At a Glance
This classic Kakadu adventure delivers the quintessential bushwalk experiences. Over six magnificent days, discover Kakadu and Litchfield national parks by foot. Venture among remote picturesque gorges, through lush monsoon forests and past freshwater billabongs teeming with wildlife. Visit the famous Jim Jim and Twin Falls, admire ancient rock art seen by very few visitors, and take the famous Yellow Water sunset cruise to see giant crocodiles, a vast range of resident birdlife and many other native species. Get away from the crowds on this active, walking based itinerary, and walk beyond the main tourist sites and reveal the true magic of Kakadu.
Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage Area covering some 20,000 square kms. Waterfalls tumble from the red cliffs off the Arnhem Land escarpment into shady pools. Tranquil wetlands ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- All dining and catering equipment
- Wildlife cruise
- Small group of 16 or less
- 6 days touring the best of the Kakadu National Park
- Guided walks each day with two professional wilderness guides
- Excellent variety of walks and lots of swimming
- All National Park and camping fees
- Emergency communications and group first aid kit
- 4WD transport from/to Darwin
- 6 night safari camps including tents, stretcher beds and swags for sleeping
Itinerary
Walking Distance: approx. 3km Pick up from your Darwin accommodation between 7-7:30am and travel south-east to Kakadu National Park. On the way you meet with Wulna Aboriginal elders for a traditional welcome to country, followed by morning tea, damper and a chance to discuss culture, or take a walk by the billabong. In the afternoon, after a scrumptious lunch, we visit a highlight of the Park, the world famous Ubirr Rock and enjoy the stunning walk past numerous breathtaking art sites that lead to the top of Ubirr rock and the awe inspiring view across the flood plains over northern Kakadu and to Arnhem land. In the late afternoon we drive south into in the heart of Kakadu National Park to our Dajarradjin Billabong camp. After choosing your tent and enjoying a shower, we relax around the campfire and enjoy a delicious evening meal. Spend the evening at the comfortable semi-permanent camp, located at Djarradjin Billabong, in the heart of Kakadu National Park. |
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About Accommodation You'll stay at exclusive semi-permanent campsites for 5 nights, located at Djarradjin Billabong and Yurmikmik., in the heart of Kakadu National Park. These campsites would not be possible without a strong partnership with Aboriginal Traditional Owners and the Kakadu National Park who jointly manage the land. There is the excellent solar hot showers at Djarradjin (Miurella Park) for the first few nights and flushing toilet facilities at both camps. There are no showers at Yurmikmik. The advantage of a semi‑permanent safari camp is that everything is set up waiting for us. There is no time and effort wasted with setting‑up or packing‑down camp, allowing more time for walking, exploring or just relaxing. The advantage of a semi-permanent safari camp is that everything is set up waiting for you. There is no time and effort wasted with setting-up or packing-down camp, allowing more time for walking, exploring or just relaxing. The tents are a custom built safari tent, each 2.4m x 2.4m x 2.1m, offering plenty of room for two people, swags and gear. A swag is comprised of a three-inch (5cm) thick foam mattress with a canvas cover to keep it clean. The inner tent has mesh walls so it is easy to remove the fly sleep under the stars. There are enough tents at each site where single travellers can request a single tent at no additional cost. |
Walking distance: 5-6 km walking An early start this morning in order to take in all the highlights of this adventurous walking day. After a scrumptious, nourishing breakfast, a short drive to Nourlangie massif and begin your stunning walk - the Barrk and Nourlangie circuit, traversing the crest of this quartzite plateau. Barrk is the indigenous name for the male black wallaroo, a member of the kangaroo family which lives in this area. The walk reveals the extraordinary diversity of habitats of the escarpment, from cool Monsoon Vine Forest to the rugged stone country on top. |
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In the late afternoon we take a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong, home to an astounding variety of wildlife. This is a beautiful billabong teeming with bird life. We may encounter Brumbies, wallabies and goannas drinking from the waterside, salt-water crocodile and thousands of birds including Magpie Geese, Brolga, Cormorants, Pelicans and one of Australia’s largest flying birds – the Black- necked stork (Jabiru). The flat-bottomed boat is guided by an expert wildlife guide. In the evening we return to our camp at Djarradjin Billabong.In the late afternoon you return to Dajarradjin Billabong camp to relax around the campfire and enjoy another delicious evening meal.
