{"id":27761,"date":"2018-11-23T15:10:59","date_gmt":"2018-11-23T04:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/?p=27761"},"modified":"2022-11-07T13:19:28","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T02:49:28","slug":"guide-kakadu-northern-territory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/guide-kakadu-northern-territory\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Visiting Kakadu in the Northern Territory"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, you\u2019ve decided to take on Australia\u2019s largest National Park, Kakadu. But where do you start when you have up to 20,000 square kilometres of floodplains, estuaries, waterfalls and stone country to explore? The place is so big, so bold and so beautiful, and is alive with Australian Aboriginal culture.<\/p>\n

Understandably there are still some areas inaccessible to the public due to its cultural significance to the traditional landowners, but there are a couple of secret spots we can let you in on.<\/p>\n

So here is a guide to get you on your way to packing your bag, loading the car or booking flights.<\/p>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

Noarlangie Rock at Kakadu National Park.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

When to go<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The top end of Australia doesn\u2019t experience the usual four seasons. The wet season comes with the first crack of lighting on a late afternoon in November, and Kakadu goes from burnt orange to luscious green overnight.<\/p>\n

When the wet season ramps up, so does the humidity. So a normal 35\u00b0C day starts to feel more like 45\u00b0C. It’s impossible to keep your shirt dry and there isn\u2019t enough cold water in the world to satisfy your thirst. As beautiful as it is in the wet season, you need to know what you are doing in order to stay safe.<\/p>\n

So with that, I suggest this hot tip, travel between May and July. At the start of the dry season, the waterfalls are still cascading heavily, the nights are cooler and the Barramundi are biting.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/p>\n

Walk to the top of Gunlom Falls to look out over the park.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Getting there<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kakadu National Park is 133km from Darwin and 149km from Katherine. If you are planning on flying, Darwin will be your best and cheapest option, accessible by direct flight from most capital cities.<\/p>\n

As the Northern Territory\u2019s capital city you\u2019ll find plenty of options for 4WD\/van\/motorhome hire and accommodation options before venturing into Kakadu. Darwin is also a great place to stock up on food and fuel. Fuel prices are about 20c\/L more expensive in the park.<\/p>\n

Remember that you are about travel in to remote Australia. Although there is a good supermarket, medical centre and bank in Jabiru, near the centre of Kakadu NP, options are going to be limited.<\/p>\n

\"Sunset-over-Nourlangie-Rock\"<\/p>\n

The sunset over the Nourlangie rock lookout.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Choose your ride<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It is not all bulldust and backroads like we had come to believe. So we were pleasantly surprised to be driving through the heart of the national park on the smooth surface of the Kakadu Highway. There is a good chunk of Kakadu that you can do in a standard 2WD, but if you want the full, unlimited experience we would definitely recommend a 4WD.<\/p>\n

You do not necessarily need to be an experienced four-wheel-driver. You just need a high clearance vehicle that can make a shallow creek crossing or two and won\u2019t rattle into smithereens on the dirt roads. Have you heard of corrugations? You will know all about these incessant bumps in the road as soon as you hit the turnoff to Jim Jim Falls, and they are relentless.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/p>\n

You’ll need a pass to access the wonders inside Kakadu NP.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Have you got your park pass?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You will need a park pass to access Kakadu National Park. You can buy your pass online<\/a>, at the Katherine Visitor Centre<\/a> or the Bowali Visitor Centre in Jabiru<\/a>. Pass prices range from $12.50 for children and $25 for adults and last for up to 14 days.<\/p>\n

Children under 4 are free and other discounts are available for families and concession card holders. 100% of this money goes right back into the park and supports the traditional landowners and general park upkeep.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/p>\n

Sandy Billabong is our top pick for camping in Kakadu.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Where to stay<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you can camp, camp. Kakadu offers 26 different campgrounds<\/a> across the park, which range from fancy caravan parks to basic bush camping. So if you want a pool, hot showers and to treat yourself to dinner out, you can base yourself at the Cooinda Campground and Caravan Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But if you are like us and would prefer to light up a fire in a quiet corner of the park our top pick would be\u00a0Sandy Billabong<\/a> (it must be the sandy track and long drop toilets that deter a few people from getting in here). All of the big hitters like Gunlom, Jim Jim Falls and Maguk have a campground nearby so that you can really make the most of these special places. Camping fees depend on the facilities available and you will find some of the more remote sites are free of charge.<\/p>\n

If you were not planning on camping at all, fear not, you have 7 hotels\/lodges\/resorts with varying degrees of luxury to choose from.<\/p>\n

\"Campfire-dinners-at-Sandy-Billabong\"<\/p>\n

A campfire dinner at our campsite at Sandy Billabong.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

What to bring<\/strong><\/h2>\n

An alarm clock<\/a>. There is a reason this place gets busy, so if you want to beat the crowds and enjoy some time to yourself at the top of Jim Jim Falls, set your alarm. Getting up early is also the best way to beat the heat. Speaking of heat, here are some things you will need to have with you in order to prevent heat exposure.<\/p>\n