Kakadu National Park
Discover Kakadu National Park
A trip to the north of Australia is never complete without visiting Kakadu National Park. Sometimes colloquially called as "Australia's national park", the park is in the Northern Territory, 171 km east of Darwin and the national park is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The park is one of the few listed spots both natural and cultural listed, one of only four in Australia and one of 39 anywhere in the world. Kakadu is two very different parks, which depend based on season. During the dry season, the park's known for its many rock art, hiking trails and waterfalls are accessible, but during the wet season, the crocodiles and seeing the park via a private plane provide views of waterfalls you've probably never imagined.
What to Experience in Kakadu National Park
Taste of Kakadu National Park...
Jabiru has a supermarket where you will find all the basic necessities. There are also a few nice little restaurants and cafes. Basic food is available at the sporadic rest stops and museums throughout the park. The lodge at Cooinda serves food until about 9PM and drinks later (whenever things slow down, it seems). The food is really good and includes dishes like the wild goose and kangaroo pie, but neither it or the drinks are cheap. Kakadu Bakery (close to Lakeview as well as Kakadu Lodge) serves pastries, sandwiches and pizza at reasonable prices. It is vital that you carry plenty of water with you at all times, especially during the dry season. Some of the upper rock pools are safe to drink from, but lower level rivers are not. There are many camping grounds dotted through the park. Jabiru, Cooinda and South Alligator all have commercial camping areas and are in proximity to most of the important natural attractions in these areas. Camping with basic or no toilet facilities is available at Two Mile, Four Mile Hole, Red Lily Billabong, Bucket Billabong, Alligator Billabong and Waldak Irrmbal (West Alligator Head). Drinking water is not available. Rubbish bins are not provided, so please bring rubbish out with you. Check wet season access. Camping with basic toilet facilities available at Malabanjbanjdju and Burdulba. Drinking water is not available. Merl Camping Area: Showers, toilets and generator zone. Camping fees (adults only) are collected on site.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Kakadu National Park into what it is today.
The park was established in 1981. It is governed by Environment Australia/Parks Australia and Aboriginal traditional land owners (the Gun-djeihmi, Kunwinjku, Krakeourtinnie and Jawoyn peoples). The park contains 1,980,400 hectares of wetlands and other terrain. It is Australia's second largest National Park and is approximately the size of Israel or Wales. Kakadu is home to 68 mammals (almost one-fifth of Australia’s mammals), more than 120 reptiles, 26 frogs, over 300 tidal and freshwater fish species, more than 2 000 plants and over 10 000 species of insects. It provides habitat for more than 290 bird species (over one-third of Australia’s birds). Its internationally important wetlands are a major staging point for migratory birds. Some of these species are threatened or endangered. Many are found nowhere else in the world and there are still others yet to be discovered. The Creation Ancestors gave Bininj/Mungguy a kinship system linking people to all things and the cultural responsibility to look after them all. They have always understood the biodiversity of country and their traditional ancestral knowledge is a vital part of managing Kakadu’s rich environment. The park's wetlands provide the greatest visual pleasure. The freshwater and estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles sleep on the banks of all rivers and the many billabongs for most of the day but can also be seen floating or swimming in the water....
Climate
Throughout the year, Kakadu’s landscapes undergo spectacular changes. Bininj/Mungguy recognise six different seasons, as well as subtle variations that signpost the transition from one season to another. This knowledge of nature is fundamental to the culture of Kakadu and its people. Bininj/Mungguy have lived with the changing landscape for tens of thousands of years, adapting and using the land for food, shelter and general well−being. Cool weather time, May to June. The wetlands are carpeted with water lilies. Drying winds and flowering Darwin woolly butt tell Bininj/Mungguy to patchwork burn the woodlands to encourage new growth. Early dry season, June to August Most creeks stop flowing and the floodplains quickly dry out. Magpie geese, fat and heavy after weeks of abundant food crowd the shrinking billabongs. Hot dry season, August to October Hunting time for file snakes and long-necked turtles.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAccess from Darwin to Jabiru is via the Arnhem Highway. This is a good road with a speed limit on 130 km/h that is usually open all year round. Access from the south to Jabiru is via the Kakadu Highway, again usually open all year round. Check road conditions before setting off. It is around 3-4 hours drive from Darwin to Jabiru. You can rent 2WD and 4WD cars in Darwin, with daily distance limits. Campervan rentals often don't have distance limits. A variety of coach and small group tours are also available from Darwin. During the wet seasons, some parts of the park are not accessible by 2WD vehicles, or even not accessible at all. Check road conditions and closures in advance. This is generally not a problem during the dry season though. Unlike most national parks, fees are per person, not per vehicle. Fees in Kakadu National Park are also heavily seasonal, with different fees for the dry season, and a slightly lower fee in the wet season....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Kakadu is massive (the size of Wales), more than double the size of Yellowstone and larger than all national parks in the US. 4WD vehicles are required to enter some areas. However many spectacular and popular sites are readily accessible via good roads. Having your own vehicle is the easiest and most pleasurable option. The main tourist route is east from Darwin to Jabiru, then south-west to Cooinda, then continuing on as far as Pine Creek, with a possible deviation south to Katherine, before returning north to Darwin. Such an itinerary could be easily be covered in a few days with longer time if wanting to see things off-road. Tours inside the park are available with the popular destinations being a day trip to Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls. The pick-up points for these tours are typically from Jabiru and Cooinda. Scenic flights in either small, fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter are available. Air strips are at Jabiru and Cooinda. Walking is a great way to experience Kakadu.
Where to Stay
There are many camping grounds dotted through the park. Jabiru, Cooinda and South Alligator all have commercial camping areas and are in proximity to most of the important natural attractions in these areas. Camping with basic or no toilet facilities is available at Two Mile, Four Mile Hole, Red Lily Billabong, Bucket Billabong, Alligator Billabong and Waldak Irrmbal (West Alligator Head). Drinking water is not available. Rubbish bins are not provided, so please bring rubbish out with you. Check wet season access. Camping with basic toilet facilities available at Malabanjbanjdju and Burdulba. Drinking water is not available. Merl Camping Area: Showers, toilets and generator zone. Camping fees (adults only) are collected on site. Check wet season access. Muirella Park Camping Area (Check wet season access). Has showers, toilets and is a no generator zone. Camping fees (adults only) are collected on site during the dry season.
Money & Budget
Kakadu is an almost completely unpopulated landscape the size of a small country. There are, however, regular service stations, camping grounds, and outposts along the way with assorted small gifts as well as Aboriginal goods. In Jabiru there is a service station, supermarket, newsagent and post office (Commonwealth Bank agency), Westpac Bank, travel agent, medical centre and chemist (☏ +61 8 8979 2018), police, public telephones, swimming pool, library (internet), hairdresser, golf course, restaurant, café and bakery. Jabiru has a supermarket where you will find all the basic necessities. There are also a few nice little restaurants and cafes. Basic food is available at the sporadic rest stops and museums throughout the park.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Kakadu National Park
The Yellow River mangroves of the world heritage Kakadu National Park
View of the transition from wet to dry season in the kakadu national park. Pic taken from a helicopter.
Kakdu National Park, Australia
brown rock formation near body of water during daytime
Kakdu National Park, Australia
Aerial view over Kakadu National Park
The Yellow River mangroves of the world heritage Kakadu National Park
Aerial view over Kakadu National Park
Aerial view over Kakadu National Park
Aerial view over Kakadu National Park
The Yellow River mangroves of the world heritage Kakadu National Park
View of the transition from wet to dry season in the kakadu national park. Pic taken from a helicopter.
Kakdu National Park, Australia