Where is Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is the gateway to Arnhemland. The sealed roads from Darwin to Kakadu is via the Arnhem Highway and from Katherine to Kakadu National Park via the Kakadu Highway. The Bowali Visitor Centre near Jabiru in Kakadu National Park is located 257 km from Darwin in Northern Territory Australia via the Arnhem Highway entrance. If travelling by road, you should allow 3 hours travelling time from Darwin.

Kakadu is the second largest national park in the world and and is home to approximate number of species: Mammals: 62, Reptiles: 123+, Birds: 280, Freshwater Fish: 51, Insects: 10,000, Frogs: 25, Plants: 1,275. (many are rare and occur only in Kakadu)

The Aboriginal traditional owners to Kakadu National Park

The area boasts the longest continuous surviving human culture in the world. Aborigines have been living in this region for at least 40,000 years. The descendants of these First Australians still live in Kakadu today.

Roads to Kakadu National Park

Road conditions in the Park vary according to the tweo seasons being the Green 'Wet' season or Dry season. Widespread Green 'Wet' season flooding occured historically and frequently during November to April there nowdays the seasons have changed signifciantly. Therefore you should check the road conditions well before your departure . Up-to-the-moment road reports can be obtained from the Bowali Visitor Centre (Telephone +61 (0) 8 8938 1120). The Arnhem and Kakadu Highways are sealed and generally remain open throughout the year. Green 'Wet' season flooding associated with any prolonged heavy rains may have various locational temporary closures.

We we here also provides helpful tips on Kakadu National Park and what to see and activities available, visitor safety, park camping and accommodation facilities, emergency contacts and useful Kakadu Parks information.

If time allows, we advise you stay in the park for a few days so that the major sites can be explored at your leisure. Kakadu National Park can be visited selfdrive a 2 wheel drive vehicle though access is limited to the Kakadu Highway and the Arnhem Highway. Ubirr, Yellow Waters, Jabiru and Nourlangie Rock being main the extent of where you can visit a 2 wheel drive vehicle. Currently about 200,000+ folks visit Kakadu National Park each year. Visitor numbers are higher during the dry season months of June to September (approx. 33,000 people visit each July) and lower during the wet season months (approx. 7,000 people visit each January).

Select one of the following regions to access maps and information on the area:

About the World Heritage Kakadu National Park

This World Heritage listed National Park is quiet spectacular, being extremely diverse and encompassing a vast amount of land with a huge variety of scenery, wildlife, plant life and Aboriginal Artsites to see and experience. Depending on the season you may see crocodiles, goannas, wallabies, dingos and many species species of birds that inhabit or migrate to Kakadu National Park each year.

The flora is sensational and will often change dramatically from the tropical summer season December to April then to the dry season in May to November.

Along the Arnhem Highway to Kakadu National Park you can pull over at the Bark Hutt Inn and aquaint yourself with true outback favour of this bush pub and tourist spot. Then you can stop by the numerous towering cathedral termite mounds that abound along the road.

You can drive yourself in a self-drive 2WD car, 4WD Camper, 4 Wheel Drive Car or even a RV Motorhome rental. There is a scheduled Kakadu tour to suit every budget and need. if not then create your own personalized private tour.

Kakadu camping or accommodated tours such as a 4WD adventure safari is an excellent choice to get the best of kakadu in short time such as a 3 day tour. A tour really lets you experience what Kakadu National Park has to offer if you enjoy adventure. Tours have been developed over the years to offer you excellent value and take the worry of you when organsing what to see and do in kakadu. In other words let the expects help you.

There are a number of campgrounds in and just out of 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. Other major park camping areas suitable for more sizable groups are Merl, Muirella Park, Mardugal and Gunlom. These camping areas all have solar heated showers, toilets and washing tub facilities.Camping areas are divided into 'generator' and 'non-generator' zones. Specific camping grounds in the park allocate areas of their park exclusively for camping tour operators.

Free bush camping areas are located throughout the park. Facilities at these sites are basic or non existent. Some have what is called minimal camping facilities.

