Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage listed park about 120km's east of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory.
Kakadu abounds with natural beauty, from sweeping landscapes of the Arnhem Land escarpment to internationally important wetlands on the plains. In the wet season great waterfalls cascade off the ancient escarpment into the valleys and ravines below, creating stunning plunge pools and monsoonal microclimates.

 

This is one big park

The Park itself totals just over 19,000 square km's, stretches roughly 200km's north-south and 100km's east-west and is Australia's largest National Park. It's as big as Israel, Slovenia or El Salvador. It is an incredibly diverse environment both geographically and in terms of flora and fauna. It is home to about 1,600 varieties of plant species, 280 bird species, 60 mammal species, 117 different reptiles, including the fearsome Saltwater Crocodile that can grow up to seven meters and the smaller, less aggressive Freshwater Crocodile. For those who love their bugs, there are over 10,000 varieties, some quite out there like Leichhardt's grasshopper which is a stunning orange, blue and black.

The Park has been continuously inhabited by Aboriginal people for at least 20,000 years, but possibly up to 40,000 or more. The name 'Kakadu' is derived from the word 'Gagudju' which was an Aboriginal Floodplain language used at the beginning of the 20th century. There are at least 500 Aboriginal Inhabitants living within the Park, many being descendants of the original clans that lived and hunted here. Kakadu National Park is made up of land owned

by the Aboriginal Traditional owners who lease it back to the Director of National Parks. The rest is Commonwealth land, much of which is under claim by the Traditional owners.

A mega art gallery

Within Kakadu there are over 5,000 recorded Aboriginal art sites, many of which are recognised internationally as outstanding examples of Aboriginal art. Some of the major sites such as Ubirr Rock, Nourlangie Rock and Nanguluwur are outliers separated from the main Arnhem escarpment through erosion and would have provided the Aborigines with shelter from the elements for thousands of years.

There are a range of art styles and subject matter depicting everything from creation, sorcery and religious stories through to hunting scenes and the animals that would have been integral to their survival. A visit to the Warradjan Cultural Centre is a great way to understand the Aboriginal Traditional Owners (Bininj) stories, art and culture as told by them.

There are six main landforms within Kakadu; the Arnhem Land Plateau and escarpment, the outliers (parts split from the main escarpment through erosion), the southern hills and basins, the lowlands, floodplains and tidal flats. Each has its own unique habitat and it is this diversity

that contributed to it being listed a World Heritage area. Before embarking on a Kakadu adventure a visit to the Bowali Visitor Centre will give you a great understanding of the Parks history, geology and ecosystems to send you on your way.

A monumental transformation

It is during the wet season (November to March) when monsoon rains come that Kakadu is transformed from arid land with dry watercourses to a bounty of life with bustling rivers, spectacular waterfalls and teaming wildlife. The Arnhem Land plateau, also known as stone country, rises up to 330 meters above the plains and stretches for over 500km's from within the Park across to Arnhem Land. Heavy rainfall has cut gorges and ravines into the sandstone over millions of years which carry torrents of water over the escarpment onto the lowlands and plains below creating jaw dropping waterfalls and beautiful plunge pools, a mecca for tourists trying to cool off in the hot, dry months.

It is also the water from the gorges and ravines along the escarpment that has created monsoonal rainforest microclimates that act as a sanctuary to many species, particularly in the drier months. During heavy rain the intense flow of water spreads out from creeks and rivers onto the floodplains, often carrying rich nutrients with them. Plentiful sunlight adds to the mix making it an area absolutely rich in plant and animal life.

A loopy magnet

Because of Kakadu's dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife and rich Aboriginal cultural influence, it is a magnet for Top End tourism. The Park receives over 200,000 visitors a year arriving by plane, car, coach, small buses and 4-wheel drive. The main road into Kakadu is via the sealed Arnhem Highway from Darwin which goes right through to Jabiru, a town established to service the Ranger uranium mine.

Many of the roads within Kakadu are sealed so are accessible by 2WD, but there are a number of others that are unsealed bush tracks requiring a 4WD to reach some popular spots like Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls and Barramundi Gorge (Maguk). Because of this, many people choose to see Kakadu as part of a 4WD adventure tour so as to access the more remote and less crowded spots.

One of the big draw cards of Kakadu are the awesome waterfalls and plunge pools below the escarpment that feature sheer cliff faces, gorges, monsoon forests and crystal clear pools to cool off in. There are some mind blowing walks around these areas that can take you to awe inspiring lookouts or secluded waterholes to swim in.

Koolpin Gorge (Jarrangbarnmi) is a restricted permit area controlled by a booking system and accessible by 4 wheel drive as the road is rough and bumpy. Only three commercial tour operators have regular scheduled access to this magic area including Wilderness 4WD Adventures. A 4WD tour into Koolpin will reward you with a beautiful gorge, waterfalls and plunge pools to swim in as well as some of Kakadu's most spectacular scenery afforded from the top by the waterhole.

 

An adventure travellers paradise

Barramundi Gorge, or Maguk as it is now known, is another fantastic spot off the beaten track. The road is pretty rough and a 4WD vehicle is the only way to get to this beautiful destination. You walk through lovely cool and lush monsoon rainforest and then into more open rock country. The walk is definitely worth it as the plunge pool is one of the few in Kakadu with a waterfall that flows year round. You can swim across the pool and get a nice back massage from the waterfall. A short hike from here leads to a series of deep rock pools flowing through a narrow gorge at the top of the falls. Enjoy relaxing in the pools surrounded by spectacular rock formations.

If you like to get away from the crowds then Graveside Gorge offers some of Kakadu's most rugged and diverse environments. It is unmarked on most maps and accessible via a rough 4WD track. It features some beautiful walks, gorges, waterfalls and plunge pools to refresh the senses. It is a restricted area which only Wilderness 4WD Adventures and one other 4WD tour company have access to.

One of the most famous icons within Kakadu is Jim Jim Falls, featuring a deep plunge pool and surrounded by 150 meter high cliffs. The Barrk Marlam walk climbs steeply to take you to the plateau above Jim Jim Falls which offers spectacular views over the gorge and has plenty of water holes for swimming as well as rock climbing.

Close by is Twin Falls, one of Kakadu's jewels and which requires a boat cruise to get you from the end of the 4WD road to the head of the gorge. The cruise has an Aboriginal Guide who imparts plenty of information about the area and its history. A short walk from the boat takes you a stunning white sandy beach at the end of the gorge, perfect for picnics and simply relaxing while you take in the awesome scenery.

A bit of bird spotting chaps?

For the bird lover, a Kakadu tour is a must as it supports about 280 bird species, or 1/3rd of all Australia's species. Some of the best spots for bird watching are Yellow Waters Billabong, Anbangbang Billabong and Mamukala Wetlands. Yellow Waters is best viewed as part of a boat cruise but both Anbangbang and Mamukala have scenic walks with the latter having an observation building as well as hide outs to watch thousands of magpie geese and other birds on the floodplains.

No trip to the Top End should exclude a Kakadu tour! It is an absolutely amazing National Park with so much Aboriginal history and world renowned art sites, such a diverse range of habitats and wildlife, and the Arnhem Land plateau and escarpment are to die for. If you want to experience some of the more secluded areas off the beaten track then a 4WD Kakadu tour is the way to do it. You won't be disappointed.