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Kakadu is shaped by water, being the catchment area for the South Alligator, East Alligator, Katherine, Roper and Daly Rivers. From November to May, waterfalls are at their most spectacular and the lowlands are flooded, attracting millions of migratory birds. The unique and diverse avian life in Kakadu includes jacanas, azure kingfishers, cuckoos, rufous owls, magpie geese, jabiru and more.
The Nature’s Way tourism drive is a great way to explore the park. The drive runs along the Arnhem Highway to Jabiru, then the Kakadu Highway to Pine Creek, and then south on to Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park.
A number of Aboriginal clans still reside within the park. Kakadu is home to one of the largest concentrations of Aboriginal rock art in the world with galleries at sites like Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock. Other spectacular landmarks include Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls, Maguk (Barramundie Gorge), Jarrangbarnmiu (Koolpin Gorge) and Gunlom (Waterfall Creek). There are many established walking tracks within the Park, some still accessible during the Tropical Summer.
At the centre of the park the small mining township of Jabiru offers a range of services and accommodation. Cooinda also offers accommodation and is located on the banks of Yellow Water, a billabong teeming with migratory birds, saltwater crocodiles and other wildlife. Cruises on Yellow Water depart daily. A visit to Kakadu is best started at the Bowali Visitor Centre near Jabiru or the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre near Cooinda.
There is a wide range of accommodation in Kakadu. Along with hotels and resorts are some new properties, including Hawk Dreaming, a safari camp where operators have the exclusive permission from traditional owners to bring visitors onto their land and share an authentic cultural experience. Another of Kakadu’s features is the Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn – a crocodile-shaped complex, amazing when viewed from the air. Resort-style accommodation is also available at Cooinda, a village on the famous Yellow Water Billabong. Family friendly resorts are located in Jabiru as well as at the entrance to Kakadu on the South Alligator River.
Kakadu National Park Entry Fee
Kakadu National Park reintroduced a park entry fee in 2010 to help manage the natural and cultural values of the park environment and improve visitor services.
Like many World Heritage sites around the world, including Yellowstone National Park, Serengeti National Park, Stonehenge, Pompeii and Herculeum and the Pyramids of Egypt - a park use fee will help maintain world-best management practices and facilities for the more than 200,000 visitors who experience Kakadu each year.
The $25 fee (inclusive of GST) will apply to all interstate and international visitors aged 16 years and over. All Northern Territory residents and children under 16 will be exempt.
Tickets and more information is available on the Kakadu website www.kakadu.com.au
Bowali Visitor Centre
Open daily. Free entry.
Before exploring Kakadu National Park, get familiarised by exploring the Bowali Visitor Centre, where you can watch a 25 minute audio visual presentation to help you gain a greater understanding of Kakadu’s landscape and moods, then take a walk through the interpretive displays. Videos are shown on the half hour giving different perspectives on Kakadu and its international significance. The habitat based display and library gives detailed information about the Park and how much there is to see and do. Take a look at The Marrawuddi Gallery for Aboriginal arts and crafts, books and gifts, and then enjoy a coffee at the cafe.
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Jim Jim Falls
Open daily 6.30am to 8.30pm subject to weather conditions. Free entry.
Whether the falls are raging with water or the merest trickle, this majestic waterfall is a sight to behold. Set in the red ochre of the Arnhem Land escarpment, and boasting white sandy beaches and crystal clear water, it is worth the 2km return walk across rocks to appreciate this special area.
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Mamukala Wetlands and Bird Hide
Open daily. Free entry.
In the dry season, Mamukala Wetlands and Bird Hide displays the spectacle of thousands of migratory magpie geese congregating to feed. You can watch them from one of the bird hides or amble along the marked walking trails beside the tranquil wetlands. Walks vary from one to three kilometres.
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Koolpin Gorge
46kms from the Kakadu Highway. Seasonal access only
Access to beautiful Koolpin Gorge (Jarangbammi) is restricted. Those wishing to visit the site must obtain an entry permit and key to gain access.
For details call (08) 8938 1140, Permits Officer, Kakadu National Park.
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Nourlangie Rock Art Site
Open daily. Free entry.
The walls of the Nourlangie Rock Art Site have served as a shelter and canvas for thousands of years. Paintings such as Namarrgon (lightning man) explore the relationship of the people to their country and beliefs. During the months of April until October, Park Rangers invite visitors to join them and share their knowledge of this ancient gallery.
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Gunlom Plunge Pool
Open daily. Free entry.
Gunlom, located on Waterfall Creek, is the magical combination of waterfall and serene plunge pool, with shady gums cooling the picnic areas. A steep climb to the top of the waterfall provides sweeping views of the southernmost parts of Kakadu National Park.
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Maguk / Barramundi Gorge
Open daily, subject to weather conditions. Free entry.
A one kilometre walk through monsoon rainforest leads to the base of a beautiful plunge pool. Maguk / Barramundi Gorge is a scenic and tranquil place to enjoy a refreshing swim in a series of small waterholes. The water is crystal clear and a short hike to the top of the waterfall is well worth the effort, affording a panoramic view.
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Twin Falls
Open daily, subject to weather conditions. Tour fee applies.
Twin Falls is set in the Arnhem Land escarpment. Take a ranger-guided boat cruise, followed by a bushwalk and a scenic stroll along a boardwalk to the cascading falls. You will be rewarded by panoramic views of the towering red escarpment and sparkling waters. Afterwards, sit down and relax on the white sandy shore.
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Ubirr
40 kms from Jabiru. Open daily. Free entry.
Ubirr is one of Kakadu National Park’s two most famous rock art galleries. The galleries can be viewed by following an easy one kilometre circular walking track. During the winter, Park Rangers give free scheduled talks about the ancient rock art. A moderately steep 250 metre climb takes you to a rocky outlook with views across the floodplains. Enjoying a spectacular tropical sunset from the top of Ubirr is not to be missed.
Note: The Traditional Owners of Ubirr request of visitors to the Park that no alcohol be consumed at this site.
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Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
4.5 kms of the Kakadu Highway enroute to Cooinda
Open daily. Free entry.
To understand something of the connection Kakadu's Aboriginal owners have with this special part of the Top End, spend some time at the Warradjan Cultural Centre learning the stories that gave them their laws. Aboriginal people developed this centre so they could share their culture. The building has been styled in the shape of a pig nosed turtle, Warradjan, and is based on the theme 'our land is our life'. Allow at least an hour to view and appreciate this attraction.
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Yellow Water Billabong
Open daily. Free entry.
Yellow Water is one of Kakadu National Park’s best known landmarks. Located near the small settlement of Cooinda, Yellow Water is home to crocodiles, wild horses, buffalo and other wildlife. The billabong, which floods to join other waterways during the wet season, attracts millions of migratory birds each year, including jacana, egrets, jabiru, sea eagles and magpie geese. Paperbark forests, pandanus and freshwater mangroves line the banks, and the water is dotted with beautiful pink and white waterlilies. Explore the billabong by joining a wildlife
cruise, or witness an unforgettable sunset from the viewing platform.
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For more information on Kakadu National Park, please click on the link below:
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