Places to go: A few reasons to go 'walkabout' and visit Kakadu National Park this autumn

13 August 2024
By Alex James
Picture

Australia's absolutely beautiful resident, the splendid fairy-wren

With several new tours set for autumn 2024, there's never been a better time to visit Australia’s largest national park. The months of September and October are one of the best times to experience the natural wonderland of Kakadu National Park and give those of us based in the UK the opportunity to extend summer and take up a great opportunity to explore one of the most diverse places on earth.
 
Nature will be at its most vivid during the annual Kakadu Bird Week, which will be staged between 25 and 29 September. The spectacular pageant of nature offers visitors the opportunity to join expert-guided tours, cruise the wetlands, and experience Kakadu’s rich Indigenous culture.
 
Kakadu National Park is a bird lover’s paradise – home to more than a third of Australia’s bird species – and is the perfect place to discover and learn all about the rich variety of birds living in the dual World Heritage listed Park.
 
Kakadu Bird Week is held to coincide with the mass migration of magpie geese, which flock to billabongs such as Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba), to feed. With the waters receding towards the end of the dry season, there is no better time to witness birdlife at its most extravagant, along with Kakadu’s full array of exotic animals, including crocodiles, buffalo, brumbies and wallabies.
 
Kakadu has been voted Australia’s number one bird-watching destination by Australian Geographic and is home to over one-third of Australia’s bird species. It is a great opportunity to view graceful sea eagles, elegant kingfishers, distinctive Jabirus and watch the remarkable Jacanas (aka ‘Jesus Bird’) seemingly walking on water.
 
September is a great month to visit with most of Kakadu’s natural attractions being open and easily accessible. These include Maguk rock pool, Jim Jim and Twin Falls waterfalls, Nourlangie and Ubirr rock art sites and Koolpin Gorge. A range of tours can be booked from the parks accommodation providers such as Cooinda Lodge.

There are also lots of new things to see and experience in Kakadu this year such as new off-grid accommodation and experiences on traditional Aboriginal land (Murumburr Clan Country) where guests can engage directly with the local community, while observing traditional cooking practices. 

Stargazing On The Water

Experience the newest tour in Kakadu with Algohgarrng Night Tours, featuring a unique stargazing journey aboard a Yellow Water vessel equipped with a retractable roof. This setup provides exceptional views of the night sky, showcasing stars, planets, and constellations above Kakadu National Park.

Bush Tucker Tour

Embark on an enlightening journey through the diverse botanical landscape of Kakadu. This new walking tour delves into the indigenous bush tucker, uncovering the traditional uses of various local plants and their cultural significance to the Indigenous Bininj people.

‘Culture Of Kakadu’ Tour

Indigenous-owned Kakadu Tourism has launched a new Culture of Kakadu afternoon tour, allowing travellers to enjoy Kakadu’s cooler hours and spectacular sunsets. The five-hour tour facilitates a profound cultural journey into Indigenous Australian life with Kakadu’s Traditional Owners. Guests will discover the region’s rich history, culture and bush tucker, as well as learning traditional art and weaving. The tour concludes at the breathtaking Nawurlandja Lookout, offering stunning sunset views over Kakadu and the ancient Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art site.

Overnight ‘Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp’ with Traditional Owners

For the first time, visitors to Kakadu can glamp overnight on Country with some of Kakadu’s Traditional Owners. A new all-inclusive overnight package at Kakadu Billabong Safari Camp offers travellers a cultural induction to Patonga community, a cooked dinner and breakfast, and accommodation in an off-grid safari tent with a queen-sized bed. Guests will be taught how to forage and hunt for bush tucker, ground oven cooking, traditional arts and weaving, and local language. They will also learn how the family group of the Murumburr Clan manage the landscape and wildlife as their ancestors have done for generations.

💻 Website: northernterritory.com/gb/en
📧 Email
OTHER POPULAR STORIES TO READ: