How to road trip Kakadu and itineraries for visiting

There’s no shortage of great tours on offer in Kakadu, but a do-it-yourself driving adventure holiday is pretty hard to beat, says Lee Atkinson

There are two ways you can drive around Kakadu: on the bitumen or in the dirt.

The sealed road

Getting to Kakadu is easy. From the south it’s 150 kilometres from Katherine, via the Stuart and Kakadu highways.

Most people come from Darwin though (that’s the closest airport), which is also around 150 kilometres from the edge of the park, via the Arnhem Highway. Both roads are sealed, open all year, and in fairly good condition, although you do need to keep an eye out for wandering cattle, buffalo and kangaroos.

The view from Ubirr Kakadu at susnset.

Once you’re in the park a sealed all-weather road runs right through the centre of the wilderness, roughly forming a triangle from the two highways with the township of Jabiru – 254 kilometres from Darwin, 211 kilometres from Pine Creek – at the apex. This triangle is the classic Top End Road Trip.

All of the must–see Kakadu attractions, such as Ubirr and Nourlangie with their magnificent rock art galleries, tour hub Cooinda and the wildlife-filled Yellow Water Billabong are easily accessible from this main road, as are the popular accommodation options and most of the parks that cater for caravans.

Enjoy a Yellow Water Cruise at sunset through the Kakadu wetlands (photo: David Hancock)

The dirt track alternatives

You don’t need a 4WD to see the best of Kakadu, although if you do have one there are a few special spots where high-range comes in handy.

Jim Jim Falls Kakadu just after the wet (Photo: Tourism NT)

A 4WD will get you out to Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls (although you still have to walk the last kilometre or so), Sandy Billabong, the more remote waterholes and some of the bush camping areas.

You’ll also need a 4WD on the Old Jim Jim Road, which is a great shortcut from Cooinda to the Arnhem Highway.

The bucket-list swimming spot: Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park (photo: Sarah Mackie).

Many of the unsealed roads that are fine for 2WD in the dry season like Maguk are 4WD-only in the wet. The tracks aren’t particularly difficult, but some can be rocky and slow and the river crossings can be a bit tricky in the wet.

Camping

There are more than 25 designated campgrounds in Kakadu, ranging from commercial caravan parks to remote bush camping sites with no facilities at all, as well as bush campgrounds that have toilets and hot showers. Hiring a campervan is a great option if you have flown to Darwin: most come with basic camping gear.

Kakadu Road trip tips

Avoid driving in the dark: your chances of colliding with a critter are very high, and most car hire insurance policies do not cover you for the damage.

Many hire car companies will not allow their cars on dirt roads – even SUVs – so check the fine print.

The visitor centres frequently run out of maps, so download one from parksaustralia.gov.au. The free ‘Visit Kakadu’ app (iTunes and android) is also useful, but the maps are easier to read on  tablet than a phone.

You’ll need a snorkel fitted to your vehicle if driving on 4WD tracks in the wet season.

Fuel is available at Jabiru, Cooinda and Pine Creek. No fuel is available at Goymarr Roadhouse.

In the wet

Can go: The Arnhem and Kakadu highways remain open, as do the roads to Nourlangie, Ubirr and Cooinda, although they may close after big storms. Check the Parks Australia road report for Kakadu.

Can’t go: The roads to Jim Jim and Twin Falls are closed. The best way to see these is on a scenic flight. Old Jim Jim Road, Maguk and Sandy Billabong are also out of action. Many minor unsealed roads are closed; those that remain open are 4WD-only and some bush campgrounds are closed. Check the road report for details.

Check out our Kakadu FAQs for more.

Kakadu road trip itineraries

Kakadu in three days

Day 1:

• Drive Darwin to Jabiru
• Head to Bowali Visitor Centre
• Enjoy sunset at Ubirr
• Camp at Merl campground (Luxe option: Crocodile Hotel, Jabiru)

Day 2:

• Take a two-hour Guluyambi Cultural Cruise up the East Alligator River
• See the amazing art at Nourlangie Rock
• Do a sunset cruise on Yellow Water Billabong
• Camp at Mardugal campground (Luxe option: Cooinda Lodge)

Day 3:

• Spend the morning luxuriating at Gunlom Plunge Pool
• Drive back to Darwin

Kakadu in five days

• Follow the three-day itinerary, plus:
• Stay an extra two nights at Mardugal campground or Cooinda Lodge
• Spend the afternoon of Day 3 at Sandy Billabong (take a chair and watch the birds descend at sunset)
• Spend Day 4 at Jim Jim Falls before heading back to Darwin on Day 5

Kakadu in eight days

• Follow the five-day itinerary, plus:
• Stay an extra night at Jabiru and do the Bardedjilidji Walk along the Alligator River
• Stay an extra two nights at Mardugal campground or Cooinda Lodge and walk out to Gubara Pools
• Do a full-day Animal Tracks Tour before heading back to Darwin on Day 8

For more information on things to do in the NT, visit the official Northern Territory website at northernterritory.com