
| Length | Adult | Child 5 to 17 | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 102 | 52 | 257 |
| 3 days | 202 | 102 | 507 |
| 2 weeks | 302 | 152 | 757 |
| 1 month | 452 | 222 | 1107 |
| 1 year | 602 | 302 | 1507 |
Figures are Australian dollars from Tourism NT's pass table. A family pass is for 2 adults and 4 children, and concession prices for card holders are lower again.2,7
What the pass costs by length of stay
Tourism NT lists the pass in several lengths. For an adult aged 18 and over, a 1-day pass costs 10 Australian dollars, a 3-day pass 20, a 2-week pass 30, a 1-month pass 45 and an annual pass 60.2 For a child aged 5 to 17 the same passes cost 5, 10, 15, 22 and 30.2
The spread is gentle. Because a 3-day adult pass costs 20 against 10 for a single day, a visitor who is also heading for other NT parks in the same week pays little extra for the longer window.2 A visitor who only wants the rim and will be gone by the evening needs nothing beyond the 1-day version.
These are the official figures on Tourism NT's page at the time of writing, and fees in a government price table can change, so confirm the current amount when you buy. The table below sets the lengths side by side for adults, children, families and concession holders.
The adult pass
What an adult pays for each length
- 1 day10
- 3 days20
- 2 weeks30
- 1 month45
- 1 year60
All the lengths are the adult prices in Tourism NT's pass table.2
Family and concession prices
A family pass covers 2 adults and 4 children and costs 25 for 1 day, 50 for 3 days, 75 for 2 weeks, 110 for 1 month and 150 for a year, in Australian dollars.7 For a family of that size, the 1-day family pass is cheaper than buying 2 adult passes and 4 child passes separately, and the difference grows on the longer passes.2,7
A concession pass is priced at 8, 16, 24, 36 and 48 across the lengths, and it is open to holders of an Australian Government issued Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card or DVA Card.7 Have the card with you, because a concession price depends on showing it.
If you are unsure which row fits your group, read the price table on Tourism NT's pass page first, and choose the length and the traveler type that match your group before you pay.
A short chooser
Which pass do I need?
Start from where you live and how long you stay in the Territory.
If I live in the NT
No visitor pass, but carry proof
Residents are exempt and may be asked for a licence.3
If I am visiting for a single day trip
A 1-day pass
It costs 10 for an adult and 5 for a child.2
If I will visit other NT parks this week
A 3-day pass or longer
The 3-day adult price is 20.2
If I am travelling with 2 adults and 4 children
A family pass
The 1-day family price is 25.7
If I am also visiting Uluru
A separate Uluru pass
The NT pass does not apply there.5
Where the pass sits
One fee, several kinds of trip
3 days
Camping in the Red Centre
Three days
- StartsAlice Springs or Yulara
- Luggage15 kilograms
- CancelFree until 7 days before
4 days
A longer route
Alice Springs or Yulara
- Walks2 km to 6 km a day
- RouteVia the Mereenie Loop
- CancelFree until 14 days before
Who pays on a guided tour
Tourism NT says that if you have booked a guided tour, your park pass might be included in the tour price, and it suggests checking with the tour operator if you are unsure.8 That is general advice about tours across the Territory, so it cannot settle what happens on a particular booking.
Our listing is explicit. It says guests on any tour into Watarrka National Park must hold an NT Parks Pass, that this is a government charge subject to change without notice, and it asks guests to pre-purchase the pass online at 10 Australian dollars per person, valid for one day. The figure matches Tourism NT's 1-day adult price, which is a good sign that the two sources are describing the same pass.2
The practical advice is to buy the pass before the morning of the tour, keep the confirmation on your phone and not rely on the coach to sort it out. Children are priced separately, so a family should read the price table and not assume the adult figure applies to everyone in the group.2
Before the walk
When to sort the pass and the day
Weeks before
Pick a day and a listing
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before keeps the date flexible.
Before you book
Check who pays the fee
The listing says the pass is compulsory and asks for pre-purchase online.
Before the day
Buy the pass
Choose a 1-day pass for the rim alone.2
The night before
Check the forecast
A forecast of 36 degrees Celsius or more means a start before 9am.6
On the day
Carry proof
Bring proof of residency if you claim the NT exemption, or your concession card.3,7
The rest of the day's bill
Our listing is a 12-hour tour from Ayers Rock Resort starting from $242, with pickup included and a cooked breakfast at Kings Creek Station. Lunch at the canyon is at the guest's own cost, and reviewers say they bought it at the resort or brought their own.