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Walking distance: 8-9 km walking - Easy to Moderate Grade. We wake up to the dawn chorus of the multitude of birds of the Savannah and wetlands. Our day is focussed on stunning walks within the World Heritage listed National Park. Your Guides will choose one of two options for you depending on access to Jim Jim Falls, (decided by the Traditional Owners and National Park Ranger). We drive to Jim Jim Falls along a bumpy old track, to Kakadu’s most famous waterfalls. Our visits to Jim Jim Falls aim for an active experience, walking beyond the reach of regular tourist groups and swim in the magnificent rock pools at the bottom of Jim Jim Falls. Keep in mind the thundering torrent usually depicted in the postcards is a phenomenon that only occurs during the wet season and this flow declines gradually through the dry season until it is a gentle, but still magnificent, trickle! We return to our semi-permanent camp near Djarradjin Billabong. NB: Jim Jim Falls is generally only viable after mid-July. When Jim Jim is closed, we will use this day to walk in the Ubirr region including Cahills Crossing, visit Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre and alter the afternoon of day one to walk to an alternative rock art site. Return to the semi-permanent camp near Djarradjin Billabong. |
Walking distance: 4 km walking - Easy Grade Heading south you will explore some of the other stunning waterfalls and gorges of Kakadu. Heading south we will explore some of the other stunning waterfalls and gorges of Kakadu. Maguk (Barramundi) Falls is reached via a stunning walk through the monsoon forest, opening out to a deep plunge pool lined with blonde quartzite cliffs. Keep your eye out for birds such as Rainbow pitas, Emerald doves and Spangled drongos as well as the endemic Anbinik tree – the biggest trees in Stone Country. In the far south of the National Park, we stop for short lookout walks before we arrive at our semi-permanent camp near Yurmikmik. Please note, due to the request of traditional owners and national park there is no alcohol consumption at our Yurmikmik camp. |
Walking distance: 11 km walking - Moderate Grade Over the day you will undertake your expedition by foot, deep in to Southern Kakadu Buladjang Country. You will visit Motor Car Creek Falls areas and undertake a decent walk (up to 11 km), taking most of the day. The highlight is arriving at an unspoilt, stunning crystal clear waterhole and some outstanding views of the surrounding hills and woodland. You have the freedom to set the pace of the walk depending on the group and weather of the day. Walk through open woodland past some remarkable Salmon Gums, glowing pink in the morning sun, before entering an area of pristine monsoon rainforest. Tonight you can take in our last Kakadu sunset while enjoying pre-dinner nibbles from the top of Gunlom Falls. |
Walking distance: 1 km walking - Easy Grade After our final night in the semi-permanent camp at Kamboolgie , we pack up and make our way back to Darwin. On our way we may enjoy a relaxing swim and visit to a nearby waterhole, and our last scrumptious picnic lunch at at one of the many waterfalls and gorges, before continuing north to Darwin. We expect to arrive back into Darwin and drop you at your accommodation at around 4pm. We hope you’ve enjoyed your journey into the unique and unforgettable country of the Top End! NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
Dates & Prices
Please contact us for private departures and group bookings.
More Info
- The departure point is Darwin NT
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Darwin
Day 1: cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong
Day 2: Approximately 7 km
Day 3: Approximately 8-12 km
Day 4: Approximately 4 km
Day 5: Approximately 11 km
Day 6: Approximately 1 km
The Top End is dominated by a tropical monsoonal weather pattern that results in a number of distinct seasons.
April to July - the early part of the 'Dry'
Nights can be cool and early morning fogs common. The days are warm, dry and generally cloudless with some spectacular sunsets. From April the water begins to slowly recede from the floodplains.
August to September - late part of the 'Dry'
Days and nights start to warm up. The retreating waters concentrate in billabongs together with the birdlife which congregates in extraordinary numbers. Many tropical woodland plants flower at this time of year.
October to December - build up to the 'Wet'
This is a time of increasing humidity and heat, with the build up of massive cumulus clouds and exciting thunder and lightning shows. Early rains start to turn the country green.
January to March - the main part of the 'Wet'
The arrival of the full monsoon brings heavy rains and high tides. The rivers break their banks and spread out across the floodplains, water lilies flower and life returns to the country in all its majesty. The ‘run off’ is the best time of year for Barramundi fishing.
(Data sourced from Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Units = °C)
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.