Mary
River Region in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Australia
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Where Is Mary River
Region
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The Mary River area of
Kakadu represents just one sector of the much larger
Mary River Wetland National Park. Mary River Wetland
National Park is a 130+km stretch National Park bordering
along the Arnhem Highway and being the gateway to Kakadu
National Park.
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How Get To Mary River
Region
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Mary River Wetland National
Park is located approximately 150km east of Darwin along
the Arnhem Highway. Some areas are accessible to all
vehicles, however several areas within the Park are
4WD only. During the wet season (October to April) flooding
may cause road closures. The Arnhem Highway is sealed
and begins 34kms south of Darwin. Point Stuart Road
is unsealed and can be rough - check the conditions.
Caravans can access Corroboree and Annaburroo Billabongs
from the Highway. Some areas are currently inaccessible
due to remoteness and lack of access tracks.
Kakadu
National Park an Australian Natural Icon covers almost
20,000 square kms and is 253 kms East of Darwin the
capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia.
Kakadu
National Park is a World Heritage listed, 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 253 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.
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Access To Mary River
Region
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| Turn east off
the Kakadu Highway 2km north of the Mary River Ranger
Stattion. The Mary River area of Kakadu represents just
one sector of the much larger Mary River Wetland National
Park. |
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When To Visit
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| Recommended May to November
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What To See And Do At
Mary River Region
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| Main Attraction:
Scenic tranquil picnic areas can be found in this
area, as well as smaller gorges, waterfalls, creeks and
plunge pools set in monsoonal forest and vine forests. |
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Gunlom Waterfall:
(Goon-lom) (gravel road, check wet season access)
Where: Turn east off the Kakadu Highway 2km north
of the Mary River Ranger Stattion (8km south from the
Bukbukluk turn-off). Travel 26km, turn left at the Gunlom
Y junction and travel a further 11km.
Features: A popular camping area located near
a clear plunge pool and small waterfall. A steep climb
takes you to the top of the waterfall providing great
views over southern Kakadu. 37km from Southern Entry
Ranger Station, Gunlom has the magical combination of
waterfall and serene plunge pool, with shady gums cooling
the picnic areas.
Open: from April to November, entry is free but
camping fees apply.
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Maguk (Mar-gook) Plunge
Pool (gravel road, dry season only, 4WD recommended)
Where: Turn south off the kakadu Highway 42km north
of the Mary River Ranger Station or 92 km south of the
Bowali Visitor Centre. Travel a further 12 km.
Features: A 2km return walk through monsoon forest
leads to a small waterfall and clear plunge pool. Allow
1 to 2 hours. Please note the advice on swimming in
plunge pools on our visitor safety page.
Open: May to November, entry is free.
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| If you have
more time |
Yurmikmik Walks (gravel
road, check wet season access)
Where: Turn east off Kakadu Highway onto the Gunlom
road and travel 21km.
Features: An area of separate but interconnected
walking tracks which is an excellent wet season experience.
The individual walks are: Boulder Creek Walk (2km return);
Yurmikmik Lookout Walk (5km return); Motor Car Falls (7.5km
return) and Kurrundie Creek Walk (11km return). |
Gimbat picnic area
(dry season only, 4WD)
Where: Travel 26km east on the Gunlom Road, turn right
at the Y junction and travel a further 19km.
Features: A shady picnic area situated near Guratba
(Coronation Hill) and the South Alligator River. |
Gungurul (Goong-or-ool)
picnic area
Where: Turn west off the Kakadu Highway 37km north
of the Mary River Ranger Station or 9km south from the
Muguk turn-off.
Features: Picnic tables and basic toilet facilities.
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Bukbukluk Lookout
Where: Turn west off the Kakadu Highway 10km north
of the Mary River Ranger Station or 124km south of the
Bowali Visitor Centre. Travel a further 600m on an unsealed
road.
Features: Picnic tables and a 400m return walk
to a lookout with views over the old Goodparla Station.
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| Where to stay |
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Wirnwirnmila Mary River
Road House (just outside Kakadu National Park) Under
new management, the Wirnwirnmila Mary River Road House
is equipped with motel standard rooms, backpacker accommodation,
powered van sites and camping. The Wirnwirnmila Mary
River Road House is now owned by Jawoyn, the Traditional
Owners of the southern section of the park. Telephone:
Within Australia: (08) 8975 4564 International: +61
8 8975 4564
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| Gunlom Camping Area (gravel
road, check wet season access) Access to showers, toilets
and a generator is available. Camping fees (adults only)
are collected on site. |
| Bush Camping Area (gravel
roads, check wet season access) Free camping with basic
toilet facilities is available at Maguk and Gungurul.
Basic camping facilities (BBQ areas, picnic tables, not
toilets) are located at Kambolgie Campground. Drinking
water is not available. |
| Services |
| The Wirnwirnmila Mary
River Roadhouse provides meals / morning and afternoon
teas, takeaway food, stores and fuel. |
Protect Your Reserve
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- All native plants
and animals in the Reserve are protected.
- Guns and traps are
prohibited.
- Areas of this Reserve
do not allow pets, however exercise areas are set
aside for dogs and horses.
- Signs throughout the
Reserve explain these conditions.
- Please observe these
regulations.
- Take care with fire
- light fires only in the fire places provided.
- Please dispose of
litter properly.
- Vehicles must remain
on formed roads - off road is only by foot.
- Safety Note: Saltwater
(estuarine) crocodiles occur in billabongs and at
the sea; for your safety do not enter the water. See
the Visitor Safety page for
more information.
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Parks & Wildlife Commission
of the Northern Territory
Head Office - Goyder Centre
25 Chung Wah Tce Palmerston, NT 0830
PO Box 496 Palmerston NT 0831
Ph: +61 (0) 8 8999 5511 |
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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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Adds
by Australia 4 Wheel Drive Rentals
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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:
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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.
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Goholi Pty Ltd
Postal: GPO Box 380, Darwin, NT 0801
Email: goholi@bigpond.com
www.kakadunationalaprkaustralia.com
has affliation with the following links
• http://www.australia4tours.com
• http://www.kakadu-tours.com
• http://www.australia4wheeldriverentals.com
• http://www.australia4wdrentals.com
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 www.kakadunationalparkaustralia.com
is part of the specialist for selfdrive leisure vehicle
rentals and tour specialist including camping and accommodated
one day or extended tours and safaris from the group of
Goholi groop being an experienced respected licensed Travel
Agent in Darwin, Northern Terriotry Australia (Tel +61
8 89453338). Why come to us - Let us try to get you a
discount off the recommended rates with professional and
experienced service. www.kakadunationalparkaustralia.com
is an 'Affiliate'
of the Australia 4 Wheel Drive Rentals group of sites.
A licensed Australian Travel Agent based in Northern Territory
Australia. |
| Australian
Tour Information - Mission Statement
Please note some of these
links are supplied only as a link for information our
company has no affliation some of these links. Important;
This site is for the beneift of those researching for
their next vacation to Kakadu National Park in Northern
Territory Australia also know as the 'Top End'.
Australian Kakadu National
Park travel guide and information is not the offical
site - the offical government site is http://www.kakadu.com.au.
This search site offering links to Kakadu, Litchfield,
Uluru, Darwin and Northern Territory accommodations,
tours, safaris, activities, nature parks, nature reserves
and adventure activities.
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