This was posted 3 years 9 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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[NSW] Free Hire of Personal Locator Emergency Beacon (PLB) from National Parks NSW & NSW Police

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[NSW] Free Hire of Personal Locator Emergency Beacon (PLB) from National Parks NSW & NSW Police
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[Deactivated] on 13/12/2021 - 22:38 nationalparks.nsw.gov.au (2051 clicks)
Last edited 15/12/2021 - 12:10 by 1 other user

If you think this is not a deal hiring them usually costs $50-$88 for a week. Recently rolled out from 6 National Park locations to 13 in August 2021, plus 2 Police NSW Stations are hiring out for free too now
Hiring Cost Source: https://www.bushwalkingblog.com.au/plb-hire-in-australia-the…

This is a long running deal it is a service NSW National Parks runs for your safety.
My mates decided to camp in the middle of nowhere(Acacia Flats) this Christmas and on the requirements list:
Drinking water, cooking water, food supplies, clothes for all weather conditions, personal locator beacon.
These cost $349+ for the most basic one from BCF so I didn't want to pay that much for 2 days use so I googled and found this program. You can hire a PLB for free at 13 locations in NSW. When you pick up your PLB, all you have to do is fill in a trip intention form.

Description from: National Parks NSW Personal Locator Beacons and GPS
There are many ways technology can help keep you safe in national parks. But it’s still important to plan and prepare for all conditions. Many national parks don't have mobile phone coverage. If you're planning a walk in a remote area, bring a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) as an added safety precaution.

What is a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is also known as an emergency beacon. When activated, it sends a signal via satellite to emergency services.

Also at these 2 Police Stations for Free
Source: https://www.bushwalkingblog.com.au/plb-hire-in-australia-the…
Location Name Minimum Cost Details
Blue Mountains (NSW) Katoomba Police Station FREE Drop in to pickup.
Blue Mountains (NSW) Springwood Police Station FREE Drop in to pickup.

Where you can hire a PLB for free
Kosciuszko National Park
Snowy Region Visitor Centre in Jindabyne
Perisher Valley Office
Tumut Visitor Centre
Khancoban Visitor Centre
Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains Heritage Centre in Blackheath
Katoomba Police Station
Springwood Police Station
Central West
Warrumbungle Visitor Centre
North Coast
Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
South Coast
Merimbula office, 47 Merimbula Drive, cnr Sapphire Coast Drive, Merimbula 2548. Phone: 02 6495 5000
New England
Tenterfield office, 10 Miles Street, Tenterfield 2372. Phone: 02 6736 4298
Glen Innes office, 68 Church Street, Glen Innes 2370. Phone: 02 6739 0700
Walcha office, 188W North Street, Walcha 2354. Phone: 02 6777 4700
If you're visiting a different national park area in NSW, it's a good idea to buy or hire your own PLB and bring it with you in case of emergency. You can get one at quality outdoor supply shops.

Using a PLB
Use a PLB as a last resort. Only activate a PLB if you are in danger or injured. Once activated stay where you are.

Mobile phone coverage in parks
Mobile phones have patchy coverage within NSW national parks and cold weather may affect the batteries. Remember that technology can't guarantee your safety.

Sports & Outdoors Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon

Related Stores

NSW Government
NSW Government
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
NSW Police Force
NSW Police Force

closed Comments

    • SF3 on 13/12/2021 - 22:49
      +9

      Can't you just use your phone?

      No signal, unless is a satellite.

      it sends a signal via satellite

      • jv on 13/12/2021 - 22:49
        +4

        Oh.. Missed that… thanks.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/12/2021 - 22:54
      +37

      You need to read the full post before you post witty comments
      "Many national parks don't have mobile phone coverage. If you're planning a walk in a remote area, bring a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) as an added safety precaution."
      "Mobile phone coverage in parks: Mobile phones have patchy coverage within NSW national parks and cold weather may affect the batteries. Remember that technology can't guarantee your safety."

