OUR VISITORS

Visitor Experiences

Visitor Activities Improvements to Visitor Facilities Our parks and reserves provide for wide- The following infrastructure developments took ranging recreational activities, one of which is place in 2016-17 to improve the visitor experience the increasingly popular mountain bike riding, as in parks and reserves: recognised in the Mountain Biking in the Northern >> A new information shelter was constructed Territory Master Plan. In 2016-17, as part of the in Watarrka National Park, providing walks plan’s implementation process, the department: and safety information at the start of the Rim >> engaged planning consultants, Destination Walk, Kings Creek Walk and Giles Track. The Trails Pty Ltd, to develop the shelter won awards for urban design and steel Destination Development Plan architecture at the NT Architecture Awards. >> contracted an Alice Springs company to upgrade The structure interprets the story of minga and carry out maintenance work on various (ants) moving through the country, inspired by trails within the Alice Springs Telegraph Station traditional owners watching visitors walking the mountain bike trail network track >> opened new mountain bike tracks at Lee Point in >> The Pound Walk at Ormiston Gorge in Tjoritja Casuarina Coastal Reserve in late 2016. / West MacDonnell National Park was recently upgraded. This walking track takes visitors In 2017-18, the department will continue to through the gorge and provides stunning views implement the Master Plan by: of the pound >> releasing a consultancy for the development of >> A new shelter was installed and the walking a Territory-wide Mountain Bike Signage Guide. track upgraded in Holmes Jungle Nature Park The consultancy will provide a production- >> The popular Jasper Gorge campground in ready template for all signage required for Judbarra National Park was upgraded with a Territory mountain bike projects formalised campground and new toilet block >> undertaking mountain bike track works installed including trail upgrades, development and >> Planning began for a $10 million, three-year repairs and maintenance on Crown Land and capital works program to be carried out in at Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park conjunction with Jawoyn traditional owners. and Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical First year priorities include replacing the Reserve to enhance the existing mountain bike tour boat jetty and road access to the cultural network meeting place, and upgrading pathways >> developing a Cycling Experience Concept Plan between the First and Second Gorges and roads for Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park, to support Cascades experience to include nature-based adventure cycling >> New campgrounds were completed along the experiences accessible within one or two hours Jatbula Trail to increase trail visitor capacity. of Alice Springs >> working on concept planning for mountain bike experiences in Litchfield and Nitmiluk National Parks. This will involve a feasibility analysis and ground-truthing of proposed trails >> upgrading and re-developing mountain bike trails in Charles Darwin National Park and Casuarina Coastal Reserve.

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND CULTURE ANNUAL REPORT 2016-17