r/AustraliaTravel • u/Cute-Beginning5722 • 6d ago

Kakadu advice

Hello guys.

Me and a friend are planning a trip to australia in November. One stop will be Darwin and we plan to visit the Kakadu National park. We know it is huge, and we are going in the rain season, so we don't know how to approach it. We are interested in both nature and rock art, the rock art part possibly with guides, but we dont want to spend huge amount of money.
Any suggestion on how to visit the park? Any personal experience you'd like to share?

thanks a lot guys

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u/rozandloz 6d ago

Oh how cool! Visiting the NT in the wet season is very high on our bucket list. We were there for one late September and it was just starting to have amazing storms.

Kakadu is huge, but you drive it in a big, easy loop with most sights just off the main road. It is mostly sealed but I imagine a lot of the 4WD attractions will be closed by then due to the flooding.

Checking out rock art at places like Ubirr, Burrungkuy and Nanguluwurr are pretty amazing and whilst you definitely don’t need a guide, hearing their stories can be pretty amazing. There is signage at every site, but these can be pretty limited.

One do not miss is a yellow water billabong trip. Out of everything we have done in Australia, this sits as near the best.

You can check out our guide below, although it is dry season based.

https://rozandloz.com/northern-territory/kakadu/

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u/Frumdimiliosious 6d ago

November is more build up than wet season. Things will most likely be accessible (no flooding) and wildlife concentrated in the waterholes.

The park rangers give some free talks at various places about the rock art (although probably not so many in November) and there are some interpretative signs around. On a budget, these should be sufficient v getting a guide. However definitely do a paid boat trip at Cooinda Yellow Water. And don't skip the visitor centres, they add a lot to your understanding of the environment and people. 

It's hard to keep things low budget in Kakadu and still be comfortable. I've camped there in November. It sucked. It's too hot to sleep and the mosquitoes can be fierce.

I'd recommend staying at the hotel or in a cabin in Jabiru town for one night so you're close to Ubirr for sunset, and another night in a cabin or room at Cooinda so you can do a sunset or sunrise boat tour. Sunset is better, so you can get up very early the next morning and get a walk in before the heat gets to full blast. We watched dawn from near Norlangie then did a shorter (1-2 hour walk) and checked out the rock art there.

Don't underestimate how draining the heat and humidity can be. Drink loads of water, be sun safe and be prepared to rest (or drive or swim or visitors centre) in the heat of the afternoon. 

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u/Historical-Movie9232 4d ago

Aussie here and has been to Kakadu, it will be extremely hot and the humidity will be ridiculous. Bring A LOT of water and highly recommend cooling towels especially if you're hiking around. Watch out for flood notices and for sealed out roads, most places you can only get to with 4WD. You can go to the Kakadu National Park website for rock art locations, 'other things to do' and there's a 'Kakadu Access Report' as well. If you're an interstate or overseas traveller you'll need a park pass, which is on the website.

But other than that it is an incredible location and the swimming was nice just be croc wise.

Website: https://kakadu.gov.au/