NORTHERN TERRITORY (VK8)
Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT) is a federal territory in the centre and central northern region of Australia.  It shares borders with Western Australia to the west, South Australia to the south, and Queensland to the east.

To the north, the territory is bordered by the Timor Sea, the Arafua Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria.  Despite its large area—over 1,349,129 square kilometres (520,902 sq mi), making it the third largest Australian federal division—it is sparsely populated.  With a population of 233,300 it is the least populous of Australia's eight major states and territories.

The capital city is Darwin.  The population is not concentrated in coastal regions but rather along the Stuart Highway.  The other major settlements are (in order of size) are Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, and Tennant Creek.

Residents of the Northern Territory are often known simply as 'Territorians', or more informally as 'Top Enders' and 'Centralians'.
NORTHERN TERRITORY FAUNA EMBLEM.


Red Kangaroo
NORTHERN TERRITORY FLORA EMBLEM.


​Sturts Desert Rose
NORTHERN TERRITORY FLAG.
NORTHERN TERRITORY COAT OF ARMS.
PARKS & WILDLIFE COMMISSION NT.
More information can be found at the website of Parks and Wildlife Commission NT.  
TYPES OF PARKS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.
Above:- Terrestrial Protected Areas by Type in Northern Territory (2022).  Image c/o CAPAD 2022
QUALIFYING PARKS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.
There are currently (as of 13th June 2023), a total of 70 qualifying parks in the Northern Territory.

They consist of:-

  • 24 Conservation Reserves
  • 18 National Parks
  • 13 Nature Parks
  • 4 Historical Reserves
  • 3 Conservation Covenants
  • 2 Conservation Areas
  • 2 Marine Parks 
  • 1 Coastal Park
  • 1 Hunting Reserve
  • 1 Recreation Area
  • 1 Reserve
For a full list of qualifying VK6 parks, please see the Qualifying VK8 parks page.
Above:- Graph showing the types of VKFF parks in the Northern Territory.
Above:- Map showing the location of the VK8 VKFF qualifying parks.
A LIST OF QUALIFYING VK8 PARKS.
  1. Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve VKFF-2858
  2. Anna's Reservoir Conservation Reserve VKFF-1229
  3. Arltunga Historical Reserve VKFF-2859
  4. Barranyi (North Island) National Park VKFF-0016
  5. Berry Springs Nature Park VKFF-1253
  6. Black Jungle/Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve VKFF-1230
  7. Blackmore River Conservation Reserve VKFF-1231
  8. Bullwaddy Conservation Reserve VKFF-1232
  9. Butterfly Gorge Nature Park VKFF-1254
  10. Caranbirini Conservation Reserve VKFF-1233
  11. Casuarina Coastal Reserve VKFF-2860
  12. Chamber's Pillar Historical Reserve VKFF-3933
  13. Channel Island Conservation Reserve VKFF-1234
  14. Charles Darwin National Park VKFF-0095
  15. Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve VKFF-1235
  16. Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve VKFF-1236
  17. Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park VKFF-1255
  18. Daly River (Mt Nancar) Conservation Area VKFF-2861
  19. Djukbinj National Park VKFF-0142
  20. Dulcie Range National Park VKFF-0150
  21. Elsey National Park VKFF-0154
  22. Finke Gorge National Park VKFF-0170
  23. Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve VKFF-1237
  24. Garig Gunak Barlu National Park (formerly Gurig NP) VKFF-0223
  25. Garig Gunak Barlu Marine Park VKFF-1251
  26. Giwining/Flora River Nature Park VKFF-1256
  27. Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve VKFF-3934
  28. Harrison Dam Conservation Reserve Area VKFF-2862
  29. Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve VKFF-1238
  30. Holmes Jungle Nature Park VKFF-1257
  31. Howard Springs Hunting Reserve VKFF-3940
  32. Howard Springs Nature Park VKFF-1258
  33. Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve VKFF-1239
  34. Iytwelepenty/Davenport Ranges National Park (formerly Davenport Murchison) VKFF-0133
  35. Judbarra/Gregory National Park (formerly Gregory NP) VKFF-0219
  36. Kakadu National Park VKFF-0252
  37. Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve VKFF-1240
  38. Keep River National Park VKFF-0258
  39. Kintore Caves Conservation Reserve VKFF-1241
  40. Knuckey Lagoons Conservation Reserve VKFF-1242
  41. Kuyunba Conservation Reserve VKFF-1243
  42. Lake Woods Wetlands Conservation Covenant VKFF-3935
  43. Leaning Tree Lagoon Nature Park VKFF-1259
  44. Limmen National Park VKFF-1228
  45. Limmen Bight Marine Park VKFF-1252
  46. Litchfield National Park VKFF-0289
  47. Longreach Waterhole Conservation Covenant VKFF-3936
  48. Mac and Rose Chalmers Conservation Reserve VKFF-3937
  49. Mac Clark (Acacia peuce) Conservation Reserve VKFF-1244
  50. Manton Dam Recreation Area VKFF-2863
  51. Mary River National Park VKFF-0308
  52. Melacca Swamp Conservation Area VKFF-3938
  53. Napwerte/Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve VKFF-1245
  54. N'dhala Gorge Nature Park VKFF-1260
  55. Native Gap Conservation Reserve VKFF-1246
  56. Newry Station Gouldian Finch Conservation Covenant VKFF-3939
  57. Nitmiluk National Park (formerly known as Katherine Gorge National Park) VKFF-0390
  58. Owen Springs Reserve VKFF-2864
  59. Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve VKFF-1247
  60. Ruby Gap Nature Park VKFF-1261
  61. Tjoritja/West Macdonnell National Park VKFF-0532
  62. Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Nature Park VKFF-1262
  63. Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve VKFF-1248
  64. Trephina Gorge Nature Park VKFF-1263
  65. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park VKFF-0505
  66. Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park VKFF-1264
  67. Vernon Islands Conservation Reserve VKFF-1249 (PERMIT required for access)
  68. Watarrka National Park VKFF-0523
  69. Woodgreen Conservation Reserve VKFF-1250
  70. Yeperenye/Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Park VKFF-1265
WHICH PARKS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR VKFF IN VK8?
Under the VKFF rules, parks need to have an IUCN category to be added to the program.

