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Yellow Water Billabong

KAKADU
NATIONAL
PARK Northern Territory, Australia

"Ancient rock art, wetland wildlife, and 65,000 years of living culture in Australia's most extraordinary national park."

About Kakadu

WORLD HERITAGE
WILDERNESS

Experience Australia's largest and most spectacular national park with Cooee Tours. Kakadu National Park covers 20,000 square kilometres of World Heritage wilderness — home to ancient Aboriginal rock art, abundant wildlife, dramatic waterfalls, and pristine wetlands that transform completely with the seasons.

Our expert-guided tours provide immersive experiences led by knowledgeable guides who bring this remarkable landscape and its 65,000-year living culture to life. From the Yellow Water Billabong wildlife cruises to remote 4WD access at Jim Jim Falls, each tour reveals a different layer of this extraordinary place.

The Aboriginal heritage is what truly sets Kakadu apart. This land has been continuously occupied for at least 65,000 years. The rock art at Ubirr and Nourlangie isn't ancient history — it's a living cultural record, regularly maintained by Traditional Owners who share their stories with visitors who come to learn.

5,000+
Rock Art Sites
280
Bird Species
20,000
Square Km
65,000+
Years of Culture

Expert Guides

Local guides with deep knowledge of Kakadu's ecology, wildlife, and Aboriginal culture — many with decades of experience in this specific landscape.

Cultural Insights

Aboriginal-guided experiences sharing 65,000 years of living culture and Dreamtime stories at the actual sites where the stories were created.

Wildlife Cruises

Yellow Water wetland cruises for exceptional crocodile and bird viewing — almost guaranteed multiple saltwater crocodile sightings of up to 5 metres.

Remote Access

Purpose-built 4WD vehicles reach Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls, Maguk Gorge, and remote rock art sites inaccessible to independent travellers.

Tour Options

OUR KAKADU
TOUR OPTIONS

Six carefully designed Kakadu tours — from a single day to five days of deep immersion. Every option includes expert guides and all logistics handled.

1 Day

Kakadu Day Tour

Highlights from Darwin, Return Same Day
  • Ubirr rock art & panoramic lookout
  • Yellow Water wildlife cruise
  • Aboriginal cultural insights
  • Adelaide River jumping crocs
  • All meals included
  • Returns Darwin same evening
From per person
$395
View Details & Book
2 Days

Kakadu Discovery

The Essential Kakadu Experience
  • Ubirr rock art & sunset viewing
  • Yellow Water sunrise cruise
  • Nourlangie Rock art galleries
  • Gunlom Falls swim (seasonal)
  • Aboriginal Cultural Centre
  • 1 night accommodation included
From per person
$695
View Details & Book
3 Days

Kakadu Adventure

Comprehensive Kakadu Exploration
  • All 2-day tour highlights plus:
  • Jim Jim Falls or Twin Falls (dry season)
  • Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) swim
  • Katherine Gorge cruise option
  • Additional remote rock art sites
  • 2 nights accommodation included
From per person
$1,095
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4 Days

Kakadu 4WD Adventure

Remote Access & Camping Expedition
  • 4WD-only remote waterfall access
  • Jim Jim Falls & Twin Falls
  • Bush camping under Kakadu stars
  • Off-track Aboriginal rock art sites
  • Small group — maximum 12 guests
  • Adventure-focused full itinerary
From per person
$1,495
View Details & Book
5 Days

Kakadu & Katherine

Complete Top End Wilderness
  • Comprehensive Kakadu exploration
  • Katherine Gorge multi-day experience
  • Litchfield National Park waterfalls
  • Multiple rock art sites across region
  • Remote waterfall access via 4WD
  • 4 nights accommodation included
From per person
$1,895
View Details & Book
Custom

Private Kakadu Tour

Tailored to Your Interests
  • Completely customisable itinerary
  • Private guide & vehicle — your group only
  • Flexible duration: 1–7 days
  • Focus on photography, wildlife, or culture
  • Family-friendly modifications available
  • Families, groups, special occasions
From per day
POA
Enquire Now
Sample Schedule

TYPICAL 2-DAY
KAKADU ITINERARY

Here's what a typical Kakadu Discovery (2-day) tour looks like. Every day in Kakadu is different — this gives you a feel for the pace and highlights.

