Suggested Itineraries for Kakadu National Park
Suggested itineraries that include the highlights of Kakadu National Park during the Wet Season are provided below.
Please note that road conditions to all areas of the Top End can change daily and it is best to check access prior to embarking on your journey.
Contact Tourism Top End on 1300 138 886 or view the latest NT road conditions by clicking here. Road conditions within Kakadu National Park can be sourced by clicking here.
2 Day Kakadu Wet Season – 2WD Option
Day 1
6:00am head down the Stuart Highway to the Didgeridoo Hut & Art Gallery. Take a look at local art work from the Top End and speak to the Indigenous artists about aboriginal art and locally made didgeridoo’s.
Then journey down the Arnhem Highway to Fogg Dam and walk to the Pandanus lookout for a great view and photo opportunity of the variety of birds among the lilies and other water plants which flower at this time off the year.
Next, journey further east to the interpretive centre for the region known as Windows on the Wetlands. Enjoy your own morning tea and panoramic views over the green landscape before heading to the World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. (Be sure to have arranged your Park Entry Ticket through Tourism Top End before arriving).
Drive to the Bowali Visitor Information Centre to read up on the most recent information about the Park.
By midday, drive north to Ubirr to view ancient rock art sights dating back more than 10,000 years, and perfect panoramic views over Arnhem Land. This is a great spot for a picnic lunch or you can drive to the Border Store for a sensational lunch made fresh for you.
After lunch, take the Guluyambi River Cruise over the wetlands with your Indigenous guide from the region.
Overnight Jabiru.
Day 2
Depart early from Jabiru and head south towards Cooinda for an early morning sunrise cruise on Yellow Water. The morning cruise is an hour, deep inside the heart of Kakadu, where the fauna and wildlife is simply breathtaking.
If feeling peckish after the cruise, head to Gagudju Lodge Cooinda for breakfast at the bistro.
After breakfast drive to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre for detailed information about Aboriginal culture in Kakadu before heading to Nourlangie Rock to see an Aboriginal shelter and several outstanding art sites. Have lunch here before heading back to Darwin.
2 Day Kakadu Wet Season – 4WD
Day 1
6:00am head down the Stuart Highway to the Didgeridoo Hut & Art Gallery. Take a look at local art work from the Top End and speak to the Indigenous artists about aboriginal art and locally made didgeridoo’s.
Then journey down the Arnhem Highway to Fogg Dam and walk to the Pandanus lookout for a great view and photo opportunity of the variety of birds among the lilies and other water plants which flower at this time off the year.
Next, journey further east to the interpretive centre for the region known as Windows on the Wetlands. Enjoy your own morning tea and panoramic views over the green landscape before heading to the Adelaide River for a boat cruise to watch large saltwater crocodiles leap out of the water up to half their body length.
After the cruise, drive east towards World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. (Be sure to have arranged your Park Entry Ticket through Tourism Top End before arriving).
Once arrived, drive straight to the Bowali Visitor Information Centre to read up on the most recent information on the Park before having lunch.
After lunch, drive to Cooinda, the home of the Yellow Water to check into accommodation before sunset.
Sunset Yellow Water Cruise (optional)
Day 2
Early morning sunrise Yellow Water Cruise (optional)
Have breakfast at your accommodation and then drive to Nourlangie Rock to view an aboriginal shelter and spectacular art sites.
After the art site walk, take the Barrk 12km bushwalk branching off the Nourlangie lookout track, just past the main gallery. This is a difficult 12km return walk that includes the Nanguluwur Art Gallery and walkers should allow 6-8hours. An alternative option would be to drive to Gubara and take the 6km return pools walk past sandstone cliffs to shady monsoon forest pools. Allow 4 hours.
3 Day Kakadu & Litchfield Wet Season – 2WD
Day 1
6:00am head down the Stuart Highway to the Didgeridoo Hut & Art Gallery. Take a look at local art work from the Top End and speak to the Indigenous artists about aboriginal art and locally made didgeridoo’s.
Then journey down the Arnhem Highway to Fogg Dam and walk to the Pandanus lookout for a great view and photo opportunity of the variety of birds among the lilies and other water plants which flower at this time off the year.
