1-Day Kakadu National Park tour 2024 (5.30AM - 6PM)
Highlights
- A chance to spot some of the 280 spices of birds found in Kakadu National Park
- An excellent opportunity to witness a variety of ancient rock art and take in breathtaking views from Ubirr rock across the floodplain
- A First Nations guide takes you on a unique experience on the Guluyambi cultural cruise.
- Spot Saltwater crocodiles waiting for a feed at Cahill’s Crossing
- Discover the area’s lesser known history as you admire Mitsuaki Tanabe’s granite carvings
Duration of the tour is 12 hours - Tour available in June and July 2024 - Pick up from CBD accommodation approx. 5.30am
1-DAY Kakadu National Park itinerary
1-DAY Kakadu Tour
Your day will start with a real Australian experience as we make a stop at a true blue Aussie pub. You’ll have a chance to meet the locals, a pet croc and a couple of cheeky buffaloes. This is an opportunity to grab a coffee and a bite to eat if you missed breakfast.
When breakfast is done we will venture towards Kakadu National Park passing across the south Alligator river with its sprawling floodplains and large numbers of birdlife. We’ll make a stop at Mamukala wetlands where there is a bird hide to help you spot some of the 280 spices of birds found in the National Park.
Once we’ve taken in the breathtaking view we’ll make tracks towards the East Alligator river River to embark on our Guluyambi cultural cruise. An Aboriginal guide provides guests with an insight into their culture and local mythology, the river’s abundant food chain, traditional uses for many plants and animals as well as bush survival skills. Disembark on the Arnhem Land side of the river for a display of traditional hunting and gathering implements.
From the cruise we’ll go to Cahills Crossing, the famous vehicle crossing connecting Kakadu with Arnhem Land, where Saltwater Crocodiles congregate as they wait for fish to flow over the low-lying road.
We then make our way to the rock shelters at Ubirr Rock. Your guide will take you through some of the galleries to view a range of different ancient art styles with new paintings super-imposed over older ones. There are stories of law and behaviour, as well as great examples of Rarrk paintings and the thylacine.
We’ll walk to the Ubirr rock’s spectacular viewing platform carved by nature and take in the 360 degree views. You’ll be able to see across the Nadab floodplain and the East Alligator floodplains all the way to Arnhem Land.
After hopefully spotting some crocodiles we’ll travel to the Bowali Visitor Centre to learn more fascinating facts about Kakadu National Park.
As our journey begins back to Darwin we’ll make a stop at the lesser known site of Mitsuaki Tanabe’s granite carvings. They pay homage to the native grass which produces a wild rice once harvested in the Top End. We go for a short bush walk to locate some of the carvings depicting various images including the native wild rice. The site is on the edge of the Mt. Bundy Range which is also a great location to see Gouldian finches.
We ‘ll arrive back in Darwin around 6pm.
Important Information - Essential reading:
For more information and all the answers to your questions please read our Trip Notes - Day Tours
You MUST purchase your own Kakadu National Park pass to participate on this tour. You can find out more information here and buy your parks pass here. If you have any questions regarding the pass please contact the Kakadu National Park on kakadu.parkpass@parksaustralia.gov.au
Private charter request
It is possible to book this tour as a private charter, if you would like to arrange it for a group of family or friends.