KH08
Kakadu Highlights No. 8
Overview
- Three sections, any of which can be done on its own.
- Jim Jim and Twin Falls Creeks. Two of the most spectacular sites in Kakadu. Easy acclimatisation walks carrying only two days food.
- A night in and a tour at an Aboriginal owned and run Safari camp.
- Barramundi Creek with some of the biggest pools we can find.
- Finish off with a relaxing cruise and a night in a houseboat on the Mary River.
KAKADU
Sep 8-21 2024
1) Jim Jim and Twin Falls Creeks
This is one of the easiest walks we offer, minimal pack carrying combined with day walks and swim stops along two of the most scenic creeks in Kakadu.
The drive from Darwin to Jim Jim Falls takes 4-5 hours. From the car park, we follow the Barrk Marlam trail to the top of Jim Jim Falls, the tallest waterfall in the park. After a view stop, we move upstream to our campsite for the night. The next morning we do an easy day walk upstream. On day 3, we do the four kilometre walk to the entrance to the top of one of the longest rainforest gorges in Kakadu, known as Anbadgoran by the local Aboriginal people.
The drive from Darwin to Jim Jim Falls takes 4-5 hours. From the car park, we follow the Barrk Marlam trail to the top of Jim Jim Falls, the tallest waterfall in the park. After a view stop, we move upstream to our campsite for the night. The next morning we do an easy day walk upstream. On day 3, we do the four kilometre walk to the entrance to the top of one of the longest rainforest gorges in Kakadu, known as Anbadgoran by the local Aboriginal people.
Although it is much smaller than nearby Jim Jim and Twin Falls Creeks, the creek which created this gorge continues to flow long after its neighbours have stopped. After a leisurely few hours enjoying the area, we return the way we came.
The next day, we return to the Barrk Marlam Trail and follow it back to the vehicles. We then drive to the Twin Falls car park, repack, don the packs and follow the marked trail to the top of Twin Falls.
There are so many possible campsites on the creek that it’s hard to choose the ‘best’. We do a leisurely walk from our first camp to another from which we do a bit of exploration including a visit to one of the most unusual geological features in the park.
We use this camp as a base for a day walk to and above Amphitheatre Falls, one of the many magical places that only overnight hikers can see.
From our campsite, a walk of about 5-6 km brings us back to the vehicle we left at the car park. We then drive to Cooinda. After lunch, we plan to visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre before driving to the Aboriginal owned and operated Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp where we get a traditional Welcome to Country.
From our campsite, a walk of about 5-6 km brings us back to the vehicle we left at the car park. We then drive to Cooinda. After lunch, we plan to visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre before driving to the Aboriginal owned and operated Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp where we get a traditional Welcome to Country.
3) Barramundi Creek
The next morning we drive to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge). A short walk from the car park brings us to the main falls and the climb to the upper gorge. A walk through the upper gorge takes us to a lovely camp site.
The next morning we drive to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge). A short walk from the car park brings us to the main falls and the climb to the upper gorge. A walk through the upper gorge takes us to a lovely camp site.
When we leave the gorge, we find ourselves in a broad sandy valley. The only visible water is in a few isolated pools. All the flow is through the sand below our feet. After about five kilometres, we turn off into a side valley and suddenly find flowing water.
Another kilometre brings us to a beautiful, deep, clear, shady pool where we can relax and enjoy a swim. A short climb to the top brings us to more beautiful pools and waterfalls. We may camp near here or we may decide to push on across the plateau and down to the largest pool in the entire Barramundi system. Huge Allosyncarpia trees give deep shade on the wide sandy banks of the pool, another exceptional camp site.
From there, we follow the creek back to where we began before driving to Jabiru.
4) Ubirr and the Mary River
After a brief stop in Jabiru, we drive to Ubirr, site of one of the best collections of Aboriginal art in Kakadu. For most of the year, it is completely overrun with bus loads of tourists. By late September, most of these are gone. We will time our visit for dusk or dawn twhen we should have it almost to ourselves.
After a night in Jabiru, we drive to the Mary River where our trip finishes with the most comfortable wetland experience we can offer — a day and night aboard a houseboat
We cruise slowly along the Mary, watching the hundreds of birds that line the river banks and enjoying the changing scenery around us. We pull in to shore for the night and enjoy a relaxing final meal in the bush as we listen to the night sounds around us.
The following morning, we cruise back to where we began and get into the vehicles for the drive back to Darwin.
Details
DATES
3-16 SeptemberPRICES
Full price: A$4495
Section 1: $2325
Section 2: $1695
Section 3: $1295
Sections 1 & 2 cost $3795; sections 2 & 3 cost $2295.
*other discounts available
GROUP SIZE
4 - 12 guests
CAMP SITE
Mix of sand and rock ledges. Most sites are good to excellent.You are unlikely to see anyone else other than at the beginning and end of the walks.
ART
We visit a variety of art sites
SWIMMING
We will have good pools at almost every campsite and lunch spot. But no swimming from the houseboat at the end.
WILDLIFE
Birds are concentrated near the waterholes at this time of year. You will see thousands along the Mary River. The Mary River cruises gives you a good chance to see large estuarine crocodiles. If you bring a line, you may be able to catch a barramundi from the houseboat.
CLIMATE
September is one of the hotter months of the year with an average daily maximum of 36ÌŠC 97ºF). Fortunately, the humidity is normally still fairly low. The average minimum is 21ºC (70ºF). Temperatures as low as 12ºC (about 54ºF) have been known to occur, but they are rare. You might want to leave your sleeping bag at home. If you do, bring thermals for insurance against a chilly night. We tailor our walking to the climate, starting early and having long breaks next to pools in the middle of the day. If you accept the climate, you should have a wonderfully relaxing holiday. If you want to march on regardless of the weather, you may find it frustrating.
Thunderstorms are possible so that we recommend that you bring a lightweight tent or mossie dome with fly.
COOKING
We will have campfires every night on the walks. Hot water will be available every morning.
WALK RATING - MODERATE
Terrain
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.
Distance
4-6 hours per day
Pack Weight
You need to carry up to,4 days food.
Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
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