Day 1 — Darwin to Kakadu

7:00 AM
Depart Darwin heading east on Arnhem Highway
9:00 AM
Adelaide River — jumping crocodile cruise watching massive saltwater crocs launch from the water
11:30 AM
Window on the Wetlands lookout — panoramic views across Mary River floodplains
1:00 PM
Arrive Kakadu, lunch at Bowali Visitor Centre — park orientation
2:30 PM
Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre — understanding Bininj/Mungguy culture
4:00 PM
Ubirr rock art galleries — explore ancient paintings with guide interpretation
5:30 PM
Climb to Ubirr lookout — one of Australia's most spectacular sunsets over Nadab floodplain
7:00 PM
Check-in accommodation, dinner, evening at leisure

Day 2 — Kakadu Exploration

5:30 AM
Yellow Water sunrise cruise — saltwater crocs, jabiru, sea eagles and thousands of waterbirds in spectacular early light
7:30 AM
Breakfast at Cooinda Lodge
9:00 AM
Nourlangie Rock — extensive rock art galleries including Namarrgon (Lightning Man), Aboriginal seasonal calendar explained
11:30 AM
Gunlom Falls (seasonal access) — swim in the famous infinity pool with panoramic views over Kakadu
2:00 PM
Lunch — debrief on the day's experiences
3:00 PM
Begin return journey to Darwin
6:30 PM
Arrive Darwin — tour concludes
Key Attractions

WHAT TO SEE IN
KAKADU

Seven extraordinary experiences within Kakadu — from ancient rock art galleries to remote waterfalls accessible only by 4WD.

Ubirr Rock Art

One of Kakadu's most accessible and impressive rock art sites. The main gallery features x-ray style paintings of fish, turtles, wallabies, and the Rainbow Serpent creation being. The 250-metre climb to the lookout rewards with 360-degree views over the Nadab floodplain — spectacular at sunset.

Best Time: Late afternoon for art viewing and sunset
Accessibility: Moderate walk, some steep sections

Yellow Water Billabong

Kakadu's premier wildlife viewing location. During the dry season, the 1.5–2 hour cruise passes massive saltwater crocodiles, jabiru storks, sea eagles, and hundreds of bird species. Sunrise and sunset cruises offer the best light and most active wildlife — almost guaranteed crocodile sightings.

Best Time: Sunrise or sunset, dry season (May–Oct)
Accessibility: Fully accessible cruise boats

Nourlangie Rock

A spectacular rock art site featuring paintings spanning thousands of years, including the famous Namarrgon (Lightning Man) and hunting scenes. The 1.5km circular walk includes interpretive signs explaining seasonal food sources and the six seasons of the Bininj/Mungguy people.

Best Time: Morning for best light on rock art
Accessibility: Easy walking, sealed pathway

Jim Jim Falls

One of Kakadu's most spectacular waterfalls, dropping 200 metres over the escarpment into a pristine plunge pool. Accessible only during dry season via 4WD and a 1km boulder walk. The effort is rewarded with one of Australia's most dramatic natural settings — sheer cliffs enclosing crystal-clear water.

Best Time: May–July for maximum flow
Accessibility: 4WD essential, moderate-difficult walk

Twin Falls

A sister to Jim Jim, featuring a permanent waterfall cascading into a gorge lined with lush monsoon forest. Access involves 4WD, a boat transfer across a creek, and a boardwalk walk. A magical narrow gorge with crystal-clear water and towering sandstone walls.

Best Time: May–August
Accessibility: 4WD, boat transfer, moderate walk

Gunlom Falls

A stunning infinity pool at the top of the falls with panoramic views across Kakadu — featured in the original Crocodile Dundee film. The main pool at the base is excellent for swimming, while the top pool (steep 30-minute climb) offers one of Australia's most spectacular swimming experiences.

Best Time: May–October (access varies)
Accessibility: 2WD to base; steep climb to top

Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)

A hidden gem requiring 4WD access and a 1km walk through monsoon forest. The reward is a pristine gorge pool fed by a seasonal waterfall, surrounded by paperbark trees — one of Kakadu's most beautiful swimming spots with far fewer visitors than the famous falls.

Best Time: May–September
Accessibility: 4WD required, moderate 1km walk
Fauna Guide

WILDLIFE &
NATURE

Kakadu's biodiversity is staggering — over 2,000 plant species, 280 bird species, 117 reptile species, 77 freshwater fish, and 60 mammal species across habitats from tidal mangroves to sandstone escarpments.

🐊 Saltwater Crocodiles

The apex predator of Kakadu's wetlands. Yellow Water and other billabongs host numerous "salties," some exceeding 5 metres in length. Our cruise guides know individual crocodiles by name and can explain their behaviour, territorial boundaries, and hunting strategies. Always stay behind designated barriers.

🦅 Water Birds

Kakadu is a birdwatcher's paradise. Jabiru (black-necked stork), brolgas, magpie geese, sea eagles, kingfishers, egrets, herons, and countless others congregate in massive numbers during the dry season. The sight of thousands of magpie geese taking flight across the wetlands is genuinely unforgettable.

🐃 Water Buffalo

Introduced in the 1800s, water buffalo are now feral throughout the Top End. Large herds inhabit Kakadu's floodplains. While generally docile from a distance, they've significantly impacted native ecosystems. Management programs work to control populations while their large herds create dramatic wildlife viewing.

