Kakadu National Park
The name 'Kakadu' comes from an aboriginal floodplain language called Gagudju which was one of the languages spoken in the north of Kakadu National Park at the beginning of the twentieth century. Gagudju is no longer regularly spoken but descendants of this language group are still living in Kakadu National Park.
The park contains 1,980,400 hectacres. of wetlands and other terrain, it is Australia's largest National Park and is approximately the size of Israel. Flora and faunaKakadu National Park's wetlands provide the greatest visual pleasure. The freshwater and estaurine (saltwater) crocodiles sleep on the banks of all rivers and the many billabongs for most of the day but can also be seen floating or swimming in the water. Birdlife abounds from the stately Jabiru to the amusing "Jesus" bird (Jacana) as it steps from lily pad to lily pad.
The billabongs of the Kakadu National Park are anything but "stagnant pools of water". Wallabies are very common and are often, unfortunately, seen as roadkill. Feral horses, pigs and water buffalo also roam the park. Frilled Lizards are also present but are only regularly seen during the wet season when the park is nearly inaccessible. ClimateKakadu National Park has two seasons, 'wet' and 'dry'. In the wet (October to April) many of the attractions are impossible to get to so that the dry season (May to September) is the peak period for visitors. However, regardless of the time of year, it is always very warm or hot. Generally people will travel along the Arnehm Highway from Darwin to the park. The alternatives are to turn off the Stuart Highway and take the Kakadu Highway coming from the south or fly into Jabiru.
Longer trips are offered by "adventure" companies who will take you off the sealed road and into the bush. They provide tented accommodation and 4WD vehicles as well as expertise on the flora and fauna. They range from the basic backpacker tours, which typically pack up to 9 people in the back of a 4WD and cost around $150 per day, see Kakadu 4WD Tours to the more luxury tours which can cost $300 per day or more. Hiring a car in Darwin and driving to the park is a viable proposition and if you book the car well in advance from outside Australia you can get a good deal. However, "unlimited mileage" is not normally available from the major car hire firms and you can expect to pay per km for km above the first 150 km or so.
Try Europcar or Thrifty, who do offer "unlimited mileage" and remember that there are restrictions on time of use (not after sunset). You will have to stay on sealed roads if you do not hire a 4WD. Kakadu National Park is massive (the size of a small country) and 4WD vehicles are required to enter some areas. However many spectacular and popular sites are readily accessible via sealed roads. SeeThe attractions include the opportunity to learn about the people, geology, plants and animals which make Kakadu a unique and precious resource, not only for Australians but for all the people in the world. Aboriginal paintings can be studied in overhangs in the Nourlangie area and there are waterfalls and plunge pools in various parts of the park.
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Kakadu National Park is in the Northern
Territory of Australia and located around 171 km east of
the capital city of Darwin.
Kakadu National Park was established in 1981.
It is governed by Environment Australia / Parks Australia
and Abo traditional land owners (the Gun-djeihmi,
Kunwinjku, Krakeourtinnie and Jawoyn peoples).
At dusk on the Yellow Water billabong
(Ngurrungurrudjba), hundred of herons circle overhead
landing and taking of from half-submerged trees. Ospreys
sit on termite mounds or soar on high looking for prey
beneath the still waters.
There are operators who provide bus tours into
Kakadu National Park and, if you are short of time, a one
day round trip is possible. This is an expensive (about
AU$160) and tiring exercise but it will give you a taste
for the magic of the park. If you are using the bus tour
operators try and spend at least two days in Kakadu..jpg "Kakadu")
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