Apply to film and take photographs in national parks

We recognise the important role played by film in attracting visitors to parks, as well as the important economic contribution that the film industry makes to New South Wales.

New South Wales has over 800 national parks and reserves, offering a diverse range of natural wonders from World Heritage-listed sites to beautiful beaches, subtropical rainforests to Australia's highest mountain in the Alps. These protected areas are critical in conserving biodiversity and natural and cultural heritage. The diversity of these natural and cultural environments provides endless opportunities for filmmakers and photographers in New South Wales.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) encourages visitors to NSW national parks and reserves to photograph or film their experience.

However, if you intend to take photographs or film for commercial purposes, you must get permission from National Parks and Wildlife Service before the photography or filming activity. Commercial purposes means taking photographs, video/digital footage, or motion film for sale, hire or profit.

We require a minimum of 7 business days' notice for filming or photography applications.

When reviewing applications to film, we consider:

  • environmental impacts the filming may have
  • benefits the filming may bring to parks, the public and New South Wales in general
  • park values, visitor amenity and cultural values.

We keep a public register of filming approvals.

Before you apply for filming or photography

If you would like to use a national park or reserve for commercial filming or photography, you must read the following before you proceed with your application:

Public liability insurance

You must upload a public liability cover/certificate of currency with your application. The public liability insurance must include:

  • minimum of AUD$10 million
  • name the department as an interested party as per the following text on the policy:
    The Minister administering the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 on behalf of the State of NSW ABN 27 578 976 844.

Note: Your application will not be accepted unless a public liability insurance certificate that matches the applicant organisation is provided.

Types of filming and photography approval applications

We offer 3 types of filming and photography applications for commercial filming and photography.

Small-scale filming and photography by a professional photographer or videographer for:

  • weddings or family portraits
  • commercial use and resale to photographic libraries
  • location scouting.

To be considered for a small-scale filming or photography permit, the activity must:

  • involve a maximum of one camera operator and one assistant
  • require only low-level equipment use (i.e. backpackable equipment, single tripod)
  • not use structures, film sets or professional talent
  • not include the use of drones (remotely piloted aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle)
  • not exclude an area from use by other users
  • have negligible potential to impact on a park environment
  • not include commercial advertising.

There is no fee for the small-scale filming and photography permits; they are valid for one year.

If your filming or photography meets the criteria to be classified as small-scale, you can complete the online application form.

Apply online

If your filming or photography does not meet the criteria for the small-scale category, you will need to complete a commercial filming and photography application. This application is required for commercial filming or photography for:

  • production films, television network or streaming service productions, documentaries, educational films, government-sponsored filming
  • commercial advertising
  • private events by a professional photographer or videographer
  • images for magazines, postcards, commercial websites, promotional material, books and advertisements.

Applications must be submitted at least 7 business days before the first shoot date. Incomplete applications, incorrect documents or applications received outside of the minimum lead time may be declined.

The local National Parks and Wildlife Service office will process your application.

A security deposit, daily/weekly/hourly fees and supervision fees are payable upon application approval.

Once all fees have been received, we will issue an agreement that authorises your activities and includes conditions relating to the filming or photography.

Application form

If your filming or photography is specifically for travel or lifestyle promotion, has a low environmental impact and provides significant benefit to the National Parks and Wildlife Service by promoting parks and its values, then your application will be considered under the travel and lifestyle filming and photography application type. Travel and lifestyle filming applications may not incur an application fee if we deem the application eligible.

To be eligible under the travel and lifestyle filming and photography application process, you will be required to undertake filming or photography that promotes NSW national parks. Additionally, you must include at least 3 of the following in your work:

  • National Parks and Wildlife Service logo in credit
  • the national park(s) name in supers or voice-over
  • location within the park(s) in supers or voice-over
  • image of national park signage with park name or attraction (e.g. lookout)
  • national park URL link – nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
  • National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger in uniform (where suitable and approved)
  • promotion of the NSW National Parks app
  • credit National Parks and Wildlife Service by @NSWNationalParks (Facebook) and/or @nswnationalparks & #NSWParks (Instagram).

Applications must be submitted at least 7 business days before the first shoot date. Incomplete applications, incorrect documents or applications received outside of the minimum lead time may be declined.

If approved, an agreement will be issued which authorises your activities and includes all conditions relating to the filming or photography.

You may still be required to pay a security deposit or any supervision fees upon approval of the application.

If your filming or photography meets the criteria to be considered under travel and lifestyle, please complete our online application form and select travel and lifestyle under the 'type of filming application'.