Cheat Sheet: 13 things to know before you go to Kakadu

Where to go, when to do it — and the essentials you’ll want to pack. We’ve got you covered with these Kakadu National Park tips.

Home to the oldest living culture on Earth, as well as the world’s largest reptiles, Kakadu National Park is one of Australia’s greatest icons. Add natural plunge pools, a torrent of waterfalls, challenging walking trails and a UNESCO World Heritage listing, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more impressionable holiday destination.

GO ROAD-TRIPPIN’

Three hours’ drive from Darwin, Kakadu National Park, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is easier to reach than people realise. Interstate travellers can fly into Darwin and hire a vehicle or join a tour.

Main highways into the park are sealed and suitable for 2WD, but you’ll have a better time if you’re in a 4WD and can tackle the many dirt roads. Conditions vary, especially during the tropical summer (November-April), so solo travellers need to stay atop of reports. Call into Bowali Visitor Centre to ask rangers about which roads are open and to buy a park pass.

 

WHEN TO GO

The Top End’s dry season (May-October) is the most popular time as daytime temperatures are bearable at around 30C and most of the park is open. But, this means more people, so plan a visit at the start or end of the dry. Or go in summer, when Kakadu’s roaring waterfalls will leave a lasting impression when viewed from a helicopter. Bear in mind though, you can’t swim during the wet season due to floods which allow crocodiles to roam to waterholes far and wide.

WHY EVERY AUSSIE SHOULD VISIT KAKADU

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK: A QUICK GUIDE

10 REASONS TO VISIT KAKADU IN THE WET

HOW MUCH?

The price of a park pass differs depending on the season. Up to the end of April, you’ll pay $65 for a family of four, or $25 an adult. From May to October, it rises to $100 a family/$40 an adult. Go to parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu to book online.

Tourists view bird life on the Yellow Water billabong cruise in Kakadu.

SPOT A CROC

Kakadu is one of the best places in Australia to see freshwater and saltwater crocodiles in a natural environment – there are about 10,000, according to Parks Australia.

Peak time is August to November, and you can spot them on Yellow Water Billabong and East Alligator River cruises, as well as at Cahills Crossing. You can’t swim here but it is OK to cool off at waterholes such as Gunlom and Maguk.

Rangers monitor croc management zones during tourist times, but enter the water at your own risk.

WATERHOLES AND WATERFALLS

You’re spoiled for choice, but make time for three special spots. Jim Jim Falls is probably the most difficult to reach due to the 900m access track being riddled with tree roots and, at the end, slippery boulders, but it’s otherworldly. In the dry, there are twin pools surrounded on three sides by sheer rock walls.

Gunlom Falls is another must-see, with tiered plunge pools at the top of the waterfall. It’s a steep but short (about 40 minutes) hike up. Maguk waterfall is a great option for families.

A 2km (return) walk through monsoon forest leads to a cool oasis.

You’ll hear a lot about Gunlom Falls when in Kakadu.

TAKE AN INFLATABLE POOL RING

The waterholes are deep and you don’t want to tread water the entire time. An inflatable ring or pool noodle is also handy when you want to reach the base of a waterfall, and a must for anyone with small children.

But remember walks to the swimming holes are long and it’s easiest to carry floats deflated in a backpack. Plus, novelty items can ruin Kakadu’s natural beauty for others.

PACK MOZZIE REPELLENT

Mosquitoes and flies come with the territory in Australia’s largest national park, and they can be relentless. Mostly, mozzies pester you at dawn and dusk, so pack environmentally friendly spray and citronella candles. Take an antiseptic gel for insect bites, sunscreen, water and, if travelling independently, an emergency beacon, 4WD repair kit and UHF radio.

 

CAMP AT COOINDA

The best place to stay is Cooinda Lodge and Camping Grounds, due to its central location, two pools, restaurant, sprawling campground, glamping sites and refurbished hotel rooms. If you’re keen to tackle the hike to the top of Gunlom Falls, spend a night at Gunlom Campground, a short stroll to the trail head, so you can rise before the morning heat and other tourists.

CLIMB TO UBIRR

A Kakadu highlight is Ubirr Lookout, a rock escarpment devoid of handrails and concrete pathways. That’s part of the appeal, as you climb 250m for views across floodplains and Arnhem Land. The lookout is reached via an impressive Aboriginal rock-art gallery and you can join a ranger-guided site tour. You’ll also find rock art at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) and Nanguluwurr Gallery.

The wilderness of Anbangbang Billabong and Nourlangie.

CRUISE YELLOW WATER BILLABONG

If you’re itching to see a crocodile, you’ll want to book a Yellow Water Billabong cruise, during which you’ll also be mesmerised by the exquisite birdlife. Azure kingfishers, black-necked storks and comb-crested jacanas are a few species there. Look out for tree snakes, wild boar and water buffalo, too. Indigenous-owned Yellow Water Cruises’ two most popular tours are at sunrise and sunset (book ahead). There is also the Guluyambi Cruise on East Alligator River or Magela Creek.

STOCK UP ON FOOD IN DARWIN

If you’re an independent traveller and don’t want to eat at Cooinda every night, stock up on groceries in Darwin (or Katherine, if coming from the south). You’ll have access to a larger range of supplies at better prices. There is a supermarket in Jabiru.

LEAVE YOUR DRONE AT HOME

It’s forbidden to send up a drone unless you have a permit from Parks Australia – and it’s not easy to obtain one. Respect the rules and the indigenous owners by keeping your drone packed away, or plan ahead and get government approval.

JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES

Keep an eye out for Gunlom and Nourlangie in Top End Wedding, a rom-com with Sapphires star Miranda Tapsell in cinemas soon.

MORE

northernterritory.com, kakadutourism.com, parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu

 

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Originally published as Cheat Sheet: 13 things to know before you go to Kakadu