Kakadu

Kakadu - Australia's largest national park

World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is a place of rugged escarpments, lush wetlands and cascading waterfalls covering over 19,000 square kilometres.

Kakadu is Australia's largest national park, and can be entered from Darwin on the Arnhem Highway or via Pine Creek on the Kakadu Highway.

Nature's Way tourism drive

The Nature's Way tourism drive is a great way to explore the park. The flora in Kakadu National Park is diverse, with pockets of monsoon rainforest, fields of pandanus and cycads, paperbark forests and wetlands dotted with lotus lilies.

Some of Kakadu's amazing wildlife includes crocodiles, barramundi, and birds such as magpie geese, brolgas, jabiru and white-bellied sea eagles. Around 1,000 different plant species, a quarter of all Australian freshwater fish species, and over one third of Australian bird species can be found in the park.

Aboriginal rock art

Kakadu National Park is managed jointly by Parks Australia, an Australian government body, and the park's traditional Aboriginal owners. A number of Aboriginal clans reside within the park, and have for some 50,000 years. Kakadu is home to one of the largest concentrations of Aboriginal rock art in the world. Galleries of these ancient paintings can be seen at sites like Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock.

Spectacular landmarks

Other spectacular landmarks include Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls, Maguk (Barramundie Gorge), Jarrangbarnmiu (Koolpin Gorge) and Gunlom (Waterfall Creek). Kakadu National Park also contains many established walking tracks and camp grounds.

Jabiru

At the centre of the park is the small mining township of Jabiru, which offers a range of services and accommodation and serves as a touring centre for Kakadu. Another settlement, Cooinda, also offers accommodation, and is located on the banks of Yellow Water, a billabong teeming with migratory birds, saltwater crocodiles and other wildlife. Cruises on Yellow Water depart daily.

Bowali Visitors Centre

A visit to Kakadu is best started at the Bowali Visitors Centre near Jabiru or the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre near Cooinda. Each provides visitors a good appreciation of the park's traditional owners' culture and heritage.

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