Koolpin-Maguk
EXPERIENCES / KAKADU
Koolpin to Maguk
Overview
This is one of the few trips that allows you to visit one of the more interesting tributaries of Koolpin Creek, an area noted for its abundance of Aboriginal art sites.
From Koolpin, you cross to the upper reaches of Cascades Creek with it's natural waterslide. If time permits, you will do a day trip to the top of Graveside Gorge where an 80 metre waterfall plunges into the gorge below.
From the bottom of Cascades Creek, we take a short cut to one of major tributaries of Barramundi Creek. We spend the last few days exploring the Barramundi system, finishing where we meet our pick up vehicle at the Maguk car park.
KAKADU
6-16 July 2025
This is one of our only two trips that visit one of the more interesting tributaries of Koolpin Creek, an area noted for its abundance of Aboriginal art sites.
We are driven to the start of the walk at Koolpin Creek. The last ten km are on a rough 4WD track, so this will probably take something like five hours including time for brief stops along the way.
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, cut cross country to camp near a waterfall and lage pool on one of Koolpin's main tributaries.
We follow this upstream, then go overland to the upper reaches of Cascades Creek. We follow this to the top of Cascades Creek gorge and a camp where we spend two nights.
From there, we do a day walk to the top of Graveside Gorge where a double waterfall drops 80 metres into the gorge below.
We then take a day to walk down Cascades Creek Gorge. 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.
From our final campsite on Cascades Creek, we walk up the last little bit of the main Graveside Valley and 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.
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.
We then do the long drive back to Darwin. Or, if those who book early wanted to do it, we spend a final night in Kakadu and do one of the cruises and/or Aboriginal cultural tours.
Details
DATES
6-16 July
PRICES
Full price: A$4295
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.
CLIMATE
Although July is one of the two coolest months of the year, the maximum temperature on most days will still average 30-31ºC. Although the average nightly minimum is about 16-18ºC (65ºF), it is not uncommon for the temperature to drop as low as 10ºC (50ºF). Occasionally it goes lower still. Sleeping bags are essential. Rain is highly unlikely but possible.
Many people don't bother with a tent fly but we recommend bringing something you can pull over yourself if we do get a fluke rainstorm.
Many people don't bother with a tent fly but we recommend bringing something you can pull over yourself if we do get a fluke rainstorm.
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
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