Kakadu National Park records its highest visitor numbers in 13 years

An NT World Heritage site is ready for another strong tourism season after it recorded its highest visitor numbers since 2009. We reveal what attractions are most popular.

Hopes are high for another big tourism season after Kakadu recorded its highest visitor numbers in 13 years last year.

Kakadu National Park recorded 208,056 visitors in 2022, its highest numbers since 2009.

The park’s tourism and visitor services manager Adrian Buman said domestic tourism was a “huge driver of visitation”.

“Victorians made up 20 per cent of visitors in 2022 while 18 per cent were from NSW and 10 per cent from Queensland,” Mr Buman said.

“The most popular seasons for visitors were Yekke, which runs from May to mid-June, and

Wurrkeng, which runs from mid-June to mid-August.”

A $3m upgrade to Cahills Crossing will enable visitors to spot a croc from three new platforms. Picture: Tourism NT

Mr Buman said the most popular attractions including rock art viewing, bushwalking, wildlife spotting, and boat cruises.

“We’re also gearing up for another blockbuster year of events with Karrimanjbekkan An-me

Kakadu – Taste of Kakadu, taking place from May 13-21 and Kakadu Bird Week flying back from September 28 to October 3,” he said.

“Our popular seasonal guided activities program will be back too.”

Jacqueline Cahill leads Taste of Kakadu tours, which take place from May 13-21. Picture: Parks Australia

Environment and Water Minister said last year’s tourism boom came during a time of “strong investment in Kakadu”, including a new $3m Cahills Crossing viewing area.

“(The viewing area) will give visitors more opportunity to see crocodiles gather on mass, from the safety of three viewing platforms,” she said.

Kakadu National Park recorded 160,055 visitors in 2021 – 48,001 fewer than 2022.

There were 113,279 visitors in 2020, and 195,693 in 2019.

[e-mail]