Do you want to fly your drone in one of Western Australia’s national parks or other conservation reserves?
This includes taking images and videos:
- to post on social media or in personal or travel blogs
- to share with family and friends
- for you own interest and enjoyment.
Park visitors do not need an approval from the department to use drones recreationally in parks, but must follow the rules outlined below:
- You must comply with the drone rules of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). This includes never flying your drone closer than 30m to people, or over or above them at any height.
- You must comply with all State laws such as the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 and Conservation and Land Management Regulations 2002, the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2018 and the Bushfires Act 1954.
- Your drone must not disturb wildlife or create a danger or nuisance for other park visitors. Please keep in mind:
- There is a required separation distance of 60m between a drone and whale sharks, whales, killer whales, dolphins, dugongs and seals.
- Effects on the feeding and breeding behaviours of birds and other wildlife might not be immediately obvious.
- The presence of a drone can intrude greatly on the experiences and privacy of other park visitors.
- You must be respectful of Aboriginal culture and heritage values in the park when using your drone and only access areas open to the public.
- You must not use your drone where emergency operations are underway such as the management of prescribed burns or bushfires. Check the Emergency WA and Prescribed Burns for more information.
- You are requested to contact the relevant district office prior to each drone flight to ensure that your drone does not interfere with aerial and other park management operations. To search for parks and contact details, visit Find a park.
- A permit from the department’s Rivers and Estuaries Branch is needed to use your drone in the Swan and Canning Riverpark.
If you are planning to use your drone for a commercial purpose (that is, for profit or reward), you will need to apply for a filming and photography permit or licence. Visit Commercial Filming for further information.
Do you want to fly your drone in Karijini National Park?
Know before you go and read these FAQ's before planning to fly your drone.