Kakadu National Park

Australia has spoken! It has voted Kakadu National Park its Number One must-visit destination before you die! Located two hours drive' from Darwin, Kakadu's postcard-perfect escarpment carves through lush wetlands, savannah woodland and monsoon forest. Kakadu's diversity of nature is astounding - waterfalls, gorges, water-lillied billabongs, paperbark forests and vast grasslands. Yet Kakadu isn't just an icon for its environment. It is also home to a unique 50,000-year-old living culture, the Aboriginal (Bininj/Munguy) people, and has one of the greatest concentrations of rock art anywhere in the world.

Covering an area of almost 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu is the largest National Park in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. World Heritage listed in 1984, it has achieved global recognition as a cultural and ecological treasure.

The region has some 20 national parks and reserves - some famous, like Kakadu National Park, and some hidden treasures, just as rich in dramatic beauty, wildlife and Aboriginal culture. Coburg Marine Park, Umbrawarra Gorge, Butterfly Gorge or Tjuwaliyn Hot Springs are just some that must not be missed!

Kakadu has about 5,000 Aboriginal sites including rock art galleries at least 50,000 years old, showing animals, hunters, and other various creations. The park's traditional owners operate the Bowali Visitor Centre and Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

Kakadu is a landscape of contrasts. Beneath waters dotted with lotus flowers, lurk saltwater crocodiles. Jagged peaks of towering escarpments hide pockets of rainforest. Waterfalls cascade into pools fringed with paperbarks, pandanus and cycads. Travellers can view the spectacular Jim Jim and Twin Falls (particularly impressive in the tropical summer), browse through a gallery of ancient Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr or Nourlangie Rock, or explore the scenic Yellow Water, a billabong teeming with wildlife.

Kakadu National Park is home to more than 1,600 species of plants, 64 mammals, 290 birds, 120 reptiles, 25 frogs and 55 fish. Many are rare and found only in the unique environment of Kakadu. Sinister crocodiles, pink cockatoos, majestic brolgas - the region houses an incredible diversity of wildlife.

As the catchment area for the South Alligator, East Alligator, Katherine, Roper and Daly Rivers, Kakadu is shaped by water. From November to May, waterfalls are at their most spectacular and the lowlands are flooded, attracting millions of migratory birds. The unique and diverse avian life in Kakadu includes jacanas, azure kingfishers, cuckoos, rufous owls, magpie geese, jabiru and more. Travellers planning to spend a night or more in Kakadu have several options, ranging from campsites to hotel accommodation.

Further east lies Arnhem Land, encompassing 91,000 square kilometres of unspoiled wilderness. This land harbours a rich and ancient culture, and is home to many Aboriginal people, who often continue to practise their traditional way of life. The natural beauty of areas such as Oenpelli and Mt Borradaile, and the endless coastlines of the Gove and Cobourg Peninsulas, make venturing into Arnhem Land an unforgettable experience. Travellers wanting to visit Arnhem Land need to apply for a permit from the Northern Land Council.

The land itself is more than two billion years old. You need 3-5 days to fully explore Kakadu, and entry to the Park is free. It's NOT a day trip from Darwin!

Darwin, the gateway to Kakadu, is serviced by the major domestic airlines from all capital cities.

Overall, Kakadu can be enjoyed from many adventurous angles - awesome sights on flights from Darwin, adventure safaris from Darwin, cruising along the crocodile-filled Yellow Waters, and overnight walking and camping at Koolpin Gorge.

Have the adventure of a lifetime, and visit Kakadu!