Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
You can also book tours and get information at the
Jabiru Travel Centre,
Shop 6, Tasman Plaza, Jabiru, NT 0886 (
&
08/8979 2548
).
Before you arrive, you can find information on Kakadu, and book tours
to it, at the Tourism Top End visitor information center in Darwin. You
can also contact the rangers at
Kakadu National Park
(
&
08/8938 1120;
www.ea.gov.au/parks/kakadu).
WHEN TO GO
Kakadu has two distinct seasons: wet and dry. The Dry
(May-Oct) is overwhelmingly the best time to go, with temperatures around
86°F (30°C) and sunny days. Many tours, hotels, and even campsites are booked
a year in advance, so make sure you have reservations.
In the wet season, November through April, floodwaters cover much of the
park, some attractions are cut off, and the heat and humidity are extreme. Some
tour companies do not run during the Wet, and ranger talks, walks, and slide
shows are not offered. The upside is that the crowds vanish, the brownish vege-
tation bursts into green, waterfalls swell from a trickle to a roar, and lightning
storms are spectacular, especially in the hot “buildup” to the season in October
and November. The landscape can change dramatically from one day to the next
as floodwaters rise and fall, so be prepared for surprises, both nice ones (like
giant flocks of geese) and unwelcome ones (like blocked roads). Although it can
pour down all day, it's more common for the rain to fall in late-afternoon storms
and at night. Take it easy in the humidity and don't even think about camping
in this heat—stay in air-conditioned accommodations.
GETTING THERE
Follow the Stuart Highway 34km (21 miles) south of
Darwin, and turn left onto the Arnhem Highway to the park's northern
entrance station. The trip takes 2
1
⁄
2
to 3 hours. If you're coming from the south,
turn off the Stuart Highway at Pine Creek onto the Kakadu Highway, and fol-
low the Kakadu Highway for 79km (49 miles) to the park's southern entrance.
Greyhound Pioneer
(
&
13 20 30
in Australia) travels daily from Darwin stop-
ping at Jabiru and Cooinda for A$84 (US$55) round-trip.
A big range of coach, minibus, and four-wheel-drive tours and camping
safaris usually taking 1, 2 or 3 days depart from Darwin daily. These are a good
idea, because many of Kakadu's geological, ecological, and Aboriginal attractions
come to life only with a guide, and the best water holes, lookouts, and wildlife-
viewing spots change dramatically from month to month, even from day to day.
FEES & REGULATIONS
The park entry fee of A$16 (US$10) per adult is
valid for 14 days. Children 15 and under enter free.
LOGISTICAL TIPS
Kakadu is a big place—about 200km (124 miles) long
by 100km (62 miles) wide—so spend at least a night. Day trips are available
from Darwin, but it's too far and too big to see much in a day.
Most major attractions are accessible in a two-wheel-drive vehicle on sealed
(paved) roads, but a four-wheel-drive vehicle allows you to get to more falls,
water holes, and campsites. Car-rental companies will not permit you to take
two-wheel-drive vehicles on unpaved roads.
Thrifty
(
&
08/8979 2552
) rents
cars at the Mobil service station, Lakeside Drive, Jabiru; otherwise, rent a car in
Darwin. If you four-wheel-drive it in the wet season (Nov-Apr), always check
floodwater levels on all roads at the
Bowali Visitor Centre
(
&
08/8938 1120
).
The Bowali Visitor Centre, many attractions such as Nourlangie and Yellow
Water Billabong, and the towns of Jabiru and Cooinda usually stay above the
floodwaters year-round.
