Kakadu National Park - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

Kakadu

travel wonder in Australia

Why
Kakadu National Park
is special

Kakadu in northern Australia is a huge national park known for its rich diversity of vegetable, wildlife, landscapes, eco-systems, and seasonal climates - and for its stunning Aboriginal rock art.

Tips & insights

on Kakadu

in Australia

Kakadu draws hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. The top 3 tourist favorites are:

Saltwater crocodiles - Many adults are 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 feet) in length. Some have killed unsuspecting tourists. No need to be alarmed if you adhere to the signs warning you not to swim in certain lakes, pools and rivers where the dangerous crocs lurk. You should not even walk close to the signed shorelines - submerged crocs can spring out of the water faster than you can react.

Aborginal rock paintings - Some date back to the ice age. Many ancient drawings look fresh because they have been restored through the centuries by the Aborigines of Australia. It's essential to them to keep their narrative art alive so that future generations can learn their Aboriginal heritage.

Yellow Water Billabong - A boat cruise on this lake brings you up close to the wildlife (including the saltwater crocodile) and the scenic mangrove-forest waters.

Other popular activities include waterfall viewing, bird watching, hiking, camping, flightseeing, and uranium mine touring.

Kakadu National Park in Australia is so vast and diversified that it is usually best seen with a private or organized tour guide.

If you explore Kakadu on your own, a visit to the Bowali Visitor Center is a must. Not only does it have educational exhibits, it has a knowledgeable staff and helpful free literature.

The dry season (approximately May to September) is the best period to visit.

The very best time is the late dry season. That's September (and sometimes that phase extends into early October). Wildlife concentrates around the diminishing waterholes. As a bonus, you'll avoid the busy tourist season, from mid-June to August.

The wet season (roughly November to March) is the worst season. Although the vegetation is green and lush, the weather is typically uncomfortably hot, humid and rainy. What's more, wildlife spotting opportunities significantly decrease. And many driving tracks (including those to the famous waterfalls) become impassable.

Kakadu was the setting for many Crocodile Dundee film scenes.