Kakadu National Park

Boating on Yellow Water, Kakadu National Park, NT. Photo credit: Tourism NT

Kakadu National Park

The Aborigines are Kakadu. The traditional owners, the Bininj and the Mungguy, have lived here for at least 50,000 years, one of the longest historical records of any group of people in the world.

Today they co-manage Australia’s biggest natural attraction and largest national park. Discover a land bursting with wildlife, stunning scenery and Aboriginal culture.

The landscape of the park changes constantly. It’s big enough to include wetlands, rainforest and rocky escarpments, and each changes with the seasons.

We suggest visiting Kakadu in the dry season (May to Oct). In the wet, the humidity can become extremely uncomfortable, and the mosquitoes are unbearable.

Things to do in Kakadu

Yellow Water Billabong
If you do only one thing while visiting Kakadu, do this. A cruise along the billabong offers fantastic photo opportunities as you glide through the peaceful, serene water, surrounded by water lilies. You’d never think that you’re being watched by crocs the entire time…

The billabong is home to sea eagles, jacanas, and egrets, but none can match the whistling ducks for entertainment. If they’re around, you won’t miss them or their unique and adorable sound.

The cruise is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kakadu so book in advance. Morning cruises are a little longer as it’s not so hot. We’d also recommend the night cruises, which include a 3 course dinner to be taken either before or after the tour.

Rock art sites
Not all are accessible to the public, but the main sites, Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock, will more than satisfy your curiosity.

Jim Jim Falls
Visit Kakadu in the dry season and you won’t get to see the 215m falls at their best. During the wet season, though, you won’t get to see them at all as the site is inaccessible (unless you charter a helicopter). Whenever you visit, cooling off in the pool beneath the falls feels amazing. Just check with the ranger that it’s croc-free first.

Twin Falls
A bit more difficult to get to, but equally worth a visit. As with Jim Jim, visit early in the dry season for the best balance of comfort and spectacle. The Twin Falls Gorge Boat Shuttle Service runs regularly till late afternoon and takes you to the base of the falls. You will need a 4WD to access this part of the park. A high-clearance 2WD won’t be enough to get you across Jim Jim Creek.

Barramundie Gorge (also known as Maguk) and Gunlom are favourite Kakadu tourist spots. Gunlom appeared in Crocodile Dundee, and these shaded swimming holes offer some refuge from the year-round average temperature of 34°C. Both take a bit of getting to, so make sure your car is up for the journey.

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Northern Territory

Doing Kakadu

It’s a 3 hour drive east from Darwin

Entry for over 16s is $25 AUD. Under 16s are free.

It’s 200km north to south, and 100km east to west. You’ll need three days just to explore a small part of it

Wild Kakadu

60 species of mammals and around 117 species of reptiles, (dropping thanks to the destructive Cane Toad) call this national park home.

Many of them are nocturnal, so don’t expect to see animals left, right and centre while you’re visiting Kakadu, but you should see:

Water buffalo
Freshwater and saltwater crocodiles
Kangaroos
Wallabies
Wild horses (or brumbies, as the locals call them)
Around one third of Australia’s bird species
Over 10,000 different species of insect. Best pack that repellent

Many of the 1000 plant species found in the Kakadu are still used by the Aborigines for medicine and food