I belong to various sited on FB and in various correspondence I'm often asked about paying $174 pa for a SA National Parks Desert Parks pass, a lot of folk don't bother and cross the Simpson without one, however if they are unlucky enough to get caught without a pass the Rangers will typically turn them around and tell them to return to their point of entry and buy a short term permit, even though they may be say 150 kilometres from leaving the park meaning that they have to possibly travel another 350 k's - which can also entail getting additional fuel sent out to them at well over $8.50 a litre - so, is paying out for a Desert Pass worth it even though the chance of getting caught without one so small ?
Well yes it is and I'll give you a classic example of why. We just booked to stay at the Innamincka Regional Reserve Ski Beach on the Cooper Creek for 18 nights. Normally this would cost $13,50 a night for us two adults and our off-road camper, that would be a total cost of $243.00 but as we have held an annual pass for over 3 years we get the 18 days reservation for nothing, gratis, a freebie.
It pays to belong
