Things to do - Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory is one of Australia's most remarkable natural landscapes. Covering 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed for its incredible natural and cultural value. The dramatic terrain encompasses beautiful wetlands, rivers and sandstone escarpments full of plant and animal life. Kakadu is a culturally important place for the Indigenous traditional owners, the Bininj and Mungguy peoples (Northern Territory, 2022). Featuring thousands of rock art sites, this landscape is steeped in ancient culture and stories.

Kakadu National Park. Courtesy of Travel Online, 2022.

With a multitude of places you can visit, and tours you can take, it can be difficult to figure out an itinerary. As such, today we will be highlighted some of the top must see attractions when visiting Kakadu national park. 

Take a cruise at Yellow Water Billabong

Yellow Waters, Kakadu National Park. Image by Geoff Whalan, courtesy of Flickr, 2022. 

Yellow Water, known as Ngurrungurrudjba by traditional custodians, is an incredible expansive serious of wetlands located in the centre of the national park. It is a place of biological and cultural importance for the Bininj and Mungguy peoples. Like many areas of Australia, local Aboriginal people have a unique seasonal calendar for Ngurrungurrudjba. This calendar follows specific changes in the weather, plants and animals throughout the year (CSIRO, 2022).

When the waters recede in Wurrkeng (dry season), you can follow a 2.6km return walk across the floodplain to a viewing platform on Home Billabong. During Kudjewk (wet season), the best way to experience this beautiful place is taking a sunrise or sunset cruise. You'll have the opportunity to see an incredible diversity of bird species including jacana, egrets, jabiru, sea eagles, magpie geese and many other Australian bird species. You will also most likely spot saltwater crocodiles cruising among the submerged paperbark forests, pandanus and waterlilies (Northern Territory, 2022).

Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, located close by to Yellow Water, is a great place to learn more about the Indigenous culture of the area. The centre displays artefacts and stories that traditional owners wish to share. Through videos and workshops they cover various topics including personal stories and knowledge about Bush Tucker (Visit Kakadu, 2022). You can learn about Warradjan here.

Bird watch at Mamukala Wetlands

Magpie Geese at Mamukala Wetlands, Kakadu National Park. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, 2022.

Kakadu is known for its incredible birdlife, and Mamukala Wetlands is one of key places that birds congregate. There is a bird hide shelter, which is perfect for bird watching, and enjoying many of Australia's bird species coming together feed. Mamukala really comes to life during the late dry season from September to October, when thousands of magpie geese gather to feed. The spectacle is an absolute must see for avid bird watchers and photographers. There are various short walks around the wetland that range from 1km to 4km. They take you through the beautiful paperbark trees and pandanus, and remain accessible for most of the year (Northern Territory, 2022). 

Experience Ubirr rock art sites through a guided tour

Ubirr rock art site. Image by Geoff Whalan, courtesy of Flickr, 2022.

Ubirr is an incredible series of rock shelters featuring Indigenous rock art that is thousands of years old. Traditionally, people camped under the cool rocky shelters, and the smooth stone surfaces were perfect for painting and recording their important stories and knowledge. Much of the art features animals that were hunted including fish, turtles and goanna. The rock art at Ubirr is considered among the best in the world. There are incredible x-ray style paintings as well Dreaming stories recorded in the many rock shelters (Parks Australia, 2022) 

Sunset from Ubirr Lookout. Image by Park Australia, courtesy of Flickr, 2022.

A loop walk takes you between the rock art galleries, including the Rainbow Serpent Gallery, Namarragarn Sisters Galley and Main Gallery. A ranger-guided walk is the best way to experience Ubirr. Through the tour you will have the opportunity to learn the stories behind some of the artworks, and gather a fuller understanding of the significance of this Ubirr. At the end of the tour you will reach a stunning lookout, with sweeping view over the Nadab floodplain. The tours and talks are included in Kakadu park passes, you can learn more here.

Visit Injalak Arts

Screen printed textiles by Injalak Arts. Courtesy of The Finders Keepers, 2022.

Injalak Arts is a non-for-profit Indigenous art centre based in the community of Gunbalanya. It plays a incredibly important role within the community providing positive social, economic and cultural outcomes for its members. Injalak currently has over 200 members, which includes artists and from the community and surrounding outstations. The artists are known for their traditional bark paintings, woven pandanus baskets and beautiful screen printed textiles. Artworks from this region are featured in major collections across Australia and internationally (Injalak Arts, 2022). 

Weaving at Injalak Arts. Courtesy of Pegs on the Line, 2022.

Visiting the centre makes for an excellent day trip, you can browse the centre viewing the beautiful Aboriginal arts and crafts. Depending on what's happening on the day you visit, travellers may also have the opportunity to see artists at work and watch some of the local women weave (Northern Territory, 2022). If you would like to learn more about Injalak Arts or check out their amazing online gallery you can find their website here.

Swim at Maguk

Maguk Gorge, Kakadu National Park. Courtesy of Flickr, 2022.

Just an hours drive south of Cooinda is Maguk, one of Kakadu's hidden gems. The gorgeous waterfall features a pristine plunge pool, which as one of Kakadu's lesser known swimming spots you will most likely have all to yours. The waterfall is reached via a short walk through monsoon rainforest, featuring pandanus trees and a gorgeous creek. Some of the incredible birds you will see along the walk include rainbow pitas, emerald doves and spangled drongos (Australian Traveller, 2022). 

Soak up the atmosphere at Jim Jim and Twin Falls

Jim Jim falls.jpg . Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, 2022.

No visit to Kakadu is complete without a visit to these awe inspiring waterfalls. These two waterfalls are an essential part of water movement through Kakadu during the wet season. Jim Jim Falls features 200m high cliffs surrounding a beautiful deep plunge pool. The waterfall however only flows during the wet season. To reach the falls it is a 2km return walk through monsoon forest and up the creek (Australian Traveller, 2022).

Twin Falls flows all year round, and features a split cascade that gushes over a 150m drop. The falls also has a gorgeous plunge pool, however you don't want to swim here as their have been many crocodile sightings. It is a great place for a picnic, and soaking up the atmosphere on the sandy beach at the base of the gorge. To access Twin Falls you do need to take a boat shuttle service and then it is a easy walk to the base of the waterfall (Parks Australia, 2022).