Camping Tours and Safaris to Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory Australia

There are numerous tour companies offering Camping Tours and Safaris to Kakadu National Park from Darwin in the Northern Territory that depart daily or have scheduled tours and private tours. Camping tours are often called Camping Safaris or Camping Tours often indicating the same type of tour components.

Scheduled Tours - are tours that leave on a daily, or nomiinated days of the week or weekly scheduled departure. All tours require a minimum number of passengers to commence and in peak season this never seems to be a concern. They are all guided with a tour driver who is also the guide and cook. Group particpation is part of the fun and getting to know the other travellers in your tour.

Guided Tours - Camping tours from Darwin have accredited guides as the Northern Territory Parks authority is very strigent on guides. Northern territory has a high calibre of guides who have excellent local knowledge of cultural significance, history, flora and fauna. Usually you fing a guide may have a hobby and be a local expert in a particular field like flora, bush medicine plants, birds, retiles or Aboriginal Culture which makes the tour that little bit more interesting.

Scheduled Tours with Semi Permanent Tents and Camps - Tours can range from one day to a week and can be camping and sleeping in budget twin or quad share permanent or semi permanant tents. Semi permanent tents are usually smaller 2 to 3 person dome tents you have to help erect your self. There generally is permanent cooking facilities and purpose-built fire pits, screened eating areas, share showers and toilets.

Scheduled Tours with Safari in Style Camping Tents - Then you also have the local class of 'Safari in Style' tents which are tents usually with a metal frame bed and fan and very roomy. There generally is permanent cooking facilities and purpose-built fire pits, screened eating areas, share showers and toilets.

Scheduled Tours with Swags and Bushcamping - Then there are those tours that prefer to sleep under the stars in swags (Aussie bedroll), this is called generally Bush Camping - no facilities other than those that are carried on the vehicle. Toilet stops are always on the agenda of course. Some camps have share showers and toilets.

Scheduled Backpacker Tours - One tends to see this word 'Backpacker' used very sparingly lately in the tour industry. To me a backpacker tour is nowdays a budget minded camping or accommodated tour a fun component included in the itinerary. These tours historically have targeted the ages of 18-35's though nodays it's creeping up to early 40's and as long as your fit and agile with a happy outlook your welcomed with most 'Backpacker Tours'. There is the odd tour operator who recommends the age guidleine to 18-35 and these are easy to see looking for a tour.

Private Tours also known as Customized Tours, Personalised Safari, Personalized Tours, Chartered Tours and Exclusive Tours, - If you have specific points of interest the tour operator and even the guides on route can personally create a Tour to suit your individual requirements.

Hosted and Guided Tours - Usually part of a scheduled guided tour that also has the driver and a second person being the host/guide as well.

2WD Coster Buses, 2WD Coach Touring Vehicles used by Tour operators to Kakadu National Park

There are 2WD Coaster Bus tours which carry up to 16-22 passengers. Then there are also the larger 38-45 seat coaches with and without onboard cassette toilets.

4WD - 4 Wheeel Drive Drive Touring Vehicles to Kakadu National Park

There are the different 3 main types of 4WD (4 Wheel Drive) tours. The first which carry 9 Passengers in a Troopcarrier (3 in the front and 8 in the back on 2 bench seats that are side facing each other).

The second is the larger front facing seated 4WD such as the Oka's, Canters, Mitsubishi or Isuzu - 16, 17 or 20 seats front facing air-conditioned vehicle. These tend to have spacious cabs with ample legroom and forward facing seats for increased comfort and a better view for greater appreciation of the scenery.

The third is the luxury Prado or Landcruiser being 5 or 8 front facing seat vehicles.

Accommodated Cabin or Hotel Tours to Kakadu National Park

Accommodated at Jabiru and Cooinda in Kakadu National Park

Accommodation in and just out of Kakadu National Park offers a range of accommodation types, from three-star hotels to camping areas with no facilities.

Commercial hotel or motel-style accommodation in or near Kakadu National Park

Commercial hotel or motel-style accommodation in or near Kakadu National Park - is available at the Kakadu Resort (South Alligator), Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn (Jabiru) and Gagudju Lodge Cooinda.

Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn - Located in the Jabiru Area of Kakadu, the Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn is a is a 3 ½ star property built in the shape of a crocodile.

Gagudju Lodge Cooinda - Located in the Yellow Water Area of Kakadu, the Gagudju Cooinda Lodge is a is a 2 ½ star property situated on the Yellow Waters Billabong.

Kakadu Resort (South Alligator) - Aurora Kakadu - in the Kakadu Wetlands - Located in the South Alligator Area of Kakadu, the Aurora Kakadu is a 3 ½ star property, offering 138 units which include private patios or balconies, air conditioning, colour television, refrigerator and tea and coffee making facilities.

Budget accommodation in or near Kakadu National Park

Budget accommodation in or near Kakadu National Park - is available at the Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park (Jabiru) and the Gagudju Lodge Cooinda - affiliated with the Youth Hotel Association (YHA).

Lakeview Park Kakadu - Located in the Jabiru Area of Kakadu, the Lakeview Park Kakadu offers unique accommodation designed by award winning Troppo Architects for the climate and experience of Kakadu. Lakeview Park Kakadu is ideal for families and groups as well as business people and backpackers.

Kakadu Lodge - Also located in the Jabiru Area of Kakadu, Kakadu Lodge is situated on the fringe of the Jabiru township and is central to many of the attractions of the Park.

Gagudju Lodge Cooinda - Located in the Yellow Water Area of Kakadu, the Gagudju Cooinda Lodge is a is a 2 ½ star property situated on the Yellow Waters Billabong.

Selfdrive 4WD, Camper, Motorhome, RV hire and rentals through Kakadu National Park

Darwin with an population of 120,000 is approximately 4050km from Sydney, 3500km from Brisbane, 3200km from Adelaide, 4500km from Perth and 1482km from Alice Springs. Due to such long driving distances, it is sometimes not practical for international visitors to drive to Darwin from other state capital cities with time permitting. The drive between Darwin and Alice Springs does however contain a number of interesting and unique sights for visitors to enjoy. As a result, many international visitors hire or rent recreational '4WD' 4 Wheel Drives, Campers, RV's, Motor Homes and Camper Vans to explore the Northern Territory of the Top End and Central Australia. When touring the Northern Territory, visit Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park a living cultural landscape, located approximately 443 km south west of Alice Springs (1452 klm from Darwin) by road.

The 4 Wheel Drive recognised tracks with camp sites are: 4 Mile Hole, 2 Mile Hole, Bucket Billabong, Alligator Billabong Sandy Billabong, Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls, Red Lily Billabong, Maguk (Barramundi Gorge), Koolpin Gorge and Graveside Gorge (Graveside Gorge 4 Wheel Drive recognised track requires additional permit, bookings are required, with experienced 4WD only)

What to do, what see, what to experience in Kakadu National Park

Essential experiences to consider are taking a cruise on the tranquil waters of the yellow Water Billabong to view the overwhelming prolific birdlife. Then witness a spectacular sunset over the Arnhemland Escarpment 'say' from Ubirr. A must is to view the Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie Rock. The see kakadu from the air with a scenic flight, especially in the 'Green Season' and the tremendous volumes of water coming off the waterfalls on the Arnhemland Escarpement. Take one or more of the treks and hikes tracks throughout kakadu national park (make sure you tick off all the requirements first). Above all educate yourself properly on the culture of the parks people, flora and fauna by visiting both the Bowali Centre in Jabiru and the Warradjen Cultural Centre in Cooinda.

Opening hours of Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is open 365 days per year. Given the large size of Kakadu there are a number of key attractions that have different operating hours these are:

* Bowali Visitor Centre - is open from 8am to 5pm.
* Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre - is open from 9am to 5pm.
* Ubirr Rock - is open from 8:30am until sunset from 1 April until 30 November
* Ubirr Rock - is also open from 2pm until sunset from 1 December until 31 March.
* Nourlangie Rock - is open from dawn until dusk.

All of the attractions are open every day of the year and all times are Central Standard Time. These are based on the season 2006/7.

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.

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