      • Fur Cue on 14/12/2021 - 13:31
        +5

        post witty comments

        Post junk comments you mean..

      • Poor Ass on 14/12/2021 - 17:44
        +1

        you must not know JV

        • Fur Cue on 14/12/2021 - 18:00
          +3

          87k comments - hasn’t contributed a deal since 2018 - equivalent of junk mail/spam on ozbargain.. Am I close…?

    • aoeueoa on 13/12/2021 - 22:55
      +57

      You can, but your phone would probably have a dead battery from commenting on Ozb every 5 minutes.

        • ChadHominem on 13/12/2021 - 23:25
          +44

          Too bad you can’t charge your battery with smart ass comments. You’d be set

          • jv on 13/12/2021 - 23:30
            -8

            @ChadHominem:

            Too bad you can’t charge your battery

            Not easy to change batteries in an iphone, especially in a National Park Milli…

        • Eeples on 09/01/2022 - 21:11

          Solar power! When will people learn!!! - Homer J

    • g1 on 14/12/2021 - 03:01
      +1

      Do you have a deal on Iridium phone and plan to use for remote travel locations?

    • BartholemewH on 14/12/2021 - 10:03
      +1

      Phone is fine.

    • 9hcpz on 14/12/2021 - 12:13
      +3

      Sick of jv. Is there a way to block him?

      • jv on 14/12/2021 - 12:14
        -7

        Hi pot…

      • Lps on 15/12/2021 - 09:30

        Him? Could be a her, they, it, etc…

  • Robin2012 on 13/12/2021 - 22:50

    great

  • aussieprepper on 13/12/2021 - 22:52
    +6

    Might help stop some 411 missing persons cases.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/12/2021 - 22:57
      +14

      Yes, other states should introduce similar programs to avoid such cases.
      Write to your local State MP asking for free PLB hire!

    • xoom on 13/12/2021 - 23:20
      +3

      Definitely agree. Not to mention the hours spent by volunteers looking for those missing in the bush.

    • Bedgrub on 14/12/2021 - 09:41

      Is that figure for all missing persons, or just those who get lost in the wilderness?

      • BartholemewH on 14/12/2021 - 10:05

        It's not a figure, it's a reference to starfish probing aliens.

  • edfoo on 13/12/2021 - 23:01
    +1

    Wow, $88 per week hire.
    Glad I bought mine for under $200 a couple of years ago, peace of mind when I go out on a 4WD trip. Battery can last 10 years.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/12/2021 - 23:06
      +1

      Must have been a while ago: ACR ResQLink 400 Personal Locator Beacon - PLB costs $329 and is the most basic one on the market. To be fair $88 includes return shipping.

      • edfoo on 14/12/2021 - 09:39

        Only over 2 years ago when I got this KTI SafeAlert PBL from eBay for under $200. Not sure when people here can remember when eBay had regular discount for everyone at that time, not just for crappy eBay Plus members only, and we were able to get discounted eBay gift cards, together to bring the price down to under $200. Ahh the good old days have long gone now.

        • Bedgrub on 14/12/2021 - 09:44
          +1

          I remember when eBay was actually a decent marketplace to sell as well - the final value fees for non-store sellers are way too high,

          • EnALup on 14/12/2021 - 10:32

            @Bedgrub: Oh. Yes, fee are quite high forcing to go to Gumtree.
            Do Ebay charge way less to store sellers?

    • Wolfy on 13/12/2021 - 23:56

      My KTI SafetyAlert PLB - SA2G (exactly the same as the one in the photo above) was $250 in 2017.
      Seems the usual price is a bit over $300 now days.

      • FLICKIT on 14/12/2021 - 21:31

        I paid about the same… Pity KTI shut up shop earlier in the year…

        • Eeples on 09/01/2022 - 21:13

          I suppose it’s hard to compete with free.

    • cadwalader on 14/12/2021 - 13:03
      +2

      Even at 300-400 its a great investment for anyone who does this with any sort of regularity. Its just another form of insurance.

