Dreaming of Kakadu

I consider myself lucky for the fact that I live in one of the greatest travel destinations in the world – Australia. It has to be one of the most diverse countries to visit, and over the years I have seen quite a lot of it. Even though I have crossed the country and travelled thousands of kilometres, there is still so much more of my home country to visit. In fact, some of the best parts of Australia are still on my to-do list. At the top of my wishlist is one of Australia’s best, and most important national parks – Kakadu.

Kakadu National Park – Photo by TravelNT.com

Located 240km east of Darwin, Kakadu is one of Australia’s largest national parks, and it is culturally and biologically one of the most important parks in the country, containing a vast range of flora and fauna, some of which are extremely rare. The park also contains some spectacular landscapes, with waterfalls, wetlands, forests and rugged escarpments. Culturally, Kakadu has been inhabited by the indigenous people for over 40,000 years, and it contains many important archaeological sites.

Covering an area of 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu is larger than some countries, and the park’s natural and cultural highlights make it a dream destination for tourists wanting to experience the real Australia.

A crocodile in Kakadu – Photo by Gagudju Dreaming

Highlights of Kakadu

Being that the park is so large and diverse, Kakadu is best seen over several days. There is no doubt that the draw for many people is the spectacular landscapes and beautiful waterfalls such as Jim Jim falls. A visit to the park’s many wetlands is also a must as Kakadu is home to large populations of Australia’s wildlife. One of the best ways to see these spectacular areas is on a cruise along the river and wetlands. If you’re a hiking nut like me, the park contains lots of interesting walking trails with hidden gems around each corner. I could spend days on the trails alone.

For some, the highlight of Kakadu is a scenic flight over the park to see the spectacular landscapes of Kakadu from above, or a simple sunset overlooking the wetlands. Learning about the indigenous culture is also an important part of visiting Kakadu, and you can visit some amazing rock art sites or visit the cultural centre to learn about the local people and their customs.

Cruising in Kakadu – Photo by Gagudju Dreaming

Gagudju Dreaming

The name Kakadu comes from a mispronunciation of Gagudju – the now extinct local language of the area. The indigenous people and their culture, however, live on, and Kakadu Tourism is largely run by local tour operators. Gagudju Dreaming is the largest collection of tour operators and accommodation available in Kakadu, including sightseeing adventures, eco tours, river cruises and a wide range of accommodation options. Kakadu is all about stunning natural landscapes, wildlife and the local indigenous culture, and Gagudju Dreaming provides it all.

Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu

For visitors to the country’s top end, a trip to Kakadu National Park is a must. When I finally get up that way, I hope to spend a lot of time in this spectacular area.