Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are basic campsites at a number of locations throughout the park. The
camping fee is A$6.60 (US$4.30) for adults, A$3.30 (US$2.15) for kids under 16,
or A$15 (US$9.75) for a family of two adults and four kids, per night. A kiosk at
Wangi Falls sells some supplies, but stock up on fuel and alcohol in Batchelor.
3 Kakadu National Park
¡
257km (159 miles) E of Darwin
Kakadu National Park
, a World Heritage area, is Australia's largest national
park, covering a massive 1,755,200 hectares (4,335,344 acres).
Cruising the lily-clad wetlands to spot crocodiles, plunging into exquisite nat-
ural swimming holes, hiking through spear grass and cycads, fishing for prized
barramundi, soaring in a light aircraft over torrential waterfalls during the wet
season, photographing thousands of birds flying over the eerie red sandstone
escarpment that juts 200m (650 ft.) above the floodplain, and admiring some of
Australia's most superb Aboriginal rock-art sites—these are the activities that draw
people to Kakadu. Some 275 species of birds and 75 species of reptiles inhabit
the park, making it one of the richest wildlife habitats in the country. Kakadu is
an ecological jewel. But be aware that the vast distances between points of inter-
est in the park, and that sameness that infects so much Australian landscape, can
detract from Kakadu's appeal for some people. Wildlife here is not the breath-
taking equivalent of an African game park, where herds roam the plains, which
is why even Australians get so excited when they spot a kangaroo in the wild. It
is best in the late Dry around September and October, when crocs and birds
gather around shrinking water holes. Wildlife viewing is not particularly good
in the wet season, when birds disperse widely and you may not see a single croc.
The name “Kakadu” comes from “Gagudju,” the group of languages spoken
by Aborigines in the northern part of the park, where they and their ancestors
are believed to have lived for 50,000 years. Today, Aborigines manage the park
as its owners with the Australian government. This is one of the few places in
Australia where some Aborigines stick to a traditional lifestyle of hunting and
living off the land. You won't see them, because they keep away from prying
eyes, but their culture is on display at a cultural center and at rock-art sites.
Kakadu and the vast wilds of Arnhemland to the east are the birthplace of the
“X-ray” style of art for which Aboriginal artists are famous.
JUST THE FACTS
VISITOR INFORMATION
Both the park entrances—the northern station
on the Arnhem Highway used by visitors from Darwin and the southern station
on the Kakadu Highway for visitors from Katherine—hand out free visitor
guides with maps, and in the Dry they also issue a timetable of free ranger-
guided bushwalks, art-site talks, and slide shows taking place that week.
Park headquarters is at the
Bowali Visitor Centre
(
&
08/8938 1120
) on the
Kakadu Highway, 5km (3 miles) from Jabiru, 100km (62 miles) from the north-
ern entry station, and 131km (81 miles) from the southern entry station. This
attractive, environmentally friendly Outback-style center shows a program of
1-hour videos on the park's natural history and Aboriginal culture, stocks maps
and park notes, has a library and displays, has information officers on hand to
help you plan your visit (they provide tour times, costs, and telephone numbers,
but do not make bookings), and has a gift shop and a cafe. You may want to
spend a good hour or so here, more to see a video. It is open daily from 8am to
5pm.