  • Gervais fanboy on 13/12/2021 - 23:07
    +9

    Thanks OP for that extensive description..
    you might have copy-pasted all of that from multiple source but regardless I learnt some very useful things today..
    Apprcieate it 🙏

    • [Deactivated] on 13/12/2021 - 23:09
      +6

      Yes I wrote some of it the rest is from National Parks NSW Website

    • Davo1111 on 13/12/2021 - 23:17
      +8

      probably check your ID.

      Also, stealing from the police/government. Probably not a good idea

      • [Deactivated] on 13/12/2021 - 23:20
        +4

        What happens if a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is activated
        If a PLB is activated, NSW Police will receive the PLB details and may cross reference the trip intention form to improve their search.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/12/2021 - 23:19
      +1

      No you don't but you need to give in your ID for recording at the National Parks Station/Police Station and fill a trip intention form which will have all your details and where you are going

    • odysseus on 13/12/2021 - 23:48

      So you're happy to steal from others?

    • CacheHunter on 13/12/2021 - 23:59
      +1

      Perhaps if you steal it, they won't come looking if you use it?

      • xoom on 14/12/2021 - 00:03

        Its people like these why we cant have nice things.

    • Save 50 Cent on 14/12/2021 - 00:05
      +1

      You are going to steal a personal locator? Hahaha you so dumb

    • itsyaboyrickyy on 14/12/2021 - 01:37

      Its a personal locator beacon….pretty sure it's made to be found.

      • chillybags on 14/12/2021 - 05:37
        +3

        That’s what I was going for, but seems the sarcasm isn’t captured well on the interwebs.

        • sween64 on 14/12/2021 - 08:32
          +1

          You dropped this /s

      • formatc on 16/12/2021 - 06:23

        haha, this is the most funny commments i read. steal and not be found , so why they steal it for?

    • vinnychase on 14/12/2021 - 09:48

      Yes stealing a object used literally to find you would be smart.

    • mostlegendary on 14/12/2021 - 10:43

      As someone who has used this service before, they check your ID and credit card details. If you don't return the PLB they state that your card will be charged the replacement cost of the PLB ($400 I think)

      Hopefully people don't try and screw this lifesaving scheme up for others.

  • matt wu on 13/12/2021 - 23:14

    I need this for this Christmas. Wish they have free hire in Tasmania.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/12/2021 - 23:20
      +9

      Yes, other states should introduce similar programs to avoid missing persons cases.
      Write to your local State MP asking for free PLB hire!

    • suchcha on 14/12/2021 - 07:23

      Service Tas has them for hire. The website Doesn't mention a fee. But I don't think it will be crazy expensive.

      • snep on 14/12/2021 - 09:08
        +5

        I've hired them a couple times from service tas, was around $50/week last time.

        They also have a few behind the desk at the cradle mt visitor's centre, same rate as service tas I believe.

        • Ti-au on 15/12/2021 - 09:06

          should make it $20 or $25.

  • Munki on 13/12/2021 - 23:17
    +18

    My ankle bracelet lets authority track me.

    • Bargainhunt9 on 13/12/2021 - 23:22
      +2

      I dont think you are going to make it to a national park before you are tackled.

  • tharlow on 13/12/2021 - 23:42
    -8

    If you this this is not a deal

    I not this, so this deal a great! Thanks, OP.

    There’s nothing quite like getting the taxpayer to bail you out…

    • xoom on 14/12/2021 - 00:00
      +6

      There’s nothing quite like getting the taxpayer to bail you out

      How much you reckon it costs to getting a search party organised for a few days looking for someone lost in the bushes? Hint. A heck of a lot more than $300 odd dollars.

      Didn't neg you by the way.

      • tharlow on 14/12/2021 - 00:26
        +1

        Good point! These things are cheap insurance for the government. I mean taxpayer. Whatever.

  • Jenny Death on 13/12/2021 - 23:46
    +4

    I see they avoided abbreviating it to PLEB.

    • Elpres on 14/12/2021 - 00:21

      I’d hire a PLEB.

