By air
Darwin (DRW), ~3 h by road
Australia & New Zealand · Australia
Kakadu, Australia
Rock art, wetlands and crocodiles
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — dry season, the roads open
Don't miss
Ubirr
Burrungkuy (Nourlangie)
Yellow Water
Jim Jim Falls
Things to do
Yellow Water cruises
Ubirr's rock art at sunset
Jim Jim Falls (4WD, dry season)
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Insect repellent, a sun hat, plenty of water
A quieter corner
Gunlom Falls' infinity pool at the top
Questions travellers ask
Which months are best for Kakadu?
May to September, the dry season, when the roads open. Jim Jim Falls needs a 4WD and is a dry-season trip.
How far is Kakadu from Darwin?
About 3 h by road from Darwin (DRW).
What shouldn't I miss in Kakadu?
A Yellow Water cruise, Ubirr's rock art at sunset, Burrungkuy (Nourlangie), and barramundi, cooked every way. For a hidden gem, head up to Gunlom Falls' infinity pool at the top.
What should I pack for Kakadu?
Insect repellent, a sun hat and plenty of water.
About Kakadu
- Riverside
Where it is
Kakadu National Park is a vast protected area in the Top End of Australia's Northern Territory, east of Darwin, taking in tidal rivers, floodplain wetlands, savanna woodland and the sandstone cliffs of the Arnhem Land escarpment.
History
Aboriginal people have lived in Kakadu for tens of thousands of years, and rock shelters at Ubirr and Burrungkuy hold paintings made over many generations, including images of animals long extinct on the mainland such as the thylacine. The Bininj and Mungguy peoples are its Traditional Owners and manage the park jointly with Parks Australia; it was declared in stages from 1979 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both nature and culture.
People
The Bininj in the north and the Mungguy in the south are Kakadu's Traditional Owners, speaking languages such as Kunwinjku, Gundjeihmi and Jawoyn, and they continue to hunt, fish and burn country in traditional ways. Aboriginal rangers and guides share their knowledge of the land, its plants and its stories with visitors.
Known for
- Rock art at Ubirr and Burrungkuy
- Yellow Water wetland cruises
- Saltwater crocodiles
- Jim Jim and Twin Falls
- Birdlife on the floodplains
Did you know?
Kakadu's Traditional Owners recognise six seasons in the year rather than four, from Gudjewg, the monsoon, to Gunumeleng, the hot and humid build-up before the rains.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.