Under the Land Rights Act entry into Aboriginal land is restricted. The due process is to apply for an ‘Entry Permit to Enter Aboriginal Land’ through the established Land Councils.

This system has been implemented to better manage the flow of visitors, and to help protect privacy, sacred-sites and the environment.

It shows courtesy and respect to the traditional land-owners who have legal control over their land.

In the NT we have 4 separate Land Councils representing 4 distinct geographical and cultural regions.

The Northern Land Council is responsible for permits to enter Aboriginal land north of Tennant Creek (excluding Groote Eylandt and the Tiwi Islands).

The Central Land Council covers Aboriginal land south of Tennant Creek and into areas of Northern South Australia.

The Tiwi Land Council covers the Tiwi Islands - composed of Melville and Bathurst Islands to the north of Darwin.

The Anindilyakawa Land Council is responsible for Groote Eylandt and associated areas, in the Gulf of Carpenteria off the North east coast of the NT.

Applications need to be submitted well in advance as it may be a timely process to obtain permission from the traditional elders.