Kakadu Short Circle
EXPERIENCES / KAKADU
Kakadu Short Circle
Overview
This is the only one of our trips that allows you to visit the upper reaches of Koolpin Creek, an area noted for its abundance of Aboriginal art sites. This trip provides most groups with more time for visiting Aboriginal art sites, birdwatching, botanising and/or simply relaxing than is possible on most of our other circle trips.
Every season has its advantages. This trip takes place ina time when the rain has eased off but there is still plenty of water allowing us to visit places that would be too dry later in the year. There are still lots of wildflowers and is probably the best time to see nesting and newly fledged birds. You get to see a still fairly green landscape that dry season visitors can only imagine.
The trip finishes with a night in accommodation in Jabiru and the morning Guluyambi cruise on the East Alligator River, a relaxing end to an amazing trip.
KAKADU
20 April - 3 May 2025
This is our only trip that visits some of the upper reaches of Koolpin Creek, an area noted for its abundance of Aboriginal art sites. It provides most groups with more time for birdwatching, botanising and/or simply relaxing than is possible on most of our other circle trips.
The walk begins at Flying Fox Crossing on the South Alligator River in the southern part of Kakadu, about four to five hours from Darwin. A relatively flat eight kilometre walk along the banks of the river and across the plain brings us to the beginning of Koolpin Gorge.
Koolpin Gorge is beautiful. The pools are perfect for swimming. The waterfalls and views are a photographer's delight and a memory to treasure.
From the top of the gorge, one pool follows another as we follow Koolpin Creek to the area where it begins. Most groups take a relatively leisurely three or four days to do this. Faster groups might spend a day at a base camp allowing time to explore without full packs.
From Koolpin, we cross over to the top of Graveside Gorge where a double waterfall drops 100 metres into the gorge below. After having a good look, we move along to Cascades Creek. The pools and art sites are too nice to pass by, so stops are frequent as we make our way down to the cascades for which the creek is named. The last 500 metres often takes two hours or more as the deep pools and a natural water slide are much too inviting to rush past.
Next, we visit Gronophylum Creek with its unusual multi-trunked palms, beautiful, sandy camp sites and deep, clear pools. The rugged landscape away from the creek is reminiscent of central Australia with its red rock and spinifex covered hills. several days.
From Gronophylum, we cross to the Barramundi system and its many waterfalls. Our first stop is at a magical set of pools and cascades some call Piccaninny Pools. From there, we continue across the plateau and drop down to a campsite on the banks of a huge, shady pool below a small waterfall.
From here, we head down Barramundi Valley, detouring to visit the Emerald Pool, deepest in the area, as we make our way out to Maguk where we meet the pick up vehicles .
The walk may be over, but our trip is not. From Maguk, our vehicle takes us to Cooinda and the Kakadu wetlands, a very different environment from that through which we have been walking. The wetlands are flat and full of mosquitoes, not the best place for a bushwalk so we spend the night in accommodation.
Next morning, we do the Guluyambi Aboriginal Cultural cruise on the East Alligator River. This gives you an insight into their culture as well as giving you a good view of the Kakadu wetlands and its wildlife. After the cruise, we return to Darwin, arriving in time for people to catch flights that night.
Details
DATES
20 April - 3 May
PRICES
Full price: A$4595
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
Koolpin has one of the greatest concentrations of rock paintings in Kakadu. There are a number of good sites in other areas as well.
SWIMMING
Excellent. This is a good time to see the waterfalls on this route. We will have good pools at almost every campsite lunch spot as well as other pools along the way.
WILDLIFE
Birds are always present but spread out at this time of year. You are unlikely to see many large animals. The Yellow Waters cruise is excellent for birds, many of which you are unlikely to see on the walk.
This is the best time of year to see nesting birds and newly fledged chicks. The cruise also gives you a good chance to see large estuarine crocodiles.
This is the best time of year to see nesting birds and newly fledged chicks. The cruise also gives you a good chance to see large estuarine crocodiles.
CLIMATE
It will be hot. It will also be humid although the humidity normally drops substantially between March and May. The average daily maximum is 33-34ºC (91-94ºF). The average minimum is 20-22ºC (68-71ºF). It can, however, get much cooler. Rain is unlikely but possible. We recommend that you bring a tent or mosquito net with a fly.
FIRE
We plan to have a campfire every night and will have hot water available every morning.
WALK RATING - MODERATE TO HARD
Terrain
The terrain is a mix of almost everything Kakadu hgas to offer. A detailed description is in the trip notes.
Except for one tiny bit at the end, none of the walking is on a marked trail. If you are not used to off-trail walking, it is especially important that you read the
detailed trip notes.
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.
Pack Weight
You need to carry 13 days food. This will include about 3½-4½ kg of the evening meals. We recommend both a lightweight sleeping and a tent or mosquito net and fly.
Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
Note. The last few pictures in the gallery below are things you can only see at this time of year.
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