Next, journey further east to the interpretive centre for the region known as Windows on the Wetlands. Enjoy your own morning tea and panoramic views over the green landscape before heading to the heading to World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park.
Once arrived, drive straight to the Bowali Visitor Information Centre to read up on the most recent information on the Park.
By midday, drive north to Ubirr to view ancient rock art sights dating back more than 10,000 years, and perfect panoramic views over Arnhem Land. This is a great spot for a picnic lunch or you can drive to the Border Store for a sensational lunch made fresh for you.
After lunch, take the Guluyambi River Cruise over the wetlands with your Indigenous guide from the region.
Overnight Jabiru.
Day 2
Depart early from Jabiru and head south towards Cooinda for an early morning sunrise cruise on Yellow Water. The morning cruise is an hour, deep inside the heart of Kakadu, where the fauna and wildlife is simply breathtaking.
If feeling peckish after the cruise, head to Gagudju Lodge Cooinda for breakfast at the bistro.
After breakfast drive to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre for detailed information about Aboriginal culture in Kakadu before heading to Nourlangie Rock to see an Aboriginal shelter and several outstanding art sites. Have lunch here before heading towards your accommodation at Mary River Road House stopping at Bukbukluk Lookout and Ikoymarrwa Rock Holes that afternoon.
Day 3
Depart Kakadu early through the southern end of Kakadu via Pine Creek. Drive up the Stuart Highway past Adelaide River towards Batchelor. Your first stop will be the Batchelor Butterfly Farm for morning tea, before heading to the spectacular waterfalls of Litchfield National Park. Enjoy a swim at Buley Rockhole and take the monsoonal walk to Florence for another dip before returning back to the carpark.
Then drive to Wangi Falls for an amazing view of the thundering falls, enjoy your own BBQ lunch or purchase lunch from the Kiosk before heading back to Darwin.
3 Day Litchfield & Kakadu Wet Season – 4WD
Day 1
Drive south towards the Batchelor Township before stopping for morning tea at the Batchelor Butterfly Farm and Tropical Retreat. Depart towards Litchfield National Park to see Florence Falls and Buley Rock Holes for short walks and a swim. Tolmer Falls Lookout is spectacular during the Wet Season along with Wangi Falls and also a great place to stop for lunch. In the early afternoon drive south of the Stuart Highway to Adelaide River before checking into your accommodation at Mount Bundy Station. Here you can have the opportunity to enjoy the surrounds, have a dip in the pool or take a horse ride (own expense) before winding up for the afternoon. Alternative accommodation is also available at Batchelor Township.
Day 2
Depart the station and drive further south to Pine Creek. Enjoy the views at the mine look out, have morning tea at the Rail Way Museum or at Maysee’s Café before heading towards World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. The first stop is Gunlom Falls, an ideal place for lunch and then onto Yurmikmik for a choice of walks from 2km, 5km, 7.5km or 11kms return.
Drive towards Cooinda for overnight accommodation.
Day 3
Take an early morning sunrise cruise on Yellow Water. The morning cruise is an hour, deep inside the heart of Kakadu, where the fauna and wildlife is simply breathtaking.
If feeling peckish after the cruise, head to Gagudju Lodge Cooinda for breakfast at the bistro.
After breakfast drive to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre for detailed information about Aboriginal culture in Kakadu before heading to Nourlangie Rock to see an Aboriginal shelter and several outstanding art sites.
Drive back towards Darwin via the north entry to Kakadu called the Arnhem Highway. Stops along the way include the Mamukala Bird Hide, Window on the Wetlands, Adelaide River for a jumping crocodile cruise and Fogg Dam (a great place for afternoon drinks and prawns).
4 Day Kakadu & Katherine Wet Season - 2WD
Day 1
6:00am head down the Stuart Highway to the Didgeridoo Hut & Art Gallery. Take a look at local art work from the Top End and speak to the Indigenous artists about aboriginal art and locally made didgeridoo’s.
Then journey down the Arnhem Highway to Fogg Dam and walk to the Pandanus lookout for a great view and photo opportunity of the variety of birds among the lilies and other water plants which flower at this time off the year.
