Bushwalkers and campers in New South Wales could soon be charged as much as $125 a night to stay in parts of a national park they can currently access for next to nothing.

Key points: A plan to restrict a NSW national park to visitors paying a premium rate has outraged bushwalkers, business groups and locals

A plan to restrict a NSW national park to visitors paying a premium rate has outraged bushwalkers, business groups and locals Documents obtained under FOI show that proposed alterations to the park fit the specifications of a private marketing firm

Documents obtained under FOI show that proposed alterations to the park fit the specifications of a private marketing firm NPWS says the proposal would offer a "world-class" experience, and a local resident says it could help boost tourism

The $8 million State Government plan to commercialise parts of Ben Boyd National Park, on the Far South Coast, could see casual visitors' access to certain parts of the reserve limited.

Bushwalking Victoria President Colin Macdonald said he is concerned by the plans for the Light to Light Great Walk, which is intended to be an 'Instagrammable', glamping-style experience, replete with huts and compost toilets.

Colin Macdonald says access to bushwalking tracks is being reduced to service high-paying guests. ( Supplied: Colin Macdonald )

"Whatever happened to the 'national parks are for all' mantra?" Mr Macdonald said.

"The people who least need infrastructure will be restricted while the heavy resource users are welcomed in, complete with red carpet and champagne."

Part of the Light to Light Walk plan involves altering the route of the current walking track in the area.

Mr Macdonald said walkers already felt "a great angst" over the disappearance of tracks due to a lack of maintenance.

"Then you see these new walks, which may be excluding walkers, and you get this double whammy," he said.

"Some tracks disappearing because they're not maintained, and on other tracks there's a potential reduction in use and availability."

A former ranger says the original walk was designed to show the diversity of the area. ( Supplied )

Designed to spec for private firm

A concept design for the Light to Light Great Walk, obtained under a Freedom of Information request, showed the walk has been designed to meet the requirements of the Great Walks group, a private marketing organisation that exclusively promotes privately-owned or commercially-operated luxury hikes.

Hiking hut layout according to concept plans obtained by the ABC. ( Supplied: NPWS )

"The upgrade details are considered critical to success factors to attract commercial partnerships and successfully achieve a Great Walk outcome," the report said.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has disputed the walk would be privatised but acknowledged it was one of the main concerns raised during public consultation.

In a live interview following public consultation, NPWS director Robert Quirk told ABC South East NPWS planned to manage the accommodation with staff stationed as camp hosts at each of site.

"People are obviously nervous that that might change ... that is something we are dealing with at the moment," Mr Quirk said.

But Peter Wyndle, a former NPWS ranger, has questioned how a government department could manage it given only private operators are eligible to become members of the Great Walks group.

Mr Wyndle said regular fee-paying users could be displaced if the plan goes ahead.

"It seems to be selling off or leasing areas of national parks for the exclusive use of a higher paying guest while the local users will be excluded or restricted," Mr Wyndle said.

"I'm horrified on a personal level because it's so inequitable."

Huts built for hikers along some of the Great Walks in NZ indicate the accommodation proposed for the Light to Light Walk. ( Supplied: NPWS )

Tip of the iceberg

If approved, the Light to Light Great Walk will become the first commercial hut-to-hut walk in NSW — but it is only one of more than 100 projects the Government has identified with the aim of generating an income from national parks.

Nine money-making projects have been given "priority funding" from $80 million allocated in the 2018 budget, according to internal documents seen by ABC.

A strategic project team within the NPWS tasked with identifying projects "capable of generating benefits for the state economy" has earmarked more than 100 projects around the state.

The NPWS has declined a freedom of information request for the details of the other 90 or so projects under consideration,

A NPWS spokesman said the Light to Light Great Walk would be "world class," and that the consultation period provided an important opportunity for the community to have a say in the management of the walk.

Walking huts and kitchen facilities to accommodate 36 walkers are planned for Mowarry Point. ( Supplied: Light to Light Camps )

Businesses, locals fear alienation

The proposal has angered locals, who worry about losing access to a place their families have camped in for generations, and the business community has also called on the Government to rethink the plan.

As part of the plans, independent camping would be restricted to two existing drive-in sites and banned along the track.

Eden Chamber of Commerce president Peter Whiter said business owners feared a focus on paying walkers would alienate other users.

"Especially at this time of the year, with whale watching and seal watching down there," he said.

Jenny Robb, from tour company Light to Light Camps, said she was against plans to "significantly re-route" the walk to hug the coast.

"I'm a bit worried that what's driving the whole project is the criteria of a marketing company," she said.

"Rather than what people in the community think we need."

An NPWS spokesman said changes to the track location were proposed to protect significant areas of the local environment and cultural heritage.

The restricted access has also upset water users including a kayaking group, which said the camping ban at one of two safe landings meant paddlers would no longer be able to safely ply a popular route along the coastline.

Under the proposal, camping at Mowarry Beach — a popular sport for kayakers, walkers and game fishers —will no longer be allowed. ( ABC South East NSW: Peta Doherty )

A recreational fishing alliance is also concerned about reduced access to popular game fishing spot location.

South Coast resident Steve Jackson, however, believed the upgrade could benefit the area.

"A lot of people are anti-development regardless of what it is," Mr Jackson.

"I see ecotourism and utilising our natural resources as good way forward for the local area.

"It's a decent way to control access to the park and also generate employment.

"It offers another experience for people coming to the area rather than the straight carrying your own pack and bush walking."

NPWS said the proposed changes were intended to make the walk more accessible.

Editor's note (11/11/19): This story has been amended to include details from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.