The ultimate guide to Kakadu National Park

Make this your first stop before plunging into the wilds of the national park. Kakadu is a pretty massive place, so getting the ropes before tackling it head-on is a good idea. Located off the Kakadu Highway in Jabiru, this is an excellent place to refresh after a long highway drive, with lush greenery and a café welcome sights for weary travellers. Head into the gorgeous visitor’s centre to chat with the friendly staff, get an idea of where you’d like to go on your trip, and wander through the very cool resident museum, where you can squiz a crocodile skeleton and a giant olive python (spoiler: not a live one). 

Time Out tip: You’ll also need to buy a national park pass before entering Kakadu, which you can grab at Bowali Visitor Centre.

A seven-minute drive from Bowali, you'll find this not-for-profit Aboriginal art centre in Jabiru. This beautifully restored bakery painted in various shades of pink, with a pretty epic mural out the back, features an air-conditioned exhibition area and workspace, showcasing works by more than 400 artists from in and around Kakadu. You can peruse and/or purchase all the paintings, weavings, printed shirts and jewellery on display, meet the artists as they work on their works, and (if the caffeine craving calls) pick up a bloody good cup o’ joe from the resident café. It's owned and governed by Mirarr Traditional Owners, and all proceeds here go towards contributing to Gundjeihmi’s community development initiatives. 

A 30-minute drive from Jabiru down the Arnhem Highway/ Oenpelli Road, you’ll be blessed with a front-seat row seat to some of the most incredible rock art on the planet, as well as a pretty mind-blowing place to watch the sunset. Ubirr is home to two ancient Indigenous rock art galleries that can be explored via an easy one-kilometre loop track, and the best time to visit during the dry season is around 4pm, when the light is golden and the heat of the day is gone.

For the best experience, definitely go with an Indigenous guide. We recommend the incredible Victor Cooper, a Bininj man who runs Ayal Aboriginal Tours Kakadu. A former Indigenous ranger in Kakadu, Cooper specialises in translating the significance of the rock art and historic sites at Ubirr. Keep your eyes peeled for etchings of a Tasmanian tiger, the ethereal mimi spirits and a musket from the 1800s. After you’ve had your art fill, clamber up the rocks to find a prime spot to sit and watch the sunset drench the stretching flood plains. It is always spectacular and never the same twice.  

These majestic 200-metre cascades at Jim Jim are renowned for their power and jaw-dropping splendour. In the wet season, getting up close by foot is basically impossible, which is why (if you've got a bit of dough in the bank) you can do a pretty incredible scenic flight overhead. If, however, you'd rather go in for free and also go for a life-changing swim in the process, then we suggest you hit Jim Jim up in the dry for maximum bang for your buck.

Just 43 kilometres down the Kakadu Highway from Bowali, this is a four-wheel-drive-only trip over ten kilometres of soft sand – so make sure you're equipped. However, once you clear this almighty adventure, you're in for a treat. Clamber across a 900-metre track until you get to the plunge pool. Swim beneath the deep red Arnhem Land escarpment in heart-rendingly clear water, bask on the white sandy beaches, and bathe in the pure light. Magic.

If you want another good sunrise (or sunset) spot, look no further. The lookout is a 30-minute drive from Jabiru, so you don’t need to get going too early to catch an epic look at first light. Get on the one-way walking track and clamber up a slight rocky incline (it is a little steep in parts; you’ll need to be of moderate fitness) and head up to the rock platform that overlooks an impossibly wide stretching view across a bright green savannah, the Anbangbang Billabong and the ochre cliffs of the Arnhem Land escarpment. Keep your eyes peeled for rock wallabies and let yourself dissolve into the soft pastel silence. 

Perhaps one of the most spectacular things to do in Kakadu, this incredible natural gorge is one of the only places you can swim in Kakadu. Despite having a few ‘Beware: Crocodile' signs scattered around, this gorge is an incredibly popular swimming spot, and for good reason. Only accessible by four-wheel drive and an hour's drive from Cooinda, it is at the end of a short monsoon rainforest walk that requires a low to moderate fitness level. Walk past rainbow pittas, emerald doves and tiny yellow butterflies that dart over the tropical track. Soon you will arrive at the main event: a crystal-clear plunge pool and massive sparkling waterfall, all set within a dazzling stone amphitheatre. Swim in the glittering turquoise water, sunbake on the smooth rocks, and lie under the fresh tumbling cascades. This place is, by all definitions, 100 per cent paradise. 

Once the traditional land of the Warramal people who have now all passed on, this deeply sacred and ancient site is now cared for by neighbouring clans. A 30-minute drive from Cooinda Lodge, this place is home to intricate rock art and human artefacts that date back more than 22,000 years. Filled with heritage-listed art, including the world-famous Lightning Man, this extraordinary place is steeped in primordial history, stories and unique wildlife that you can soak up at your leisure.

Either amble through the Nanguluwurr art site walk, clamber up a moderately steep track to the Kunwarddehwardde lookout to gaze out at the wild ridges of the Kakadu escarpment or walk around the shady Anbangbang Billabong. To maximise your viewing experience of these intricate rock galleries and the stunning natural formations surrounding them, we recommend Victor Cooper from Ayal Aboriginal Tours, whose deep knowledge is unparalleled.  

A ten-minute drive from Cooinda Lodge, this incredible river cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong along the heritage-listed South Alligator River takes dreamy adventure to a whole new level. There are six departures per day, and the most popular times are sunrise and sunset, this being the best time to see wildlife. We recommend going at dawn when the air is soft and oceanic and all the animals are starting their day. See colossal crocs swimming through fields of pink water lilies, sea eagles diving for fish, and tiny bird lovers hopping across gigantic floating lily pads. With one of the dynamic and hilarious Yellow Water guides driving the boat, you can be confident that not a single animal fact, sneaky croc or colourful story will pass by unaccounted for.

Kakadu National Park is a hiker's paradise, boasting almost 20,000 square kilometres of wilderness to explore. From gentle strolls and art site ambles, to steep climbs and overnight bushwalks, there are almost too many places to venture off the beaten path. The interconnected Yurmikmik walks are an underrated gem during the wet season, with options ranging from an easy two-kilometre Boulder Creek walk to an adventurous 11-kilometre hike to Kurrundie Falls (note: you'll need a permit to walk in here). The most hardcore hikers can tackle the challenging Twin Falls plateau walk, which ends at the jaw-dropping 150-metre gorge. 

You don't have to be a bird nerd to appreciate the wonder of these serene wetlands,  home to one-third of Australia's bird species – many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. To make the best of your time, follow the three-kilometre walk that winds alongside the wetlands, where you might spot colourful kingfishers, finches, herons and jacanas flying over the paperbark trees. Don't forget to look down too, as you might be lucky enough to spot a wallaby or the occasional crocodile loitering amongst the water lilies. While accessible year-round, Mamukala truly comes alive in the late dry season (September to October) when thousands of water birds flock to the billabong as other bodies of water in Kakadu dry up.