Managing Routes and Trails - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 218

national parks, and if they are utilized, conflicts may arise. Likewise, con-
flicts frequently occur between walkers and horse riders, depending on
whether or not trails are designated multi-use or single use. The case study
below illustrates how access is often governed by direct regulation that per-
mits or denies certain uses or users, in this case equestrians.

Case Study: State Regulation of Horseback Tours in
National Parks in Australia
Beeton (1999a) examined state regulations regarding commercial horse-
back tours in the Australian states and territories and found a range of
viewpoints about how horseback riding on trails in national parks is
perceived in relation to protecting the natural environment and conserv-
ing Australian heritage (Table 7.2).
Queensland viewed horse riding as incompatible with preserving the
natural environment. In contrast, Victoria viewed the management of

Table 7.2 State regulation on commercial horseback tours in National Parks,
Australia

Horses on

Walking tracks Management

tracks

Four-wheel
drive roads

Back-up
vehicles

State Permitted

Victoria Yes No, except

where
nominated

Yes Yes Some

areas

New South
Wales

Yes - Yes Yes No

Australian
Capital
Territory

Yes - Yes Yes No

Queensland No -

grazing
leases only

- - Gazetted

roads
or stock
roads

-

South
Australia

No - only
on roads

No No Gazetted Gazetted

roads

Western
Australia

Yes No -

designated
horse trails
only

- Yes -

Tasmania Yes - Yes Yes -

Source: After Beeton (1999a: 217).