      • MrThing on 14/12/2021 - 08:17

        Must be the woke term for slave

        • Elpres on 14/12/2021 - 08:24

          If we've got debt we're slaves.

    • tharlow on 14/12/2021 - 00:31
      +4

      When (e)ngaged (i)nside an (A)ustralian (N)ational Park (s)ite, these are uncommonly abbreviated as PLEBEIANS.

  • mrtee on 13/12/2021 - 23:58
    +6

    This is a deal, a hidden gem infact. So thank you for posting this much needed but poorly advertised service.

    • tharlow on 14/12/2021 - 01:01
      -2

      a hidden gem

      Grab this PLB, then geocache it. Then claim you must have lost it… somewhere. Australian larrikinism at its finest.

  • LoserScott on 14/12/2021 - 00:05
    +1

    Some things nsw does is great, other things nsw does not so.

    And one that's stood the dawn of time affordable housing, but this will do if you get lost.

    • tharlow on 14/12/2021 - 00:57
      +2

      affordable housing

      Australian National Parks are for everyone! (Not just the homeless)

      • LoserScott on 14/12/2021 - 08:37

        Wow, just speechless.

      • Mistredo on 14/12/2021 - 14:15

        You need to pay for camping in most of them.

        • tharlow on 15/12/2021 - 05:48

          Yep, that’s why they call them homeless — there is literally nowhere to go

  • Terra Australis on 14/12/2021 - 01:05

    whats the non-return fee?

    • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2021 - 01:11
      +4

      They don't mention one, but they have your ID and the hex or UIN number of your Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
      I think if you genuinely lost it, they would ask you to pay for a new one ~$300.

      • BartholemewH on 14/12/2021 - 10:17
        +2

        Via a govt approved supplier, so $600.

    • UsernameChecksIn on 16/12/2021 - 11:44

      Can they remotely activate and track you down to return it

  • singlemalt72 on 14/12/2021 - 07:10

    Lucky I have an inReach Garmin through my work.

  • MrThing on 14/12/2021 - 08:17
    +2

    Acacia Flats nice place to camp, walked through there many a times.

    To cover maaaaaybe what JV is saying / implying - yes you will get GPS reception there no problems on your phone, I use backcountry navigator on my phone and I pre-download the maps of the areas I walk. I will always get a GPS location on my phone of my position anywhere in the blue mountains national park. I even used it in Nepal, got a location ping the entire time.

    But no it wont save your life if you fall and break your leg like an plb will.

    Likewise an plb wont help you if your just lost and want to get back on the right track….you will end up calling a rescue and you might only have strayed a few km off trail.

    So, take both.

    • Smeethaneets on 14/12/2021 - 14:02

      The climb leading down to it wasn't too much fun for a mate and I; especially when it started to pour on the way up :)

      • MrThing on 14/12/2021 - 15:05

        Perrys Lookdown is a fantastic training route for big climbs and treks but. But yes its a tough slog thats for sure.

        Our go to route would be perrys lookdown via the flats to lockleys pylon return in a day , lots of elevation gain (1600m up and down)

  • factor on 14/12/2021 - 08:29
    +2

    I consider owning a PLB a good investment. Along with 2 snake-bite bandages it is permanently in my day-pack.

    Even if you have some mobile reception, activating the PLB is a way to bypass 000 if they struggle with you being unable to give a street address and nearest cross-street. The rescue coordination centre is more likely to pick an agency that can actually reach you first time.

    I paid $300 for the very small OceanSignal PLB1 6 years ago.

    • eug on 18/12/2021 - 19:40

      I paid $300 for the very small OceanSignal PLB1 6 years ago.

      Time to start looking for a replacement battery!

  • bluegrass on 14/12/2021 - 08:31
    -2

    Maybe NPWS will also open all the locked gates at National Parks so people like me that can't walk very far can drive in on the 4wd tracks?
    Wishful thinking………

  • decc0 on 14/12/2021 - 09:16
    +1

    Great initiative and will definitely do some good, can't help but think that one of two things will happen though.
    A) They run out due to people hiring them for extensive periods rather than just when they need them
    B) People will play 'funny buggers' and activate these in very remote areas (how hard is it to accidentally activate and can you deactivate once you do?)

