Kakadu accommodation - Kakadu tours - Transport to Kakadu - Crocodiles in Kakadu - Photos - Map

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu is located about 200km. east of Darwin, it is a spectacular Aboriginal owned World Heritage Listed National Park, covering over 1.3 million hectares with a very varied landscape that includes swamps, wetlands with rich birdlife, Aboriginal rock paintings, rivers and billabongs with crocodiles, a uranium mine, spectacular gorges and waterfalls, campgrounds and resorts, patches of monsoonal rainforest and savannah.
To the east of Kakadu an escarpment dramatically rises high above the plains and behind this lies Arnhem Land, a huge Aboriginal reserve that you can only enter with permits from the Northern Land Council or on a guided tour. Click to enlarge some of the images below to appreciate the vastness of the plains and the feeling of wilderness...

The origins of the name Kakadu are not real clear, it is thought that anthropologist and biologist Sir Baldwin Spencer called the local Aborigines Kakadu when he visited the area in 1912, others think it is just a word with no real meaning. There are many Aboriginal art sites around Kakadu, with some of the paintings dating back more than 6000 years, some are open to the public and others are closed or kept secret. Some of the more popular art sites include Ubirr in the northern part of the park that has some great rock art, and Nourlangie in the southern part. While Europeans have only four seasons, the local Aborigines have six seasons;
January - March: Gudjuek (wet season), big thunderstorms, lots of rain and high humidity.
April: Banggereng (storm season), violent storms and rains knock down the long-grass.
May - June: Yekke (mist), water levels are still up, but most terrain is accessible.
July - August: Wurrgeng and Gurrung (dry season), wildlife and birds are increasing in numbers.
September - October: Gunumeleng (build up season), humidity goes up , temperature goes up and the mosquitoes increase in numbers.
November - December: thunderstorms with lightning start and continue into the wet season, the Territory is famous for its lightning, photographers travel from far and wide to capture this phenomena.

The park has a choice of walking tracks varying from 1 to 12km to explore the area, and several campsites.
Kakadu is popular with bird watchers, the wetlands attract thousands of birds, some species that you may spot here are brolgas, bustards, cockatoos, kites, cormorants, darters, ducks, eagles, egrets, herons, ibis, jabirus, kingfishers, magpie geese and pelicans. Some birdwatchers prefer the end of the dry season to visit as birds then congregate around the last remaning waterholes and are easier to spot. As many as 100 000 magpie geese can flock together on the South Alligator River. Another popular place with bird watchers is the Mamakala Observation Point, a bird hide along the Arnhem Highway on the way to the park built on the edge of a lake where thousands of birds tend to concentrate.

Besides birds and crocodiles there are also some less welcome animals that inhabit the park; waterbuffaloes, feral pigs, horses and donkeys run wild and damage delicate wetland ecosystems, and recently the cane toads have started arriving too. The cane toad is basically a poisonous frog introduced from South America, and is Australia's biggest blunder of all times. In the 1933 scientists, paid by the Australian government, went overseas to collect canetoads and set about thirty of them free in North Queensland. The idea was that they would eat the beetles that were causing economic damage eating the sugarcane but unfortunately the cane toads never touched the beetles but helped themselves to everything else they could find. Wildlife smaller than them they will kill and eat, wildlife bigger than them will eat them and die from the poison they have in glands on their back. The thirty toads that were introduced initially have now multiplied into the countless millions and are spreading across Australia and have recently arrived in Kakadu where it is expected they will devastate the place as there are vast floodplains which are the perfect breeding ground for them.

Uranium was discovered in 1969 in Kakadu, and has been mined since 1981 in two places at the Ranger and the Jabiluka Uranium Mines. 6 million tonnes per year is dug out of a big open pit that produces 3000 tonnes of uranium oxide per year. This has caused much controversy over the years, and UNESCO has paid a visit to assess the situation as they considered removing Kakadu from the World Heritage Listing. The Aboriginal owners of the land are being paid royalties by the mining company through the Northern Land Council, and strict environmental controls are in place to monitor the quality of water being released by the processing plant. The mining company ERA runs regular free one hour long tours of the mine and the mill which you can book on (08) 8979 2411 .

Jabiru is a small town in the middle of Kakadu, the majority of the population are the uranium mine workers, and you will find shops and more facilities than in most towns that are this remote, including a hotel in the shape of a crocodile. When this hotel was announced in the 1980s all the locals thought is was an April Foolsday joke.

