Adventure-seekers keen to experience some of the Northern Territory's most spectacular multi-day hikes have waited hours online after a long-awaited booking system experienced glitches on the first day of its rollout.
Some users reported the location on their personal booking profile being automatically changed from Alice Springs to Alabama in the United States.
Others were redirected to the Queensland national parks website through a booking confirmation email.
Parks and Wildlife Commission executive director Sally Egan apologised for the website's issues.
"We are currently experiencing teething issues that go with introducing new outward-facing systems and we apologise for the system sluggishness this morning," she said in a statement.
A $1.34 million contract to set up the booking website was awarded to New York-based company, US eDirect almost a year ago.
"US eDirect are working flat out behind the scenes to rectify the issue," Ms Egan said.
What has changed?
From today, the honesty box payment system at designated campsites across the NT has been replaced by a mandatory online prepaid system.
The multi-day walking fee at this stage only applies to the three most popular trails in the Northern Territory: the Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park, the Larapinta Trail in the West MacDonnell Ranges and Tabletop Track in Litchfield National Park.
It costs $25 per day per person to walk on the trails and the cost is capped at $125 per person, regardless of the length of the walk.
There are also additional camping fees, ranging from $4 per night for a single adult to access basic facilities to $20 per night for a premium campground.
The new fees apply to everyone aged five and older.
According to the NT Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security website, the benefits of the new system include staff having access to statistics and reporting on visitor numbers.
The website also listed "visitor certainty and satisfaction" and the ability to "view open/closed parks, available dates and have greater planning options" as benefits.
Each campsite along the 62-kilometre length of the Jatbula Trail was already restricted to a maximum of 15 people.
There are currently no capacity limits on the Tabletop Track and the Larapinta Trail.
System ensures vital revenue
All designated campsites in the NT must now be pre-booked and paid for in advance, eliminating the possibility of spontaneous camping trips.
Ms Egan acknowledged this would be a significant adjustment for Territorians and said the Parks and Wildlife Commission was doing all it could to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.
Free Wi-Fi services will be extended for 12 months at Wangi Falls, Karlu Karlu and Watarrka and a telephone customer service team is available seven days a week during business hours.
Ms Egan said park rangers would be available to assist travellers with making bookings, where possible.
She also said signs notifying of the new system were going up in airports, and that the Parks and Wildlife Commission was working with other jurisdictions and the tourism industry to get the word out.
"This booking system will take the pressure off trying to rush to your favourite campsite on a Friday after work only to discover it is full and you have to turn around and go home," Ms Egan said.
"It will also ensure Parks receive vital revenue to help maintain them for generations to come."