🦘 Wallabies & Wallaroos

Several wallaby species inhabit Kakadu, including agile wallabies commonly seen near camping areas. The antilopine wallaroo — Australia's second-largest macropod — inhabits the stone country. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best opportunities to spot them grazing near roadsides.

Living Culture

ABORIGINAL
CULTURAL IMMERSION

What makes Kakadu truly unique is the living Aboriginal culture maintained by the Bininj/Mungguy people — the Traditional Owners who have inhabited this land continuously for at least 65,000 years. Kakadu is jointly managed between Parks Australia and Traditional Owners, with many rangers and tour guides being Aboriginal people maintaining deep connections to Country.

Our tours include cultural experiences that go far beyond simply viewing rock art. Aboriginal guides share Dreamtime stories that explain the creation of the landscape, teach about traditional food sources (bush tucker), and demonstrate how their ancestors used tools and weapons.

You'll learn about the six seasons that Bininj people recognise — far more nuanced than the simple "wet" and "dry" categorisation — and how each season brought different resources and activities, a system refined over thousands of years of careful observation.

The rock art galleries are living cultural sites, not museums. Many paintings are regularly repainted by Traditional Owners as part of maintaining cultural practice. This living culture makes Kakadu different from archaeological sites elsewhere — the culture hasn't been lost to time. It continues today.

"Our guide's explanation of the rock art and Dreamtime stories brought the landscape to life in ways we never expected. This wasn't just seeing ancient paintings — it was understanding a living culture that has thrived here for 65,000 years. The Yellow Water cruise at sunrise with hundreds of birds and several massive crocodiles was the highlight of our entire Australian trip."

— Sarah & Michael, UK

"We did the 3-day Kakadu Adventure tour and it exceeded every expectation. Our guide's knowledge was encyclopedic — explaining everything from rock art dating techniques to crocodile behaviour to traditional food sources. Jim Jim Falls was worth every metre of the rough drive, and the Yellow Water sunset cruise with thousands of birds was magical. A genuinely essential Australian experience."

— James & Emma, Melbourne

When to Visit

SEASONAL
GUIDE

Kakadu transforms dramatically between seasons. Understanding these changes helps you choose the ideal time for your specific interests.

What's Included

TOUR INCLUSIONS
& WHAT TO BRING

Included In All Tours

  • Experienced guide with extensive Kakadu knowledge
  • Comfortable 4WD or coach transport
  • National Park entry fees ($40 value per adult)
  • Yellow Water cruise (multi-day tours)
  • All meals as specified in itinerary
  • Accommodation (multi-day tours)
  • Water and refreshments throughout
  • Detailed commentary and interpretation

What to Bring

  • Comfortable walking shoes — sturdy, closed-toe
  • Swimmers and towel for waterfall swimming
  • Wide-brimmed hat, quality sunglasses
  • Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • Insect repellent with DEET (wetlands)
  • Reusable water bottle — 3L capacity ideal
  • Camera with extra batteries and memory cards
  • Light layers for air-conditioned vehicles
  • Personal medication

Fitness Requirements

  • Basic/Day Tours: Moderate fitness. Short walks on mostly flat terrain
  • Adventure Tours: Good fitness. Walks up to 2km, some steep climbs
  • 4WD Tours: Comfortable with rough roads. Boulder walking at Jim Jim Falls
  • All tours accommodate various fitness levels
  • Contact us if you have mobility concerns — we can advise

Group Sizes

  • Standard Tours: Maximum 20 guests for quality experience
  • 4WD Adventures: Maximum 12 guests for remote access
  • Private Tours: Your group only, any size
  • Small groups ensure personal guide attention
  • Better wildlife viewing with fewer people
  • More opportunities for questions and interaction
Ready to Experience Kakadu?

BOOK YOUR
KAKADU ADVENTURE

"Discover why this World Heritage wilderness is Australia's most extraordinary national park — and why every visitor leaves changed by the experience."

Or call 07 5551 7730 · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm AEST

Questions Answered

FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS

Our Difference

WHY BOOK
WITH COOEE TOURS?

25+ Years Experience

Over a quarter century of guiding tours through Kakadu's wilderness. Deep knowledge of every season, every site, and every road condition in the park.

Award-Winning Service

Recognised for excellence in Aboriginal cultural tourism. 4.8/5 from 50,000+ verified reviews — the Trust you need when exploring this complex and important landscape.

Expert Local Guides

Guides with deep knowledge, genuine passion, and established Aboriginal community relationships. The difference between sightseeing and understanding.

Sustainable Tourism

Committed to protecting Kakadu for future generations — Leave No Trace principles, support for Traditional Owner programmes, and minimal ecological impact.

Small Groups

Maximum 12–20 guests ensures personalised attention, better wildlife viewing with fewer people, and genuine interaction with guides and each other.

All-Inclusive Value

No hidden fees. Park entry, meals, accommodation, transport, and all listed activities included. Competitive pricing with zero compromise on quality.