Kakadu

Kakadu National Park has been placed on the World Heritage list for it's outstanding natural and cultural values. The Park has some of the most extensive collections of rock art in the world which are reminders of the Aboriginal people's long association with the land. Kakadu also has impressive scenery, including towering red escarpment country, vast wetlands and extensive woodlands, including scattered pockets of rainforest. Today, the Park is managed jointly by its traditional Aboriginal owners and the staff of Parks Australia.
 

Made famous in Crocodile Dundee films, Kakadu is beautiful, Texas like (in size) and a wonder to see. Crocodiles, Salt Water Crocodiles, Water Buffalo, flamingos, it's all there in Kakadu. Internationally recognized, the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park is one of the nation's most prized cultural and ecological treasures. 

From Darwin, the 19,000 sq km national park is just 257 kilometres along the fully sealed Arnhem Highway. The name Kakadu is from the Gagudju speaking people, a language used in the northern parts of the area at the beginning of the 20th century.  Today however, there are three major languages spoken within the park. These are Gundjeihmi/Mauali, Kunwinjku and Jason. The shelters, stone tools, grindstones and ochre indicate that Aboriginal people have lived in the vicinity now defined by the National Park in excess of 50,000 years.

Important parts of that legacy have become a major attraction for latter day visitors. Dreamtime legends and day-to-day living are presented at Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock. Rock art galleries reveal mouth-sprayed hand stencils, hunters carrying barbed spears, plus the creation beings, Namarrgon the Lightning Man and Ngalyod the Rainbow Serpent.

In these paintings fish, birds and animals are presented in an x-ray style, revealing internal organs and bone structures. Aboriginal culture abounds throughout the Park, where some 5000 sites have been recorded.  Then, there is the other display, the flora and fauna. More than a third of the Top End's plant life is represented through the 1,600 plant species, along with 275 bird species, reptile families totaling 75, 25 species of frogs and it is estimated that the park hosts an amazing 10,000 species of insects. On the flood plains, the water lily covered billabongs are stunning. Your travels into the Park must include Yellow Water and Manual. These areas attract flocks of birds throughout most of the year. 

The high sandstone escarpment to the east highlights grand waterfalls of 100 to 200 metres in height, Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls and Gunlom. 

The Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre provides a unique opportunity to view Aboriginal artistry of very high calibre. Gunbalanya (formerly Oenpelli) is a small Aboriginal township close to the East Alligator River, which is the natural boundary of Kakadu National Park. Approximately 1,000 people live in Gunbalanya and its outstations. There are traditional painters, bark painters, basket weavers and screen printers. Artists from this region are featured in every major collection of Aboriginal art in Australia, as well as a few collections overseas. During your visit, you can peruse the goods for sale, all made locally, see the artists at work and see local women weaving pandanus baskets.

Kakadu in a truly unique place well worthy of a visit.

The wonder of Tropical Rain Forrest. Photos by Paul Evans

Tropical Flora and Fauna.
Photos by Paul Evans

Tropical Rain Forrest.
Photos by Paul Evans

We recommend only fully licensed and insured/registered International Travel Agents.
If you are considering booking we recommend the following travel agents:
Australian Discount Travel & Tours,
Travel With A Cause Inc (a not for profit travel agency assisting several projects in many developing countries).

We recommend Australian Discount Travel & Tours for both Australian and international travel bookings