Parks and reserves

Kakadu National Park

magpie geese

Getting here

Kakadu National Park is an Aboriginal cultural landscape located in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia. Kakadu National Park is located 253 km east of Darwin. the park covers an area of 19,804 km2 within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It extends from the coast in the north to the southern hills and basins 150 km to the south, and from the Arnhem Land sandstone plateau in the east, 120 km through wooded savannas to its western boundary.


Getting to Darwin

Darwin is approximately 4050 km from Sydney, 3500 km from Brisbane, 3200 km from Adelaide, 4500 km from Perth and 1500 km from Alice Springs. Due to these large distances, it is best to fly to Darwin. International travelers can fly into Darwin from Asia or through other Australian destinations. Your local travel agent can assist you in booking flights, vehicle hire and coach tours.


Getting to Kakadu National Park

The easiest way to get to Kakadu National Park is by coach tour or by hiring a car, and traveling via the Arnhem Highway from Darwin, or the Kakadu Highway from Katherine. These highways are sealed roads and are usually open throughout the year. Wet season flooding can sometimes cause temporary closures. It takes approximately 3 hours to drive from Darwin to the Bowali Visitor Centre, near Jabiru, in the park.


Exploring the park

It is best to stay a couple of days in the park, instead of doing a day trip, so that you can explore all of the major sites. When planning your itinerary, consider the time of year you will be visiting, the type of vehicle you have and the road conditions. Staff at the Bowali Visitor Centre can help you plan your itinerary for a self-drive tour of the park.


Road conditions in the park

Road conditions in the park vary according to the season. Wet season flooding often occurs between November - April. Please inquire about road conditions before you depart - road reports are available from the Bowali Visitor Centre by phoning (08) 8938 1120. Or by clicking here


Fuel stations located within the park

Unleaded and leaded petrol and Diesel fuel are available at the following locations:

Refuel your vehicle as frequently as possible.