Kakadu National Park

11 November 2010

Uncover Kakadu's many secrets
Travel time from Darwin: 3.5hrs
Directions: Take the Arnhen Hwy and Jim Jim Rd to the Kakadu Hwy

Kakadu National Park is a place you can just keep going back to and uncovering more and more secrets. Covering nearly 20,000 square metres of natural beauty and unique Australian flora and fauna, Kakadu is very unique – each of the areas within the park are distinct from each other. Kakadu is one of the few places World Heritage listed for both its cultural and natural values.

 

The Bininj/Mungguy peoples have lived there for over 50,000 years. You can visit the Bowali Visitors Centre or the Warrandjan Visitors Centre for displays on the history of the local Aboriginal culture as well as presentations, talks, tours, café and gift shop and the Marrawuddi Art Gallery. There are free ranger guided activities throughout the park during dry season (May – October).

 

Everything from art site talks, guided walks, cultural activities and more are put on. There are also plenty of extra tours you can choose to do to learn more about Kakadu.

 

There are, of course, plenty of walks to do through the park. From short easy strolls, to more challenging ones, there is something for everyone. Talk a walk to see some ancient rock art. Some walks are seasonal, so always check which ones are open before you go.

 

One of the interesting things about Kakadu is the six seasons it goes through each year, showing that there’s more to the Northern Territory then the dry and wet season. The Bininj/Mungguy harvest food, care for the land and find shelter differently in each season.

 

Each of the different regions of Kakadu are rich in flora and fauna. There are more than 2000 plant species recorded and six unique landforms. Kakadu is also home to 68 mammels, over 150 reptiles and 290 bird species, making it a perfect place to go to see some of Australia’s great biodiversity and cultural history.
 

By Sarah Tierney
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