Kakadu National Park

Ancient Rock Art and Wild Wetlands

Kakadu National Park spans over 20,000 square kilometers in Australia’s Northern Territory. It contains ancient rock art sites that show human history stretching back thousands of years. Wetlands flood each year during the rainy season, supporting diverse wildlife like crocodiles and migratory birds. Visitors can explore walking trails or take boat trips to see waterfalls and Aboriginal paintings. The park works with Indigenous custodians to protect both nature and culture while providing guided tours that share traditional knowledge about plants and animals found in this unique landscape.

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National Park in Australia

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Safety: 5.9

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	4
Accessibility:	3
Tap water:	7

Read details

5/5

English is spoken everywhere in Kakadu National Park, including by rangers, guides, and accommodation staff. All signage and visitor information is in English, making it easy for international visitors to get around.

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Last update: 24 Oct 2026

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Kakadu National Park Summary

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Outstanding for wildlife and wetlands. Join boat safaris to spot crocodiles and birds, walk to waterfalls, view Aboriginal rock art and explore vast tropical landscapes.

Place score

8.3

Best at:

Secluded

Natural sites

Stargazing

Wildlife

Birdwatching

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 4

Seniors

♻️ 8

Sustainability

❤️ 6

Couples

Australia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type I Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Australian Dollar (AUD) £1 ≈ A$1.89
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payment is widely accepted, even in rural areas. Digital wallets are commonly used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not mandatory in Australia. Rounding up or 10% is appreciated in high-end restaurants.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is regulated and often prohibited, except in designated areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in public indoor spaces and most outdoor public areas.

Australia Day (January)	Public events and celebrations occur nationwide.
ANZAC Day (April)	Commemorations and closures happen.
Christmas (December)	Festive events and closures occur.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 000 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, 13cabs, Ola
Other:	Australia's vast size requires careful planning for travel between regions. Be aware of wildlife and sun exposure.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

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Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

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The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Kakadu National Park, Australia

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	May, Sep.
Crowdedness:	4 (Moderate tourist numbers)

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Climate details

Wet season November to April: Kakadu's main roads and many sites, including Jim Jim and Twin Falls, are often flooded and closed

Jim Jim and Twin Falls tracks usually open only from about May or June to October, 4WD required

Saltwater crocodiles present year-round: swim only in designated safe pools, never in rivers or billabongs

Don't miss

🌄 Watch the sunset over Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr
🦅 Cruise the Yellow Water Billabong for crocs and birdlife
🏞️ Take a challenging hike to Jim Jim Falls gorge
🖐️ Marvel at ancient paintings at Nourlangie rock shelter
💧 Swim in crystal-clear plunge pool at Maguk

You've been here?

Why travel to Kakadu National Park?

Kakadu is a dream for adventurers and nature lovers. You can cruise through crocodile-filled billabongs, hike to panoramic lookouts and marvel at some of the world’s oldest rock art at Ubirr and Nourlangie. The park’s birdlife is incredible and sunrise or sunset over the wetlands is unforgettable. Cultural experiences led by traditional owners add real depth to your visit. But be prepared: the park is huge, with long drives between sights and some areas are only accessible by 4WD or are closed in the wet season due to flooding or cultural reasons. Always check road conditions and closures and never swim in waterholes unless signs say it’s safe – saltwater crocodiles are a real risk.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Bowali Visitor's Centre
2 Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
3 Twin Falls
4 Gunlom Falls (Udp Falls)
5 Anbangbang Shelter
6 Jim-Jim Falls Road
7 Cahill's Crossing

🎡Places for activities

1 Ubirr
2 Yellow Water Cruises
3 Nourlangie
4 Yurmikmik (Motor Car) Falls
5 Jarrangbarnmi
6 Twin Falls Plateau Walk

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Twin Falls
2 Jim Jim Falls
3 Maguk
4 Mount Cahill
5 Yellow Water Billabong
6 South Alligator River
7 Anbangbang Billabong
8 East Alligator River

🎈Events

Kakadu Bird Week (October)
Mahbilil Festival (Jabiru, August/September)
Wet Season Festival
Guided ranger walks (dry season)
Cultural workshops at Warradjan Centre
Barramundi fishing competitions
Traditional owner talks (seasonal)
Art exhibitions at Injalak Arts
Bush food tasting events
Photography competitions

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Buy a park pass and check seasonal road closures.
Join a ranger talk or Traditional Owner tour for rock art context and etiquette.
Keep distance from crocodile waters; swim only where signs explicitly allow it.
Do a Yellow Water cruise at sunrise or sunset for best wildlife and light.

How to travel to Kakadu National Park

Most visitors arrive via Darwin (about 2–3 hours by car). Hire a car or join a guided tour from Darwin or Katherine. There’s no public transport within the park. The nearest airport is in Darwin, with car rentals and coach tour options available.

Access summary

From Darwin Airport (DRW): Rental car or tour, roughly 3-hour drive.
From Darwin city: Self-drive or guided tour via Arnhem Highway, about 3 hours.
From Katherine: Drive via Stuart and Kakadu Highways, usually around 3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Kakadu National Park

Accommodation ranges from campgrounds and caravan parks to lodges and motels in Jabiru and Cooinda. Book ahead in peak season. Camping is popular, but facilities vary-some sites are very basic, so check what’s available before you go.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Cooinda Lodge Kakadu, Managed by Accor

8.3

Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Kakadu National Park

A car (preferably 4WD) is essential for exploring the park, as distances are vast and many attractions are off sealed roads. There are coach tours and some shuttle services, but self-driving gives you the most freedom. Check in at visitor centres for up-to-date road and safety info.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

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To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-22 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 22% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-2 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to AUD) is 2% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Darwin, Australia - 194 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£70	£142	£369
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£38	£83	£180
🍝 Food per day	£24	£51	£165
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£8	£23

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£18
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£7
🍟 Fast food combo	£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£8.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.90

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.90
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£13
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£40
🤧 Cold medication	£8.50
💇 Basic haircut	£14

Safety information overview

General safety

Kakadu is generally safe but wild: watch for saltwater crocodiles, obey all warning signs and avoid swimming outside designated areas. Roads can be rough or flooded — drive carefully and check conditions. Wildlife (including snakes) is common.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are limited — basic clinics in Jabiru and Cooinda, with serious cases evacuated to Darwin. Carry a first aid kit, plenty of water and medications. Heatstroke, dehydration and insect bites are the main risks; take care in the sun.

Accessibility

Some main attractions and visitor centres are accessible, but many natural sites require walking on uneven or rocky ground. Remote areas may not be suitable for those with limited mobility — check accessibility before visiting specific sites.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink at main centres (Jabiru, Cooinda), but not always available at remote sites. Always carry extra water, especially when hiking or camping, as dehydration is a real risk in the heat.