Weather wise the most pleasant time to visit Kakadu is between April and September. If you come early in the dry season the waterfalls will still be running. During the dry season you may see bushfires, hese are usually controlled burnoffs. Aborigines have been managing the landscape for thousands of years by lighting fires, this way the long grass is burned every year in relatively low-heat fires and will not build up in to a mass of fuel that would kill the trees, animals will flee from the fire and can be easily caught, and green grass will grow after the fire, attracting more animals that can be hunted. Many species of trees have become so used to the fire that their seeds will not germinate unless they have been through a fire, so now the landscape has to be burned every year. Australia must be one of the few countries around the world where National Parks actually sets their own parks on fire!

	Nourlangie Rock is located south of Jabiru and there are over 100 sacred sites with Aboriginal rock art in this area but not all are open to the public, some of the paintings include thylacines, or Tasmanian tigers, which once lived all over Australia, but by the time Europeans arrived only in Tasmania, where the last one died in Hoabrt Zoo in 1936.
	Yellow Waters billabong is one of the most popular areas within the park, being easy to access by vehicle and offering boat cruises to spot the abundant wildlife and crocodiles. The Cooinda Motel is here for those that decide to stay overnight.

Getting to Kakadu

Unless you drive up to the Northern Territory you will have to fly to the nearest airport Darwin first, and then rent a car or book on a tour.

If you are already in Australia then go to our page Cheap Domestic Flights in Australia for a good choice in cheap domestic airfares to Darwin.

If you are still in your home country then you will need to get an international flight to Darwin.

Most airlines fly to the big cities in the south of Australia but Qantas flies straight to Darwin, you can go to their website and look for the cheapest flights to Darwin, or visit our Cheap Flights to Australia page for an overview of what is available in budget airfares to Darwin.

ZUJI is an online travel agent with offices throughout the Asia Pacific region, offering you a choice of more than 400 airlines and 60,000 hotels, as well as car hire and travel insurance.

Feel more comfortable to book your airfares to Darwin online with a travel business from your own country that you know and trust?

Then choose your home country here:

Car hire for Kakadu

Rent a car to get to Kakadu! Kakadu is about a 200km. drive east of Darwin, and with your own car you will be able to visit several other attractions on the way such as Berry Springs, Fogg Dam and the Jumping Crocodiles on the Adelaide River.

There is a wide choice of car rental companies where you can book your car or campervan online to be assured of a car on your arrival in kakadu or at Darwin airport, and most offer one way rentals between major cities. Nothing beats the freedom of having your own car to explore and stop when and where you want.

 

 

 

Budget Car Hire needs little introduction, the name says it all: car hire at Budget Prices with a car hire company with an international reputation, and this sites makes it even easier to find yourself a cheap hire car, or anything else with wheels: trucks,buses, campervans, utes, four wheel drives etc.

 

Thrifty Car Rental is another international car hire business with a reputation for cheap rental cars.

 

See Kakadu and the N.T. in a campervan

Kakadu is the perfect place to go with a camper van! Wide open roads, countless beautiful spots to pull over and camp, the freedom to go where and when you want.
Nothing beats finding your own camping spot in the wild, having a cold beer admiring a wildly coloured outback sunset and a dinner cooked on the campfire under the magnificent starry skies.

 

Exploring Australia is a breeze with Cheapa Campa. With a full range of rental campers & motorhomes at fantastic prices Cheapa Campa allows you to travel in comfort on any budget.

Budget Backpacker Campervan & Motorhome Rentals. Hippie Camper is an Australian family owned and run company specialising in low cost campervan rentals for the budget conscious traveller. We started in 2006 and currently have four branches on the east coast of Australia from Cairns to Melbourne.

 

 

See our page Campervan hire in Australia for more useful info and links on renting a camper or RV in Australia

 

Flights to Adelaide:

 

 

Relax and let someone else do the driving!

See the whole range of Kakadu tours here...

Kakadu in a (long) day Kakadu National Park © Australian Pacific Touring Depart Darwin early this morning and enter the 20,000 square kilometer expanse of Kakadu National Park, home to more than one-third of the Top End's plant life and the temporary or permanent home to one-third of all Australian bird species. On arrival at Jabiru airport, (if you select this tour option), you will step aboard your small plane for a breathtaking scenic flight over the Arnhem Land escarpment. The aerial perspective gives you a greater appreciation of the size and geographic diversity of the park, from the sheer sandstone escarpment to the floodplains and their lush surrounds. Back on terra firma, join a cruise on Kakadu's most famous wetland area, Yellow Water billabong, keeping a look out for crocodiles and a variety of birdlife. Following a buffet lunch, view ancient rock art at Nourlangie Rock. Return to Darwin late afternoon, stopping en route at Windows on the Wetlands for a glass of wine as you watch the sun set over the flood plains. More info....