​The following parks currently do not qualify for VKFF as they do not have an IUCN category associated:-
  • Attack Creek Historical Reserve
  • Barrow Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
  • Channel Point Coastal Reserve
  • Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve
  • Tennant Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
  • Tree Point Conservation Area
There are sixteen (16) Indigenous Protected Areas in the Northern Territory.  They are currently not in the VKFF list as a Permit is required to access those areas.
There are three (3) Private Nature Reserves in the Northern Territory.  They have not been added to the VKFF list due to access issues.
HOW TO FIND WHERE THE QUALIFYING VKFF PARKS ARE IN VK8.
If you would like to view where the VK1 qualifying parks are, please check out our How to find a park page.
PARKS WHERE THERE IS NO ACCESS.
  • Vernon Islands Conservation Reserve VKFF-1249 - a permit is required
EXTRA INFORMATION.
PARK PASSES.
From 3 April 2023, visitors to the Northern Territory will need a park pass to visit most national parks and reserves.
SAFETY ISSUES.
Be aware of Saltwater crocodiles.  They are serious predators.
WWFF HISTORY IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.
13th June 2023:

The following park was added to the WWFF Directory:-

  1.  Howard Springs Hunting Reserve VKFF-3940
11th June 2023:

Seven (7) new parks were added to the WWFF Directory.

They being:-

  1. Chamber's Pillar Historical Reserve VKFF-3933
  2. Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve VKFF-3934
  3. Lake Woods Wetlands Conservation Covenant VKFF-3935
  4. Longreach Waterhole Conservation Covenant VKFF-3936
  5. Mac and Rose Chalmers Conservation Reserve VKFF-3937
  6. Melacca Swamp Conservation Area VKFF-3938
  7. Newry Station Gouldian Finch Conservation Covenant VKFF-3939
2nd February 2019:

Seven (7) new parks were added to the WWFF Directory.

They being:-
​
  1. Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve VKFF-2858
  2. Arltunga Historical Reserve VKFF-2859
  3. Casuarina Coastal Reserve VKFF-2860
  4. Daly River (Mt Nancar) Conservation Area VKFF-2861
  5. Harrison Dam Conservation Area VKFF-2862
  6. Manton Dam Recreation Area VKFF-2863​
  7. Owen Springs Reserve VKFF-2864
8th July 2016:

​Thirty eight (38) new parks were added to the WWFF Directory.

They being:-
  1. Anna's Reservoir Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1229
  2. Berry Springs Nature Park, VKFF-1253
  3. Black Jungle/Lambells Lagoon Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1230
  4. Blackmore River Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1231
  5. Bullwaddy Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1232
  6. Butterfly Gorge Nature Park, VKFF-1254
  7. Caranbirini Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1233
  8. Channel Island Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1234
  9. Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1235
  10. Corroboree Rock Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1236
  11. Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, VKFF-1255
  12. Fogg Dam Conserv ation Reserve, VKFF-1237
  13. Garig Gunak Barlu Marine Park, VKFF-1251
  14. Giwining/Flora River Nature Park, VKFF-1256
  15. Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1238
  16. Holmes Jungle Nature Park, VKFF-1257
  17. Howard Springs Nature Park, VKFF-1258
  18. Illamurta Springs Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1239
  19. Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1240
  20. Kintore Caves Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1241
  21. Knuckey Lagoons Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1242
  22. Kuyunba Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1243
  23. Leaning Tree Lagoon Nature Park, VKFF-1259
  24. Limmen Bight Marine Park, VKFF-1252
  25. Mac Clark (Acacia peuce) Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1244
  26. Napwerte/Ewaninga Rock Carvings Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1245
  27. N'dhala Gorge Nature Park, VKFF-1260
  28. Native Gap Conservation Resrve, VKFF-1246
  29. Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1247
  30. Ruby Gap Nature Park, VKFF-1261
  31. Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1248
  32. Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Ho t Springs Nature Park, VKFF-1262
  33. Trephina Gorge Nature Park, VKFF-1263
  34. Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park, VKFF-1264
  35. Vernon Islands Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1249
  36. Watarrka National Park, VKFF-0523
  37. Woodgreen Conservation Reserve, VKFF-1250
  38. Yeperenye/Emily and Jessie Gaps Nature Park, VKFF-1265
NT PARKS MASTERPLAN 2023-53.
nt-parks-masterplan-2023-53.pdf
File Size: 3923 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22.
depws-annual-report-2021-2022.pdf
File Size: 7297 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
TERRITORY PARKS & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT
tpawca451.pdf
File Size: 609 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
MAPPING.
https://nt.gov.au/environment/environment-data-maps/natural-resource-maps-nt
https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit
FACEBOOK.
The Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service has a Facebook site which can be located at.....

https://www.facebook.com/ParksandWildlifeNT/
VIDEOS.
Info courtesy of:-

1.  Northern Territory Government, 2023, <nt.gov.au/parks>, viewed 13th June 2023.
2.  Northern Territory Government, 2023, <becrocwise.nt.gov.au/crocodile-management>, viewed 13th June 2023
3.  Wikipedia, 2023, <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory>, viewed 13th June 2023.