EXPERIENCES / KAKADU
Top End New Year
Overview
Updated 2 November.
Walkabouts owner Russell Willis wants to do this trip so much that he added a day, cut the price and made as easy as possible.
- We begin with the two night walk up Baroalba Creek shown in the video at right or below this box.
- Next we have a night at Cooinda where we so a Yellow Waters Cruise
- Then a short walk or two and a visit to Ikoymarrwa Rockhole.
- We finish with a two night camp on Depot Creek and an easy walk through an amazing little gorge.
KAKADU
27 Dec 2022 - 1 Jan 2023
Baroalba Creek - Kakadu
Baroalba Creek is the main drainage for Mount Brockman, a large, irregularly shaped massif sitting on the plains a few kilometres away from the edge of the Arnhem escarpment.
While the edges of the massif are extremely rugged and steep, much of the centre consists of a large basin drained by Baroalba Creek. The rugged nature of the approaches prevented buffalo from reaching the basin, making this one of the few completely undisturbed areas in Kakadu.
We will walk to a base camp next to a beautiful pool and do a day walk from there.
Yellow Waters & Ikoymarrwa
When we return to the vehicle, we drive to Cooinda, probably stopping to view the Burrungkuy rock paintings on the way.
After a relaxing night at Cooinda, we do the 6:45 AM Yellow Waters cruise, then drive south stopping to do short walks at Gungurul and/or Bukbukluk before visiting
Ikoymarrwa, the most easily accessible of Kakadu’s waterfalls at this time of year.
Depot Creek
From Ikoymarrwa, we drive to Depot Creek for our final two nights.
Depot Creek flows through a beautiful little gorge, almost unknown even to local Darwin residents. It dries up fairly soon after the rain stops, so the best time to visit is during or immediately after the wet season.
If water levels are normal, we will be able to drive all the way to our camp. If they are very high, we may have to walk the last 3 km.
One waterfall follows the next. Swim follows swim as we work our way down the gorge on a day walk from our base camp.
Details
DATES
Dec 27 - Jan 1
PRICES
Discount price: A$995
GROUP SIZE
4 - 12 guests
CAMP SITES
Baroalba:
Mix of sand and rock ledges.
Depot Creek:
Flat area near the car.
ART
We should see a variety of art sites. How many depends on the wishes of the group.
SWIMMING
This is the best time to see the Top End waterfalls. We will have good pools at every campsite and lunch spot.
WILDLIFE
Birds are always present but spread out at this time of year. You are unlikely to see many large animals.
CLIMATE
It will be hot (although not as hot as you might think) and it will be humid. The average daily maximum is 33-34ºC (91-94ºF). If we get a spell of relatively dry weather, the temperature could reach 40ºC (104ºF). The average minimum is 24ºC (75ºF). Sleeping bags are not needed. Rain is almost certain. On average it will rain two days out of three, mostly in short, sharp bursts. Averages can, however, be misleading. Occasionally, it might rain for days at a time
COOKING
In spite of the wet weather, we should have campfires every night and hot water available every morning.
WALK RATING - MEDIUM
Terrain
There could be 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.
You will almost certainly have to wade across at least one flooded creek while carrying your pack. It's very unlikely we'd need to float a pack.
Vegetation
In all cases, much of the walking is through relatively flat, open woodland with a grassy understorey.
Distance
4-6 hours per day
Pack Weight
You need to carry up to 2 days food.
Unless you have walked in the wet season before, please do not book this trip until you have read our
Wet Season page. This links to two additional pages, just as important if you are to enjoy the trip.
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27 Dec 2022 - 1 Jan 2023
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