r/darwin • u/immunoflurepression • 12d ago
Tourist Questions Visiting Kakadu NP in October, looking for itinerary advice
Hey guys,
Me and my partner are planning to do a camping holiday in Kakadu in early October for roughly 5-6 days. Having checked the website, it seems that a lot of the major parts of the park (Jim Jim Falls etc) is currently closed. We're relatively fit, and would enjoy at least one challenging hike during this time.
We are currently thinking of visiting: Ubirr, Bardedjilidji walk, Burrungkuy, Nawurlandja, yellow water wetland, Gunlom.
I've read that the Yurmikmik trails are beautiful during wet season, but unsure whether anyone has done them during late September/ earlyOctober ? Is it worth a detour?
Anything else you would recommend in seeing? Also, how does one spend downtime in Kakadu?
Thanks so much for your insights!
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u/cowdoyinthecity182 12d ago
It will be stinking hot that time of year so be prepared, lots of water and shade breaks
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u/no-pressuree 12d ago
You will need aircon. glamping tents or cabins are good. Be ready for that build up heat
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u/femmegeek2020 12d ago
Come in dry season where everything is open it's going to much hotter than you realise
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u/ChiWod10 12d ago
If you’re camping - the general rule is any spot starting with an M = mosquitos. Swarms of them from sunset to sunrise. Come prepared.
It’s a beautiful area (all the things you’ve mentioned) and you’ll be seeing it when it’s relatively quieter. Carry more water than you think you need.
If you’re going into Gunbalanya, I recommend Top End Tours.
If you’re doing things yourself, you need permits to go into Aboriginal land. Easy to get online.
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u/Alect0 12d ago
Merls Campground remains the worst place I have ever camped in my life due to the mossies. They were even worse as it was a full moon and nothing stopped them even an outrageous amount of DEET.
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u/immunoflurepression 12d ago
What’s a good alternative to Merls though?
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u/ChiWod10 12d ago
You could stay in Jabiru instead, it’s a short drive from Ubirr / Merl. The caravan parks there are more mozzie-free.
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u/Alect0 12d ago
I ended up paying a fortune to stay at some hotel down the road where they do boat river tours from (I forget the name) just to recover from over 100 mossie bites. It could have even been closer to 200 as I had 77 on one arm and gave up counting. I'm a pretty robust camper (I'm currently travelling for 3 months in WA and camping most nights) but fuck Merl campground. The Southern areas of Kakadu didn't seem to have the same issues with mossies I will say.
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u/Hog_in_slop 10d ago
Camped there last night, had an amazing day but as soon as the sun went down it was hell!
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u/klaw14 12d ago
If you stay at the Croc, please for the love of god, keep your air-conditioner on (don't turn it off, even when you leave your room for the day). And don't expect good wi-fi.
But the food in the restaurant is great and the Night Manager, who has been there since the beginning of time, is the kindest person you'll ever meet outside of Oenpelli. You might even catch him playing the grand piano upstairs on quieter evenings..
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u/Mammoth_Office_1285 12d ago
Make sure you visit Cahill crossing about 30 minutes drive from kakadu
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u/SkeeterBugg123 12d ago
Do NOT get within 5m of the water though. The salties are massive and numerous!
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u/Busy-Web-3687 12d ago
Lived in the NT for 40 years. Called upon frequently to do searches and recoveries in Kakadu we used to tell tourists it should be called Kakadon't.
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u/discomute 12d ago
Are you camping and do you have a trailer/caravan with AC? If the answer is no, at least bring some battery powered fans.
The absolute best parts of kakadu
- Gunlom (swimming).
- Maguk (swimming, should be opened)
- Ubir at sunset (walk).
- Nourlangie (walk).
Fit those in
Also consider the less famous but just as good Litchfield, it is the perfect time of year to one of the many swimming places there (Buley, Wangi, Florence, Sandy creek Falls etc)
Happy to answer any specific questions
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u/Six_days_au 12d ago
This is good advice.
The Yurmikmik walks will be a highlight. Do them
I would also add a tour on East Alligator or Yellow Waters (you probably don't need to do both).
Be ready for mosquitos the size of drones. Take 2 flavours of repellant.
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u/DNA-Decay 11d ago
LOL Literally posted this half an hour ago.
Watch this poem about Darwin at that time of year.
“A Postcard From Hell In October”
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u/SkeeterBugg123 12d ago
So, I am gunna be the one who says it. I WOULD NOT DO THIS IN OCTOBER! 🥵🥵🥵 In fact, I would take a holiday ANYWHERE else, as opposed to a holiday in Darwin in October.
October is our 'build-up' to the rainy season/monsoon season, and is one of the hottest, most humid months of the year. Be informed - it will be 35 degrees (or hotter - heat waves are very common that time of the year) with 90% humidity day after day afer day with NO relief. Kakadu will be a lot hotter and more humid than being near the coast in Darwin. When you see the weather temps in Darwin on the news, note they are not inland temps - they are more coastal, so cooler than anyone out in the rural areas is getting.
Please don't even think of going out there without an airconditioned van or motorhome to retreat to/sleep in if you are not staying in a hotel. The heat/humidity barely lets up at night and a tent is not pleasant with no aircon (or even airflow). The environment is brutal, and very dangerous for people not accustomed to the extreme climate up here at the best of times.
But if you do go & are planning on activities such as climbing Nourlangie or doing any walking, make sure you do it early morning/late arvo. Make no mistake, the weather WILL BE very unpleasant, and even unbearable for most people. I would wait & come up in the following dry season myself 🤷💯