Things To Do in Jabiru & Kakadu National Park

The thunderous clap of Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park’s highest waterfall, bounces off boulders and softens as it tumbles deeper off the picturesque Arnhem Land escarpment. Here, some of the richest and most vivid vegetation flourishes with deep, vivid greens set against the rusty red of ancient sandstone sea cliffs. This impressive part of Kakadu lies just under a two-hour drive from the closest major town, and out of all the things to do in Jabiru, this is the most popular.

In order to visit the natural wonders of Kakadu, the most comfort and convenience is found in Jabiru township. The former mining mecca has been introducing visitors to the wonders of Australia’s soulful Top End since 1982 when Jabiru was first established, just six years before the uniquely shaped Crocodile Hotel opened.

That property has since become the Mercure Crocodile Hotel, one of the most uniquely designed hotels in the Southern Hemisphere and a launchpad for anyone wanting to witness the Kakadu waterfalls, spot Kakadu wildlife, and learn about the deep connection to land that defines the Kakadu lifestyle.

Want to see the many waterfalls, wetlands, and wildlife that make Kakadu National Park such significant part of Australia’s cultural heritage? This is your guide on how to take a plunge into the powerful natural beauty of this incredibly unique region in Australia's Top End.

Kakadu National Park is defined by its evocative colours and bountiful wetlands, the most famous being the great Yellow Water Billabong. This landlocked watercourse, known traditionally as Ngurrungurrudjba, forms a small section of the South Alligator River floodplain, washed in multicoloured hues that, when hit by sunlight, look otherworldly. This is mostly due to those abundant algae blooms that sit on the water’s surface, painting the calm waters with world-building streaks of yellow and green. 

This dreamy sight is reason for Kakadu’s reputation for inspiration. Much like the New Mexico desert’s profound effect on artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, such deeply impactful visuals are guaranteed to pull something profound out of you. At its core, this is one of nature’s most potent tools and to see it displayed so effortlessly is simply unforgettable.

Take a two-hour Yellow Water cruise and glide through a thriving ecosystem of beautiful pink and white water lilies, blowing softly while crocodiles patrol the waters, wild horses stampede on the riverbanks and thirsty buffalo get their fill. Squawking magpie geese and graceful sea eagles fly low and slow over the golden waters, sharing the sky with other birdlife such as jacana, egrets and jabiru. Australia sure lucked out with this part of the world.

If you prefer to see things as the eagles would, hop aboard a helicopter with Kakadu Scenic Flights, taking a wider approach to Jabiru and the Cooinda landscapes while you get some distance between you and the incredible scenery. 

If you prefer to go it by foot, the Yellow Water boardwalk will take you through Paperbark forests and freshwater mangroves. During low tide, you can strut across the floodplains to highly prized viewing platforms, each offering a different perspective for when that Top End sunset starts to sink. 

Form a deeper understanding of the world’s oldest continuous culture at the Warradjan Cultural Centre where local Kakadu artists showcase a great range of work for sale, including weavings, paintings, carvings and clothing. The cultural hub is only a 1km drive from Yellow Water Billabong so is an easy inclusion on any self-drive safari.

Yellow Water Billabong marks one end of Jim Jim Creek.

If you have a car with you, take the 1.5-hour drive to the other side to find a gorgeous 2km hiking loop, taking you through a misty monsoon forest before placing you right at the base of Twin Falls gorge, where the mighty Jim Jim Falls reigns supreme.

However, if that’s closed you can take the longer 6km loop at the Twin Falls plateau to see it from a different perspective.

You may be far from Sydney Opera House but lend your ears to the Mamukala Wetlands and you’ll be listening to the Concerto for Orchestra of the Top End. A symphonic ensemble made from thousands of honking magpie geese, arriving late in the dry season to perform spectacular V formations over the vast and reflective wetlands. It’s the great outdoor concert that only Mother Nature herself could have conjured, scoring a vibrant scene of comb-crested jacanas, willie-wagtails, kingfishers, purple swamp hens and plenty of other birdlife.

Kakadu is home to an entire third of Australia’s bird species with many of these, like the magpie geese, exclusive to the region. You’ll spy them from a dedicated observation platform or you can take the 3km circuit through woodlands and floodplains thriving with local flora and fauna.

Locals love: Not far from this dramatic landscape is where you’ll find well-preserved Aboriginal rock art sites such as Ubirr and Nourlangie (Burrungkuy), forming an essential piece of the region’s cultural history and continuing the storytelling that began at the Warradjan Cultural Centre.

Up to 50 saltwater crocodiles have been counted along the waterway that stretches between Cahills Crossing and the East Alligator River boat ramp. Exploring Kakadu National Park without witnessing this aggregation of salty crocs would be a sorely missed opportunity, but you’ll need a bit of pre-planning and time it right to do it properly.

Cahills Crossing is about a 50-minute drive out of Jabiru and the best way to tackle it is to rent a 2WD (with a snorkel) for the short trip. Once there, you can slowly drive across the treacherous waterway, as long as it’s the right season for it (try to go later in the dry season, around September) and you only attempt to cross during low tide. Look out the window, you’ll see dozens of crocodiles from the safety of your vehicle as they swarm around to find mullet and barramundi. 

Locals love: If that’s a bit too immersive for you, then dart around to the three viewing platforms that surround Cahills Crossing and watch as cars slowly trudge through the water, dodging these ancient beasts. Are there crocodiles in Kakadu National Park? This is one experience that unequivocally answers the question most tourists have before they visit this spectacular part of the world.

Looking from above, the 110-room Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel has been carefully designed to resemble Kakadu’s symbolic saltwater crocodile, an oversized beast lying on a sea of green and red. In the belly - the middle of the crocodile - a shaded courtyard and a swimming pool complement a luxurious lifestyle in the heart of Jabiru.

The award-winning, Indigenous-owned four-star Mercure Crocodile Hotel is Kakadu’s only full-service accommodation, orienting guests towards the northern end of Kakadu where many of the National Park’s star attractions lie, from Cahills Crossing to the Mamukala Wetlands. Day tours of Arnhem Land leave regularly while indoor time is spent sampling Top End game produce and bush foods at the beautiful Escarpment Restaurant and Bar. 

Here for a spot of shopping? Arnhem Land’s keepsakes are unique to the region and support local Aboriginal art. Spend some time browsing the hotel’s Ochre Gallery, where local arts and crafts are priced well and reasonably. 

With your hotel in Jabiru sorted, it’s time to experience the otherworldly beauty of Kakadu National Park.