 

3 Day Kakadu and Arnhem Land Safari This up-market camping safari combines some of the best of Kakadu National Park with the special experience of traveling in Aboriginal Arnhem Land. The highlights of the trip include pristine World Heritage wetlands, wilderness teeming with wildlife and unparalleled Rock Art away from the more popular sites. Travel in comfortable 4WD vehicles, dine on superb fresh food by candlelight, complemented by good Australian wine, either under the stars or in the rustic restaurant of Davidson's exclusive safari camp near Mount Borradaile in Arnhem Land. More info.... Arnhem Land Aboriginal Rock Art © Discovery Ecotours

 

4WD Kakadu Experience Twin Falls © NT Tourism Commission Camp out in the World Heritage wilderness that is Kakadu National Park. Spend three days exploring this amazing landscape. Spot abundant birdlife and crocodiles in the wild. View ancient Aboriginal rock art from thousands of years ago. Swim in the crystal clear waters of Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls. This is a 4WD adventure of a lifetime… More info....

 

Ubirr, Guluyambi Cruise and Arnhem Land Kakadu Wetland © Australian Pacific Touring This two day independent coach tour lets you experience some of the highlights of Kakadu National Park. Travel by luxury coach from Darwin to Kakadu and overnight in Australia's largest national park, before returning to Darwin. Visit Ubirr Rock, cruise the East Alligator River and take a 4WD adventure tour into Aboriginal Arnhem Land. More info....

 

Yellow Waters, Art Sites, Arnhem Land Yellow Waters Billabong © Australian Pacific Touring This two day independent coach tour lets you experience some of the highlights of Kakadu National Park. Travel by luxury coach from Darwin to Kakadu and overnight in Australia's largest national park, before returning to Darwin. View the ancient rock art at Nourlangie Rock, cruise the Yellow Waters and take a 4WD adventure tour into Aboriginal Arnhem Land. More info....

 

Combine Kakadu and Katherine Gorge Katherine Gorge © NT Tourism Commission Welcome to the 'Top End'. This three day tour visits both the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park and cruises the waters of the famous Katherine Gorge. Spot crocodiles and other wildlife, see classic examples of ancient Aboriginal rock art and swim in crystal clear waterholes underneath cascading waterfalls. An amazing Top End experience… More info....

 

Accommodation in Kakadu

Standbyrates.com.au is a great place to shop for some last minute discounts,
find luxury accommodation for the price of budget accommodation !

Aurora Kakadu Aurora Kakadu is located in the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park, in an area called South Alligator. Fly into Darwin, and then by bus or car to Kakadu. Rooms are medium sized and clean, and there is the Munmalary Bar and Westlands Restaurant, serving Australian cuisine. More info and reservations....

 

Kakadu Lodge Kakadu Lodge in Jabiru is located in the World Heritage listed National Park - Kakadu, 257 km from Darwin. Great place to learn about Aboriginal history, with day trips, Mangarre Nature Trail, Jim Jim falls, Twin falls, fishing at the Yellow waters billabong and Dreamtime stories at Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock art sites. Walking distance to the bank, Post office and local shops. Rooms are basic but have air conditioning and private facilities (shower). Tea or coffee facilities and fridge. There is a bistro and outdoor BBQ. Good base for exploring the area, budget property. More info and reservations....

 

Camping in Kakadu

There are quite a few camping sites within the National Park including Malabanbandju, Mardukal and the Jim Jim Billabong Camping Areas. The Ranger Headquarters have all the details, brochures and maps.

Crocodiles in Kakadu

Be aware of crocodiles in Kakadu, they have perfected their hunting techniques for millions of years and can swim under water at 30 km/h withhout a ripple on the surface and then burst out and on a short distance can outrun a horse. If a prey puts up too much resistance they will do the "death roll" to get it off its feet. They even jump out of the water to catch low flying birds and, on the "jumping crocodile tours" they raise themselves out of the water and "stand" on their tail for a few seconds to grab a piece of meat. Many crocodiles are large enough to catch and kill animals as big as cows, horses and water buffaloes, females can grow up to 4 meters in length, males can reach 7 meters in length and weigh over 1,000kg. On average one person a year in Australia is killed, usually by ignoring some of the common sense safety rules. Click here for more info about crocodiles or here for more about crocodile attacks in Australia , including some in Kakadu. Below you can observe the difference between salties and freshies, the freshies are OK to swim with, the salties are not.

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus)., Kakadu NP, Australia
Buy this Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus Johnstoni), Kakadu NP, Australia
Buy this Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

Kakadu accommodation - Kakadu tours - Transport to Kakadu - Crocodiles in Kakadu - Photos - Map

 

 

 

Use of this website constitutes acceptance of the User Agreement for this website
Contact us | Advertise on this site | | Link to this site |Add your photos or stories of Australia to this site
Webmasters | Affiliates | Cheap domain names | Cheap web hosting | Cheap Australian domain names and hosting

© Amazingaustralia.com.au - your one stop shop for cheap flights accommodation car hire and tours in Australia !