Top things to do in Kakadu

Things to do in Kakadu National Park run from scenic flights over the escarpments to Yellow Water cruises and Aboriginal rock art walks, and every one of them leaves from Darwin, Jabiru or Cooinda. This page sorts them by how you want to see the park: from a guided day out of Darwin, from a flight that starts in the sky, or on a tour into Arnhem Land with a traditional Aboriginal guide.

Guided Kakadu tours from Darwin

A guided tour with hotel pick-up means you don't have to hire a car or work out the park roads yourself. The full-day Kakadu National Park tour from Darwin leaves at 6.30am and is back at 6.30pm, a 12-hour day that takes in a Yellow Water river cruise, the Ngourlangie Aboriginal rock art site, the Warradjan Cultural Centre and a bird hide walk at the Mamaluka Wetlands. Lunch at Cooinda Lodge and the Kakadu parks pass are covered.

Late in the day, the Kakadu National Park sunset tour from Darwin visits an Aboriginal rock art gallery and the Warradjan Cultural Centre, then settles into a 2-hour Yellow Water sunset cruise before dinner at Cooinda Lodge. Both Sacred Owl Tours trips collect you from your Darwin hotel.

The full set of Kakadu tours from Darwin and Jabiru is on its own page.

Kakadu day trips that start with a flight from Darwin

If the drive is what you'd like to skip, the Best of Kakadu day trip with return scenic flights starts at the Kakadu Air terminal at Darwin Airport. Check in at 8.30am for a 9am departure and you're home by 4pm. The day covers a 90-minute scenic flight, a Yellow Water Billabong cruise, lunch at the Barra Bar and Bistro, a visit to the Warradjan Cultural Centre and a 45-minute flight back.

The Kakadu cultural day tour with flights and lunch is a 9-hour day that flies Darwin to Jabiru first. From there it adds a 90-minute East Alligator River cruise with Guluyambi Tours, a visit to the Ubirr Aboriginal rock art gallery and a packed lunch. Departure time can shift with cruise availability.

Scenic flights over Kakadu from Jabiru and Cooinda

Kakadu Air Services flies fixed-wing scenic flights from two spots inside the park, and every seat is a guaranteed window seat with live and recorded commentary. From Jabiru Airport, the 30-minute scenic flight from Jabiru covers the Arnhem Land escarpment, the East Alligator Valley and the Mikinj Valley billabongs. The 1-hour scenic flight from Jabiru goes further, passing the Ranger Uranium Mine on its way to Dinosaur Valley and following the Upper East Alligator Valley to see its deep fault lines.

At Cooinda, you meet the pilot in the reception area of Cooinda Lodge for the 30-minute scenic flight from Cooinda, which flies over The Archway, the Arnhem Land escarpment and the East Alligator Valley.

For golden hour, the Jabiru sunset scenic flight is a 1-hour flight over the Magela floodplains and the winding East Alligator River, with saltwater crocodiles to look out for on the banks. Flights go ahead in favourable weather, and passengers are offered another time or date if one is cancelled.

Arnhem Land and Aboriginal rock art

Arnhem Land is Aboriginal land, and the Arnhem Land day tour from Darwin or Jabiru goes in with a traditional Aboriginal guide and the entry permits sorted. The day includes a guided walk at the Injalak Hill rock art site (Long Tom Dreaming) and a stop at the Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre, where you can watch women weaving baskets. A picnic lunch and afternoon tea are included.

From Darwin the tour leaves at about 5am and gets back around 7.30pm. From Jabiru it's a shorter 8-hour day, leaving around 8.30am and finishing around 4.30pm. The arts centre is closed on Sundays and some public holidays, so check the day before you pick a date.

How to choose your Kakadu day

Staying in Darwin for a single day? The fly-and-cruise trip is a 7-hour day, the cultural day tour a 9-hour one, and the Sacred Owl Tours full-day drive a 12-hour one. The choice is how much of that time you'd like in the air and how much on the ground.

Already based in the park? Jabiru and Cooinda have their own flights, and the Arnhem Land tour picks up from Jabiru accommodation as well as Darwin. For the end of the day, the sunset tour from Darwin and the sunset flight from Jabiru both aim for golden hour.

Kakadu has a Wet season and a Dry season, and the route of the 1-hour flight from Jabiru shifts slightly with the time of year.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kakadu National Park worth visiting?

Yes. Kakadu National Park is Australia's largest national park and is World Heritage listed for both its natural and cultural values, with wetlands, escarpments, rivers and Aboriginal rock art that you can see from the air, from a boat or on foot.

Can you do Kakadu in a day?

Yes. The Sacred Owl Tours full-day tour from Darwin runs from 6.30am to 6.30pm with a Yellow Water cruise, rock art and lunch, and the Best of Kakadu day trip with return scenic flights gets you back to Darwin by 4pm.

Can you see Kakadu without driving or having a 4WD?

Yes. The Sacred Owl Tours full-day and sunset tours collect you from your Darwin hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the Kakadu Air day trips start at Darwin Airport and fly you into the park.

How long are the scenic flights over Kakadu?

Kakadu Air Services runs a 30-minute scenic flight from Jabiru and another from Cooinda, plus a 1-hour flight from Jabiru. The Jabiru sunset flight is also 1-hour. Check in half an hour before departure.

Where can you see Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu?

Ubirr is on the Kakadu cultural day tour from Darwin, Ngourlangie is on the Sacred Owl Tours full-day tour, and the Arnhem Land day tour visits the Injalak Hill rock art site with a traditional Aboriginal guide.

Do Kakadu tours include park entry?

The Sacred Owl Tours full-day and sunset tours from Darwin include the Kakadu parks pass and entry fees, and the Arnhem Land day tour includes Arnhem Land entry permits and an Aboriginal guide.

Are Kakadu tours suitable for kids?

Yes. The Kakadu Air Services scenic flights have child tickets for ages 4 to 14, the Sacred Owl Tours day and sunset tours have child tickets, and the Arnhem Land day tour suits active children aged 5 and up who can manage plenty of stairs.

A 30-minute flight out of Jabiru and a full-day trip on the road from Darwin are both easy to book once you know where you're starting from. The Kakadu tours page has the day trips side by side.