KH03-25
EXPERIENCES / KAKADU
Kakadu Highlights No. 3
Overview
This trip visits
Baroalba Creek in Kakadu.
- Amazing rock formations
- A wealth of Aboriginal rock art sites.
- We finish with a night in a campground and a Yellow Waters cruise
- You see places non-walkers will never see.
TOP END
April 6-13 2025
Baroalba Creek
The rugged nature of the approaches prevented buffalo from reaching the basin, making this one of the few undisturbed areas in Kakadu. The area is full of rock shelters that were used by Aboriginal people over the millennia. It contains what may well be the greatest concentration of Aboriginal rock art in Australia, dating from the most ancient to the most recent.
We begin with a drive of about 300 km from Darwin followed by an easy three kilometre stroll along an old four wheel drive track to Kubara (Baroalba Springs).
At Kubara, we can enjoy a refreshing swim before leaving all tracks behind and climbing up to the plateau.
There are two routes to our preferred campsite. A relatively easy one through mostly open country along a small tributary and a small, more strenuous one through a monsoon forest patch along the boulder strewn main creek.
Monsoon forest is too rare an environment to miss so we may go up one and down the other. Which is which will depend on the time we arrive.
Once inside the basin, the ground levels out and the walking becomes easier. There are a number of nice camp sites to tempt us as we work our way upstream.
We
take our time, stopping every so often to have a swim or just to enjoy the shade of a cool rock shelter or the sight of a particularly colourful patch of flowers. We should have one two-night camp from which we do a day walk.
On the final day, we return to the walking track, hike back to the vehicles and drive to Cooinda where we spend the night in the campground and enjoy a bistro meal.
On our final morning in Kakadu, we do the 6:45 am Yellow Waters cruise. This gives you a good view of the Kakadu wetlands, not the best place for a bushwalk, but a wonderful place for birds and other wildlife.
After the cruise, we return to Darwin.
Details
DATES
6-13 AprilPRICES
Full price: A$2695
*discounts available
GROUP SIZE
4 - 12 guests
CAMP SITES
Mix of sand, grassy areas and rock ledges. Most sites are good; some are excellent, some may be no more than average. You are unlikely to see anyone else at any of the campsites.
ART
Excellent.
SWIMMING
Good pools at most campsites and lunch spots.
WILDLIFE
Birds are always present but spread out at this time of year. You are unlikely to see many other large animals.
CLIMATE
Average daytime max 34ºC, average nighttime min 19-21ºC. Conceivable but very unlikely to drop below 15ºC. Generally moderate humidity. Rain is moderately likely but not likely to be much. We recommend that you bring a tent or mosquito net with a fly or at least a plastic sheet for shelter if we do get rain.
COOKING
We will have campfires every night and hot water available every morning.
WALK RATING - MODERATE
Terrain
Most of the walk is relatively flat. There are, however, a few moderate climbs and a fair amount of rock hopping. There may be sections of thick scrub. We cannot say for sure as this depends how recently the area has been burnt and on how much rain there has been since.
Varies from year to year depending on when last burnt. In May, most of the spear grass has finished seeding and dried out. Based on past experience, we expect some sections of thick scrub and or spinifex which will make some days much harder than others. There are always flowers in bloom.
Distance
4-6 hours per day. A few days might be longer.
Pack Weight
You need to carry 5
days food. You should not need more than a very light sleeping bag. We recommend a tent or mosquito net with a fly or plastic cover.
Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
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