Kakadu National Park: An Outback Adventure with a Magical Feel
In Australia's largest national park you'll find rocky escarpments, lush rainforest and a 20,000 year old rock art gallery. You can see the Aboriginal culture of the indigenous traditional peoples, the Bininj/Mungguy people, thundering waterfalls and watch the millions of birds migrating across the wetlands. Feel the magical nuances of Kakadu in six different seasons.
Kakadu National Park is recognized as a World Heritage site, because of its culture that is still alive today. In the past, the land in Kakadu belonged to the Bininj/Mungguy people, and is currently managed by them, working with Parks Australia to preserve the nature and cultural values within it.
Kakadu National Park covering an area of 20,000 sq km offers a variety of attractions that attract visitors with different interests. Several places in Kakadu that you can visit include:
Ubirr
Most recommended location to visit in Kakadu. Apart from having a lot of rock art that is old and has an amazing historical background, Ubirr is the most fitting place to enjoy the sunset. After enjoying rock art, visitors can climb the rocky hill to the top which has a 360-degree view, and enjoy the moment the sun slowly descends and disappears from the horizon.
Mamukala Wetlands
A swamp filled with various kinds of birds at certain times of the season. There is a building (called a bird hide) that can be used to observe and spy on the birds that go back and forth in front of the windows. In addition, there is also a short track around it, and there are a lot of wild animals.
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Nourlangie (Burunggui)
In this area there are many shelters that were formerly used by Aboriginal tribes which currently have rock art on the walls. There is also Anbangbang billabong which is filled with birds of various types, with Nourlangie hill as the back drop.
Some other great locations include: Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls, Gunlom and Maguk. If you are roadtrip using a 4WD vehicle, stop by these locations.
How to get to Kakadu National Park
There are two ways to get to Kakadu National Park. The first is 133 km from Darwin, that is, from the Arnhem Highway. The second is if you are coming from the south, you can enter from near Pine Creek and Katherine via the Stuart Highway (285 km from Darwin).
Accommodations at Kakadu National Park
The accommodation center is located in Jabiru town. There are various types of accommodation, ranging from large hotels to simple campgrounds. If you want to stay near a tourist attraction, usually there is a campground with basic facilities such as toilets without flushing, and a place to make a fire. The fee is about 5-10 AUS depending on the facilities available.
Tips to Explore Kakadu National Park
1. The best time to visit Kakadu is from May to September, as the weather is the most comfortable and not many roads are closed due to flooding.
2. Kakadu has hot weather during the day and many insects at night. So, it is better to wear long sleeves and trousers. Wear a hat to prevent the sun's heat, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
3. The waters in Kakadu are inhabited by an estuarine crocodile. Obey if there is a no-swimming sign and don't get too close to the edge of the water.
4. Obey the regulations in force in this national park because violations will be subject to a fine.
5. Most of the land in Kakadu is sacred land belonging to Aboriginal people, respect their culture. Don't touch the tens of thousands of years old Aboriginal Rock Art on the cave walls or those that hang on the rock they hold sacred.
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