Longer trips fold the canyon into a bigger route and are priced accordingly. A 3-day camping tour that covers Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon starts from $557, and a 4-day trip that also travels via the Mereenie Loop starts from $901. They are different products for different travelers, and the pass is one small line in either.
Every price on this page is a from price taken from the listing, so the final fare depends on the date and the group. Free cancellation on our listing runs up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. The calculator below shows four listings side by side for your group size.
Video
Kings Canyon, all you need to know
Doug Hardman on YouTube · The clip loads only after you tap play.
Visitors to national parks in the NT, including Watarrka National Park/Kings Canyon, require a NT Parks Visitor Pass from NT Parks and Wildlife.
Fees checklist
Before you pay anything
Check3
Budget for3
- The pass on top of the tour price
- Lunch at the canyon at your own cost
- A fuel stop if you drive, open 8am to 4pm at the canyon store9
Start times: the forecast, not a ticket office
Visitors often ask about the Rim Walk opening hours. The page we read from Tourism NT gives a rule about the forecast and not a gate timetable: on days when the temperature is forecast to reach 36 degrees Celsius or higher, walkers must begin the Rim Walk before 9am, and entry to the trail is not permitted after that time.6
Outside those hot days, Tourism NT's advice is about comfort and safety, not access. It suggests an early start and aiming to finish before 10am to avoid the heat of the day.10 The heat, closures and best-time page on this site turns that rule into a month-by-month plan.
The one fixed schedule near the canyon is the fuel stop. The Outback Oasis General Store and Fuel Station at Kings Canyon lists its hours as 8am to 4pm, which matters if you are driving and plan to fill up before the long road.9 On a coach tour the driver handles that, and you only need the pass.
A park pass is not a land permit
Different kinds of paperwork get mixed up in trip planning. The NT Parks Visitor Pass is a park fee, and it is the one this page is about.1 Tourism NT keeps it apart from land permits, saying that in general a permit is required to visit or travel through Aboriginal lands and waters in the Northern Territory, and asking visitors to check ahead with the relevant authority.11
For a guided day from Ayers Rock Resort, you do not arrange a land permit yourself. The tour listing talks only about the park pass, and any other paperwork belongs to the operator. If you drive and take an unsealed road, the permit question becomes yours, as the page on the Mereenie Loop explains.
The simple rule is to ask the same question of each document: who issues it, who needs it and when do I buy it. The park pass is issued by NT Parks and Wildlife, needed by visitors and bought before the walk. Anything else is a separate matter for a separate page.
FAQ
Short questions, short answers.
Do you need a park pass to walk the Kings Canyon Rim Walk?
How much is a 1-day Kings Canyon park pass?
10 Australian dollars for an adult.
A 1-day pass costs 10 for an adult and 5 for a child aged 5 to 17.2
Is the park fee included in a Kings Canyon tour?
It depends on the tour.
Tourism NT says it might be included, and our listing says the pass is compulsory and asks guests to pre-purchase it online.8
Is there a family pass for Watarrka National Park?
Yes, for 2 adults and 4 children.
It costs 25 for 1 day, 50 for 3 days and 150 for a year.7
Do seniors get a discount on the park pass?
Yes, with an eligible card.
Holders of an Australian Government issued Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card or DVA Card pay concession prices from 8 for 1 day.7
Does the NT pass work at Uluru?
No, Uluru has its own pass.
Tourism NT says the NT Parks Visitor Pass does not apply to Uluru-Kata Tjuta or Kakadu National Park.5
What time does the Kings Canyon Rim Walk open?
The rule is about the forecast.
On days forecast to reach 36 degrees Celsius or higher, walkers must start before 9am.6
How much is the Kings Canyon day tour?
From $242.
The listing is a 12-hour tour with a cooked breakfast, pickup included and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Sources
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Kings Canyon Rim Walk ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Kings Canyon Rim Walk ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Kings Canyon Rim Walk ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Kings Canyon Rim Walk ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Passes & permits in the Northern Territory ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Kings Canyon Rim Walk ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Kings Canyon Rim Walk ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Passes & permits in the Northern Territory ↩
- Discovery Resorts (Kings Canyon park, official site) · Discovery Resorts - Kings Canyon ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Uluru & Kings Canyon in 4 days ↩
- Tourism NT (northernterritory.com, Northern Territory Government tourism body) · Passes & permits in the Northern Territory ↩
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