Next, journey further east to the interpretive centre for the region known as Windows on the Wetlands. Enjoy your own morning tea and panoramic views over the green landscape before heading towards World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. (Be sure to have arranged your Park Entry Ticket through Tourism Top End before arriving).
Drive to the Bowali Visitor Information Centre to read up on the most recent information about the Park.
By midday, drive north to Ubirr to view ancient rock art sights dating back more than 10,000 years, and perfect panoramic views over Arnhem Land. This is a great spot for a picnic lunch or you can drive to the Border Store for a sensational lunch made fresh for you.
After lunch, take the Guluyambi River Cruise over the wetlands with your Indigenous guide from the region.
Overnight Jabiru.
Day 2
Have breakfast at your accommodation and then drive to Nourlangie Rock to view an aboriginal shelter and spectacular art sites.
After the art site walk, take the Barrk 12km bushwalk branching off the Nourlangie lookout track, just past the main gallery. This is a difficult 12km return walk that includes the Nanguluwur Art Gallery and walkers should allow 6-8hours. An alternative option would be to drive to Gubara and take the 6km return pools walk past sandstone cliffs to shady monsoon forest pools. Allow 4 hours.
In the afternoon, drive to Cooinda and check into your accommodation for the evening.
Day 3
Take an early morning sunrise cruise on Yellow Water. The morning cruise is an hour, deep inside the heart of Kakadu, where the fauna and wildlife is simply breathtaking.
If feeling peckish after the cruise, head to Gagudju Lodge Cooinda for breakfast at the bistro.
After breakfast drive to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre for detailed information about Aboriginal culture in Kakadu then head south to Mary River Road House for a short break.
Drive south and stop at Edith Falls for lunch and a swim before arriving to Katherine to check into your accommodation.
Day 4
Take a Breakfast Cruise on the Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park and also take the opportunity to visit the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. After leaving Nitmiluk, stop at the Katherine Museum on Gorge Road to enjoy morning tea before carrying on to Adelaide River War Memorial. Adelaide River is a great stop for lunch before heading back to Darwin.
4 Day Kakadu, Litchfield Wet season - 4WD
Day 1
Drive to Batchelor Township and stop for morning tea at the Batchelor Butterfly Farm and Tropical Retreat before heading towards the beautiful Falls of Litchfield National Park. Visit the Magnetic Termite Mounds before stopping for a swim at to Florence Falls and Buley Rock Holes. On your way to Wangi Falls, enjoy the spectacular views of the Tolmer Falls Lookout and then arrive to Wangi for more great views of the Falls and lunch in the grounds. In the early afternoon drive south of the Stuart Highway to Adelaide River before checking into your accommodation at Mount Bundy Station. Here you can have the opportunity to enjoy the surrounds, have a dip in the pool or take a horse ride (own expense) before winding up for the afternoon. Alternative accommodation is also available at Batchelor Township.
Day 2
Depart the station and drive further south to Pine Creek. Enjoy the views at the mine look out, have morning tea at the Rail Way Museum or at Maysee’s Café before heading towards Katherine. On the way, stop at Edith Falls for lunch and swim before arriving to Katherine to check into your accommodation.
Day 3
Take a Breakfast Cruise on the Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park and also take the opportunity to visit the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. After leaving Nitmiluk, stop at the Katherine Museum on Gorge Road to enjoy morning tea before carrying on to Kakadu National Park. Stop at Mary River Road House for a short break before heading to Yurmikmik for a 5km return walk to the Yurmikmik lookout.
Drive to Cooinda and check into accommodation for the evening.
Day 4
Take an early morning sunrise cruise on Yellow Water. The morning cruise is an hour, deep inside the heart of Kakadu, where the fauna and wildlife is simply breathtaking.
If feeling peckish after the cruise, head to Gagudju Lodge Cooinda for breakfast at the bistro.
After breakfast drive to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre for detailed information about Aboriginal culture in Kakadu.
Drive to Nourlangie Rock to view an aboriginal shelter and spectacular art sites before driving back to Darwin stopping at Mamukala Bird Hide, Window on the Wetlands and Fogg Dam.
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