Camping in Kakadu National Park

Commercially operated camping areas with power sites are available at the Kakadu Resort, Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park and the Gagudju Lodge Cooinda.

Major park camping areas suitable for large groups are Merl, Muirella Park, Mardugal and Gunlom. These camping areas all have solar heated showers, toilets and washing tub facilities. Ablution blocks have wheel chair access and railing in at least one toilet and shower alcove. At present, camping fees of $5.40 (GST inclusive) per adult per night are payable on site to the manager of the camping area or at the Bowali Visitor Centre. Camping areas are divided into 'generator' and 'non-generator' zones.

Free bush camping areas are located throughout the park. Facilities at these sites are basic or non existent.

Map-Kakadu-Jabiru

Remember camping outside a designated camping area requires a permit. Contact the Permits Officer on +61 (0) 8 8938 1140 for more information.

Kakadu Campgrounds - Minimal Camping Facilities - Northern Territory

Free bush camping areas
There are also several free camping areas in the park, which have limited or no facilities. Drinking water is usually not available at these sites, so please bring your own.

Bookings
There is no booking system for campsites. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. It is advisable to contact the Bowali Visitor Centre to check on vacancies before driving to a campsite area.

Large group camp sites
Large groups can camp at Merl, Muirella Park, Mardugal and Gunlom campgrounds.

Please remember
• Be considerate of other Park users
• Keep all equipment within the confines of your campsite and away from vegetation
• Set up tents at least 50m from water's edge when camping near water bodies
• If possible, please use gas appliances rather than fires for cooking
• Only light fires in the fireplaces provided
• Only collect wood from woodbins
• Do not feed the wildlife
• Please do not disturb the trees in the area, particularly young and small trees which will provide shade in the future
• Take your rubbish with you when you leave and place in bins located throughout the park
• Obey safety signs in the park.

Couzen’s Lookout Camping Area - Mary River Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities

Couzen’s Lookout Camping Area - offers secluded camping beside the Mary River. It is only a short walk to the lookout where the sunsets are stunning.
URL: Couzen’s Lookout Camping Area - http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/pdf/maryriver.pdf

Hardies 4WD Track - is accessible from the Arnhem Highway, about 5km west of the Mary River or from Rockhole road. A separate information sheet is available. Hardies 4wd track and Wildman 4wd track These tracks travel along the edge of the wetlands, between paperbark swamps and tall open forests. Highlights include majestic fig trees, the Mary River floodplain, billabongs and historical features. These areas provide home to the water buffalo, wild pigs, Brahman cattle, brumbies and an array of other wildlife. The Hardies track runs between the Rockhole Road and the Arnhem Hwy and passes Bird Billabong which has an abundance of bird and other wildlife. A bird hide is accessed by a 2.8km return walk and offers great photographic opportunities. Allow approximately 2 to 3 hours for this drive. Routes are open as conditions permit in the dry season. (May to October).
URL: Hardies 4WD Track - http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/pdf/maryriver.pdf

Gunlom Camping Area - Mary River Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - Showers, toilets and generator zone. Gunlom plunge pool is just nearby.

Mary River Area: Gunlom Camping Area: (gravel road; check wet season access)

Jabiru Area Bush Camping - Jabiru Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - Free camping again with basic toilet facilities at Burdulba and Malabanjbanjdju.

Jabiru Area Bush Camping : Check Access in the Wet Season

Jabiru area

Large Camping Facilities
• Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park tent sites
This commercial tent site has BBQ's, toilets and shower facilities, and there is drinking water available.

Bush Camping Facilities
• Malabanjbanjdju campground (check wet season access)
This free bush camping area has basic toilet facilities. Drinking water is not available, please bring your own. Burdulbe campground (check wet season access) This free bush camping area has basic toilet facilities. Drinking water is not available, please bring your own.

Jim Jim Creek - Jim Jim Falls Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - Free camping with basic toilet facilities are available at Jim Jim Creek. (There are no services here)

Jim Jim Falls Area: (dry season only, 4WD)
Bush Camping Area (dry season only, 4WD)

Mary River area

Large Camping Facilities
• Gunlom campground (check wet season access)
This campground has shower, toilet and generator facilities, and there is drinking water available.
• Wirnwirnmila Mary River Road House camp sites
This commercial camp site has BBQ's, toilets and shower facilities, and there is drinking water available.

Bush Camping Facilities
• Maguk campground (check wet season access)
This free bush camping area has basic toilet facilities. Drinking water is not available, please bring your own.
• Gungurul campground (check wet season access)
This free bush camping area has basic toilet facilities. Drinking water is not available, please bring your own.
• Kambolgie campground (check wet season access)
This free bush camping area has BBQ's and picnic tables, but no toilet facilities. Drinking water is not available, please bring your own.

Garnamarr Campground - Jim Jim Falls Area in Kakadu

The Garnamarr Campground (dry season only, 4WD) caters for about 200 people and is located beside the Jim Jim Falls access road about 50km from the Kakadu Highway. Caravans are not recommended and trailers must be left at a designated area near the campground and must not be taken to the falls. Showers, toilets and drinking water are available.

