Kakadu is calling us home

by Editor Dallas Sherringham
Kakadu is a superb place to visit, a place that immediately draws you in with its wild rawness and thriving ecology.
Mature Traveller is proud to present a roundup of new facilities and popular places in Kakadu, as well as a look at the more remote spots in the region.
If you click on the links they will take you straight to the appropriate web site.
Updates

• New croc-watching platforms : One of Kakadu’s most recognised sites, Cahills Crossing, is set to get two new viewing platforms, offering tourists a safe spot to catch a glimpse of Territory’s famous crocodiles. Construction for the platforms is expected to finish by late 2021.

 

• Popular fishing spot reopens: Scenic billabong, Four Mile Hole, one of the best-kept secrets among local anglers, has opened after years of closure.

 

• Twin Falls escarpment walk reopens: For the first time in two years, travellers can now explore the Twin Falls escarpment, hiking past rugged sandstone formations and monsoon forests for an epic gorge view. The Jim Jim Creek crossing, which provides access to the Twin Falls area, has now been raised to ensure safer driving access.

   
Top outdoor experiences
Please check the Park Australia website to confirm if sites are open.

• Explore ancient shelters at Nourlangie: Take a 1.5km circular walk to reach one of Australia’s most outstanding Aboriginal rock art sites that show ancient connections between the people and land.

 

• Enjoy a sunset over the floodplains at Ubirr: Wander around Ubirr, home to three incredible Aboriginal rock art galleries, and hike up to the lookout for sweeping views of the Nadab Floodplains.

 

• Cruise on the stunning Yellow Water Billabong at sunrise: Operating year-round, the cruise offers an informative tour of one of the Territory’s most distinct ecosystems, with plenty of opportunity to spot wildlife in their natural habitat, including crocodiles, brolgas, whistling ducks and magpie geese.

 

• Swim in crystal-clear waters of Maguk (Barramundi Gorge): After a day of hiking, dive into the pristine rock pools at Maguk, a waterfall and plunge pool surrounded by steep gorge walls. Look out for rainbow pitas, emerald doves and spangled drongos!

 

• Lace up your walking boots and go hiking: Kakadu hosts over 30 established walking trails, ranging in difficulty and distance. Climb to stunning waterfalls like Motor Call Falls, hike among escarpments high above-ground with Barrk Malam walk and walk through Mamukala wetlands for incredible wildlife sights.

 

• Take a scenic flight and snap some incredible shots: There’s only so much you can see on foot, so why not grab a birds-eye view of Kakadu’s grandeur? During Tropical Summer, when most tracks are inaccessible, catch the sight of iconic waterfalls, like the 200m high Jim Jim Falls, in full flow and lush green landscapes swarming with wildlife.

 

PICTURES: 
FROM TOP:
1. Enjoy an unforgettable sunrise or sunset cruise of Yellow Waters
2. Stunning Twin Falls is one of the world's greatest wilderness experiences
3. Watch the sun set over the green plains of Kakadu from Ubirr
​4. One of the highlights or a visit is spotting your first croc!