KC1
EXPERIENCES / KAKADU
Kakadu Circle No. 1
Overview
This is an extended version of our most popular trip. You visit a number of spectacular waterfalls, many of which are unknown to the general public. You camp next to beautiful pools you share with no one but your walking companions. The extra time allows more time for visiting Aboriginal art sites, exploring the areas near our path or simply relaxing and spending two nights at a particularly nice campsite while enjoying our surrounds.
Every season has its advantages but when people ask us when they should come, we tell them, “If you plan to come to Kakadu only once, we advise you to do it in May.”
May is normally the month when the humidity of the post wet season gives way to the Dry. It is the time when the weather finally cools off at night. Water is still plentiful and most of the waterfalls are still flowing well. Many of the 4WD tracks in the park remain closed so we can enjoy many areas without the tourist crowds who arrive later in the year.
This trip will have one, or, if we are lucky, to helicopter food drops. It will not, however, be possible to book either section on its own.
This is one of our two special 40th anniversary trips led by Russell Willis. Due to the closure of part of the original route, we have extended the trip by three days so that we can still fit in all the highlights. Russell is so keen to do the trip, that the price remains the same .
Due to the route change, this page was completely revised on 10 January 2024.
KAKADU
5-29 May 2024
We begin with the long drive from Darwin to Koolpin Gorge, or,if the Koolpin track is still closed, Flying Fox Crossing. Once in the gorge, the pools are perfect for swimming, the waterfalls and views a photographers delight. Aboriginal art sites tell us that this has been a special place for thousands of years.
Although the gorge is only four kilometres long, it is too good to rush through. We take at least a day to reach the top.
From the top of the gorge, we normally follow Koolpin Creek, then one of its tributaries, as we make our way upstream. A short walk through a pass brings us to a small tributary of Twin Falls Creek. Because this is just the beginning of the dry season, there is enough water to allow us to take at least one full day, probably two, to really get to know the area.
We follow this creek downstream to the main Twin Falls Creek.
Twin Falls Creek passes through a mix of sandy and rocky areas for about six kilometres to the Amphitheatre Falls where the river drops 20 metres into the upper gorge. Few groups have ever been able to resist spending at least an hour here just admiring the views and enjoying the pool below the falls. We will camp somewhere near for two nights and do a day walk to Twin Falls.
Twin Falls consists of a series of drops of up to 20 metres and a final 80 metre plunge into the gorge below. Here we have a break and take time to enjoy the spectacular views.
We then walk about 8 km back the way we came before heading upstream on a different triburary creek. We leave this creek and go through a pass that drops onto a different tributary of Koolpin than the one we followed at the start. We hope to camp near the cascades shown in the middle photo below.
After another few km on Koolpin Creek, and we turn north into a side valley where we camp on a sandy beach below a small waterfall and pool we only visit on this trip and the Kakadu Short Circle.
We follow this creek to its headwaters and cross a saddle before dropping down to the upper reaches of Cascades Creek. Potential camp sites are everywhere.
We follow this creek to its headwaters and cross a saddle before dropping down to the upper reaches of Cascades Creek. Potential camp sites are everywhere.
We follow this down to the top of Cascacdes Creek gorge where we hope to have another two night camp. two nights here woould allow us to do a day walkto the top of Graveside Gorge (Bilkbilkmi) where a double waterfall drops 100 metres into a pool in the gorge below.
From Graveside, we move on to Cascades Creek with its beautiful cascades and natural water slide, much too inviting to pass by in a rush.
Next, we visit Gronophylum Creek with its unusual multi-trunked palms, beautiful, sandy camp sites and deep, clear pools.
From Gronophylum, we cross to the Barramundi system and its many waterfalls. Our first Barramundi campsite is just above what some call Piccaninny Pools.
From there, a short climb brings us to the main plateau. We stay up until near our second last campsite on the banks of a huge, shady pool (the largest in the Barramundi system) .
On the last full day’s walk,
we follow Barramundi Creek down to yet another sandy camp next to a pool.
Next day, we walk down to meet our pick up vehicleand drive to Cooinda. After a bistro lunch at the pub, we visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre before driving to Jabiru for a night at the Anbinik Resort.
Next morning, we do the Guluyambi Aboriginal Cultural cruise on the East Alligator River. This gives you a good view of the Kakadu wetlands before we return to Darwin.
Details
DATES
5-29 May
PRICES
Full price: A$6495
GROUP SIZE
4 - 12 guests
CAMP SITE
Mix of sand and rock ledges. Most sites are excellent. You are unlikely to see anyone else at most of the campsites.
ART
We visit a variety of art sites
SWIMMING
May is a good month to see Kakadu’s waterfalls. Most creeks are still flowing well and the swimming is excellent. We will have good pools at every campsite, almost every lunch spot and at other times every day.
WILDLIFE
Birds are always present but still spread out at this time of year. You are unlikely to see many large animals. The Guluyambi cruise is normally excellent for large estuarine crocodiles and gives you a good chance to see some of the wetlands birds as well.
CLIMATE
May is a transition month when the weather gradually turns cooler and less humid. The average daily maximum temperature is 32-33ºC (90-92ºF). The average nightly minimum ranges from about 17ºC (62ºF) in the southern part of the park to about 22ºC (71ºF) in the north. Averages can, however, be misleading. We have had the temperature drop as low as 10ºC (50ºF) in May on one of these trips. Sleeping bags are essential. Rain is unlikely, but still possible so we recommend that you bring a tent or mosquito net with a fly to ensure against getting wet at night.
FIRE
We plan to have a campfire every night and will have hot water available every morning.
WALK RATING - MODERATE
Terrain
There are A few steep climbs, none of which is over 200 m. As short as they are, these climbs are strenuous. Some may require using your hands to hold on as you climb up or down. None are technically difficult. None require ropes or other special equipment.
There will be some places where you have to step from stone to stone as you walk along the edge of a creek.
The creeks are low enough so that swimming across with packs is unlikely to be necessary. However, many people coming down Cascades Creek on section two prefer to float packs than to climb around one pool. It may also be necessary to wade across slippery rocks. Your guide can help if you need assistance.
Vegetation
Much of the walking is through relatively flat, open woodland with a grassy understorey. Some short sections of grass may hide a broken rocky surface where you will have to be particularly careful. There may be some slow sections where you will have to pass though thick scrub. The vegetation can vary from year to year depending on when last burnt. At this time of year, the spear grass has finished seeding and dried out.
Wildflowers are particularly abundant at this time of year.
Distance
4-6 hours per day. A few days will be longer. The first full day of section two is normally the longest of the trip.
Pack Weight
You need to carry food for up to ten days.
Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
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