Camping fees A campground manager will collect the camping fee of $5.40 per adult per night (over 16 years of age). Please have correct change as eftpos facilities are not available.

There is no booking system for the campsite. Places are allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis. It is advisable to contact the Bowali Visitor Centre (Bowali Visitor Centre is open 8am to 5pm each day and can be contacted on +61 (0) 8 8938 1121) to check on vacancies before driving there. Communal concrete fire rings are provided at the campground. Firewood must be collected on the way to the campground, not within the immediate area of the campground. Parks Australia and traditional owners encourage minimal use of firewood and the use of gas stoves as an alternative energy source for cooking.

The old camping area was converted into a day use area, providing picnic tables and basic toilet facilities. This area is also the starting point for the Budjmi Lookout walk. Please do not enter the areas that are being revegetated. A gate has been erected on the falls side of the Garnamarr Campground which is locked from 8.30pm to 6.30 am for the safety of visitors. We ask that you ensure that you leave the falls area in time to be at Garnamarr before the gates are locked at 8.30 pm. Rangers present regular free slide shows and talks at the campground. Please check your 'What's On' guide for details.

Kambolgie Campground - Mary River Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - Free camping again with basic toilet facilities available at Muguk and Gungurul. Basic Camping facilities (No toilets) at Kambolgie Campground.

Mary River Area: Bush Camping Area: (gravels road; check wet season access)

Mardugal - Yellow Water Camping Area - Yellow Waters in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - Showers, toilets and generator zone. Camp Fees may be around $7 per adult. In the dry pay on site, in the wet pay at the Bowali Visistor Centre.

Yellow Water Area: Mardugal Camping Area (check wet season access)

Gagudju Cooinda Lodge tent sites - Yellow Water Camping Area - Yellow Waters in Kakadu

Gagudju Cooinda Lodge tent sites
• This commercial tent site has BBQ's, toilets and shower facilities, and there is drinking water available.

Giyamungkurr (Black Jungle Spring) campground (check wet season access)
• This free bush camping area has no toilet facilities. Drinking water is not available, please bring your own

Merl Camping Area - East Alligator River Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - Showers, toilets and generator zone. Camping fees were approx $7 per adult per night.

East Alligator Area: Merl Camping Area : Check Access in the Wet Season

Nourlangie Camping Area - Nourlangie Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - A free camping area with no toilet facilities.

Nourlangie Area: Bush Camping Area: (dry season only, 4wd recommended)

South Alligator Camping Area - South Alligator Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - Free Camping is available (with basic or no toilet facilities) at Two Mile Hole, Four Mile Hole, West Alligator Head (Waldak Irrmbal), Red Lily Billabong and Alligator Billabong.

South AlligatorArea - Bush Camping Areas South Alligator Area: Check Access in the Wet Season.

Drinking water is not available at these sites.

South Alligator area Bush Camping Facilities
• Two Mile Hole (check wet season access) This free bush camping area has no toilet facilities. Drinking water is not available, please bring your own.
• Four Mile Hole (check wet season access) This free bush camping area has no toilet facilities. Drinking water is not available, please bring your own.

Yellow Waters Camping Area - Yellow Waters Area in Kakadu

Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - Free camping with basic or no toilet facilities ( At jim Jim Billabong and Black jungle Springs)

Yellow Water Area: Bush Camping Area (check wet season access)

Muriella Camping Area - Nourlangie Area in Kakadu
• Muirella Park campground (check wet season access)
• Camping Facilities: Minimal Camping Facilities - has shower, toilet and generator facilities zone, and drinking water is available.
• Camp Fees may be around $7 per adult. In the dry pay on site, in the wet pay at the Bowali Visistor Centre. Nourlangie Area: Muriella Camping Area (check wet season access)

South Alligator area Bush Camping Facilities

Two Mile Hole (check wet season access)
This free bush camping area has no toilet facilities.
Drinking water is not available, please bring your own.

Four Mile Hole (check wet season access)
This free bush camping area has no toilet facilities.
Drinking water is not available, please bring your own.

The information provided on this website is intended as a GUIDE only, will change at any time without notice, and should be checked by your own independent inquiry with the relevant businesses before being relied upon.

Kakadu National Park - Seasons

But Australia's Kakadu sees seasons of varied extremes -- so varied, in fact, that the park's longtime aboriginal inhabitants have divided the year into six distinct seasons.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gunumeleng Pre-Monsoon Storm Season - Gunumeleng, from mid-October to late December, may in fact last from a few weeks to several months.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gudjewg - Monsoon Season - Gudjewg, from January to March, can be described as the 'true' wet season.
• Kakadu Seasons - Banggereng - Knock 'em down storm Season - Banggerreng, in April, is the season when the rain clouds have dispersed and clear skies prevail.
• Kakadu Seasons - Yegge - Cooler but still humid Season - Yegge, from May to mid-June, is relatively cool with low humidity.
• Kakadu Seasons - Wurrgeng - Cold Weather Season - Wurrgeng, from mid-June to mid-August, is the 'cold weather' time; humidity is low, daytime temperatures are around 30°C and night-time temperatures are around 17°C.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gurrung - Hot Dry Weather - Gurrung, from mid-August to mid-October, is hot and dry.