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Top End NT including Kakadu and Arnhemland
East Alligator Riveer vehicle crossing between Kakadu and Arnhemland, Northern Territory © Tourism NT
Scroll down for details on Kakadu, Arnhemland and Garig Gunak Barlu National Park

Top End NT - Introduction
250 km to the south east of Darwin via the Arnhem Highway is Kakadu National Park, a complete destination in itself. Eastwards beyond Kakadu is Arnhemland, accessible only by permit from the traditional owners, and in the north west of Arnhemland is the Cobourg Peninsula which lies within the Garig Gulak Barlu National Park.  The East Alligator River (pictured above) forms the boundary between Kakadu and Arnhemland.
On this website Darwin and nearby including Lithfield NP and Tiwi Islands is presented a a separate page.  
For touring and accommodation options in the area see our page Wilderness options in the Top End NT

Kakadu
Giant termite hill, Kakadu © Tourism Northern Territory Kadaku National Park is 147 km south east of Darwin and is a huge 20,000 square kilometres. It is accessed by sealed roads, although many of the remote tracks in the park are unmade. Kakadu is World Heritage listed for both its natural and its cultural attributes. The park is accessed from the north via the Stuart Highway and the Arnhem Highway. From the south you turn off the Stuart Highway at Pine Creek, 90 km north of Katherine, onto the Kakadu Highway from where it is 59 km to the park boundary. Entry fees are payable upon entering the park.
The best time to visit is between April and October and numerous tours picking up from Darwin hotels take in Kadadu. It is possible to do one day tours but the park is so big that you could spend a whole holiday here and 4 or 5 days is the minimum recommended to get the most out of the area.
Jabiru is the main residential town in the park and as well as those working in the park, it accommodates workers from the nearby uranium mine. Tours of the mine are available. Jabiru has a domestic airport and you can book aerial sightseeing tours here. The Bowali Visitor Centre on the outskirts of Jabiru has information about all aspects of the park including camping at a number of sites, with and without facilities. Gagudju Crocodile Hotel provides international standard accommodation in the township.
There are lots of bushwalking tracks from car parking areas which lead to points of interest such as aboriginal art sites and you can take guided walks around various art sites
Kakadu National Park www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakaduis famous for its wildlife and especially for its crocodiles. Dangerous salt water crocodiles (called ‘salties’) are found in a number of the park’s waterways and you should never swim without first seeking ranger guidance and should be very wary, too, when close to water.
KAKADU HIGHLIGHTS:  
Arnhem Escarpment Massive 500 km long escarpment which forms a backdrop to the wetlands of Kakadu
Ubirr Rock 40 km from Jabiru, Ubirr Rock is 3 km north of Border Store in the north east of the park. It is reached by sealed road and then a 1 km walk from the car park. The main part of the site is accessible by wheelchair.
Bardedjilidji Sandstone Walk Begins from the upstream picnic area near Border Store. It is an easy walk with more aboriginal art and strangely shaped sandstone outcrops.
Nourlangie Rock art site – 19 km south of the visitor centre and partly accessible by wheelchair, with explanatory sign boards
Nanguluwur Gallery Walk Easy walk of 3.4 km on the western side of Nourlangie Rock
Nanguluwur and Anbangbang Also well known art sites
Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls On the edge of the Arnhem escarpment and spectacular in the wet season but may be only a trickle in the dry
Yellow Waters Lovely billabong on South Alligator River in the centre of park not far from the Gagudju Coinda Motel. Cruises are available and there is a boardwalk for bird watching.
Barramundi Falls Approached by a 12 km 4WD track further south towards Pine Creek
Gunlom Falls Also accessed most easily by Kakadu Highway from Pine Creek and has good car access and wheelchair access.

Arnhemland
View from Cooper Creek to Mt Borradaile, Arnhemland, Northern Territory © Tourism NTArnhemland is an aboriginal reserve and access to tourists is very restricted although it is possible to get permits to drive to Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula on the Gulf of Carpentaria and also to the Cobourg Peninsula.  You can also get a permit to go to Injalak Arts and Crafts Store in Oenpelli, 15 km from Border Store in Kakadu National Park.
An increasing number of local companies offer tours, usually in collaboration with traditional owners.  These vary from one to 5 or 6 days - see our section on Wilderness options in the Top End NT

Garig Gunak Barlu National Park

An amalgamation of the Gurig National Park and the Cobourg Marine Park

Garig Gunak Barlu National Park www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/find/gariggunak is 570 km from Darwin via Kakadu National Park and Arnhemland and includes the Cobourg Peninsula for which access is limited to a small number of vehicles at a time. A permit from the is necessary and you need to apply for this preferably several months in advance.
There is an airstrip in the park and it is also possible to come by boat. If driving, a robust 4WD is a necessity.
Victoria settlement ruins, Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory © Tourism NTThe park has beautiful coastal scenery with unspoiled sandy beaches, grasslands, dunes, mangroves, swamps, reefs and lagoons. Camping, beachcombing and fishing are the main activities here. The beaches are not suitable for swimming as saltwater crocodiles, marine stingers and stonefish abound.
You can visit Victoria Settlement, the ruins of an early nineteenth century attempt to found a major town on the huge natural harbour of Port Essington (pictured). The plans were abandoned in 1849 after much loss of life and 20 years later Darwin was established close to its present site.
The camping ground is at Smith Point (toilets and cold showers) and nearby are some self catering beach huts. The huts can be hired at the Gurig Store at Black Point, near the Ranger Station.
If all the foregoing sounds too rugged, there is an upmarket wilderness retreat in the park called Seven Spirit Bay which can be accessed by plane. Some local tour operators combine visits here with Mount Borradaile in Arnhemland - see our page Wilderness options in the Top End NT
We have a separate page for Darwin and nearby including Litchfield NP and Tiwi Islands
 
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Truly Australia have attempted to give an honest and objective description of the topics covered on this page and have deliberately avoided regurgitating tourist office media releases. The information shown has been compiled from a variety of reputable sources and our own experiences. We check and review this information from time to time, but we assume no responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the details given.