    Understand it's probably cheaper than search parties even considering A and them having your ID will hopefully limit B.

    • Tleyx on 14/12/2021 - 09:34

      Hopefully they are profitable at this cost and they just buy more

    • abb on 14/12/2021 - 10:45
      +5

      The kind of person who is responsible enough to borrow an emergency locator beacon from the police is most likely also responsible enough to only hire it for the duration they need it, and to use it only when needed. Especially in a very remote area - walking 3 days for a prank is far beyond the effort expended by your average petty vandal!

      These things are practically impossible to activate accidentally, it's a multi-step process, something like: take out of pouch, remove activation button cover, extend an antenna, hold activate button for 5 seconds.

      You can deactivate, but emergency services may proceed as if the signal was genuine. After all, you would still want to be rescued if you were in a genuine emergency and the battery went flat or the PLB fell into a crevice.

      Also the first thing the control room will do when getting an alert is to call the registered owner - in this case the rental agency, who can then call you to see if it's legit. If you deliberately mislead them, enjoy paying off the helicopter fuel for the next 5 years!

  • ramshead on 14/12/2021 - 09:27
    -4

    Can’t remember if I read this on OZ or somewhere else. If you’re lost or hurt and have no reception to ring for help, you can (if still have battery charge ) change your voicemail to seek assistance .

    • Tleyx on 14/12/2021 - 09:35
      +2

      This is not what you want to do

      https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/artic…

    • factor on 14/12/2021 - 10:07
      +3

      Um - remember to engage BS filter when reading the Internet!! If you have any signal you are golden, if not you are stuffed! Voicemail doesn't even come into it.

      "sos only" signal is sufficient to call emergency - ie: 000 / 112.

    • LordSydney on 14/12/2021 - 16:29

      Imagine if you will, wasting precious battery or accessing insufficient network strength to change one's voicemail message, when one could group text several trusted persons with the little coverage and battery remaining.

  • DMFD on 14/12/2021 - 09:34

    200th!
    Other states need to do this.

  • Oldmate88 on 14/12/2021 - 10:03

    Surely the tin-hatters will think this is just another Government attempt to track us all

  • dammit on 14/12/2021 - 10:44

    PLB should only be used by those in grave danger, e.g. a helicopter will come and rescue you if you set it off. Something to be mindful of. Great initiative.

    • factor on 14/12/2021 - 12:25

      It also should be used when it is going to be less expensive for the government to air-lift you and get you to a hospital now — rather than dealing with the medical issue for much longer later. The rescue people expect you to use a PLB in case of a broken leg - if trying to carry the patient out would do more damage.

      Surgery costs lots! If you get a dislocated shoulder - better to airlift you to hospital. If the shoulder is out for more than a few hours it generally needs surgery and much more rehab (big cost to the government). If the shoulder hasn't been out too long it can often just be manipulated back in at a hospital with anaesthetic.

  • sepa on 15/12/2021 - 09:24

    What a great idea. I wish they would do this in Victoria. I eventually bought a PLB, mostly for hiking in the high country, but I take it on hikes most everywhere now, even overseas. Just have to remember to update my details online if I venture far from home.

    • xoom on 15/12/2021 - 09:36
      +2

      I venture far from home.

      Juas dont go all spiderman on us.

  • sjp770 on 18/12/2021 - 18:20

    $400 deposit btw. Also it's not a small unit for those concerned with weight. If you buy one it usually comes with $10k recovery cost insurance - they couldn't answer if there was any coverage

    • eug on 18/12/2021 - 19:48

      If you buy one it usually comes with $10k recovery cost insurance

      What insurance is this? Which PLB offers it?

  • Lachie010 on 26/12/2021 - 23:49

    The Katoomba police station has been doing this for years and years now

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