Top 7 Reasons to Visit Kakadu

Kakadu is, without a doubt, the most attractive part of Australia’s Northern Territory. Though this tropical region offers the best natural landscapes with diverse environments ranging from wetlands to creeks, it is Kakadu that offers incredible ecosystems that are naturally fused into Aboriginal culture. This UNESCO historical site is home to rugged escarpments, rock art galleries that date back to 50000 years ago and lush rainforest. If you are looking for places to visit in Australia, Kakadu should be top on your list. Here are seven top reasons why you should visit Kakadu at least once in your lifetime:

• Exotic wildlife

Kakadu is home to the incredible wild animals than you can imagine. Key among ther are the crocodiles. There are more than 10000 crocodiles in Kakadu, both freshwater and saltwater types. You also get to see large grasshoppers known as Alyurr in Aborigine culture, which means ‘child of the lighting man’ due to color spots. Other iconic animals that you are most likely to stumble upon during your visit to Kakadu include mini quolls, flatback turtles, snakes, river sharks, buffaloes and wild pigs.

• Enjoy billabong cruise

Kakadu buzzles with exotic bird species and is home to the largest population of saltwater crocodiles in the world. If you love nature, a corroboree billabong cruise on the Mary River Wetlands to view birds and the huge crocodile population is the best way to soak it all in. The cruise comes with lively commentators who add color and offer details to visitors by recounting the most captivating stories about the wetlands.

• View breathtaking Wangi and Gunlomfalls

Wangi is a pair of falls that offer a spectacular view of water falling off the rugged 25 meter cliff throughout the year. The second fall is taller, its mist swirls create brilliant rainbows. On this site, you’ll see bats fruit bats dangling on surrounding trees. Visitors love this site because the pool below provides a great swimming spot. Just nearby are termite mounds to see, they can go much higher than the human height. The other spot to visit is the Gunlom Falls. These falls create an emerald green pool with white sand beaches at the bottom of a towering cliff. This is the filming location for sections of Crocodile Dundee. For more peaceful waters, Edith is the place to visit. Its mirror flat waters are perfect for taking deep dives to cool off.

• Watch the Sunset from Nadab Lookout

Nadab Lookout sits about 250 meters above the Ubirr. As its name suggests, this rocky crag is an awesome place to enjoy the sunset, among the best in the world. From this point, you get to enjoy a view that combines an equatorial sunset with the spectacular floodplain scenes from the escarpment below. The outcome of this leaves a beautiful impression ingrained in the mind of anyone who visits Kakadu.

• Enjoy rock art based on Aborigine culture

The Aborigine people have lived in Kakadu for centuries and nothing tells their story better than the galleries of Ubirr and Nourlangie. These galleries not only provided Aboriginal people with shelter but they are also a canvas that carries vivid depictions of hunting scenes, battles, mythical tales, dangers, and gods that take visitors to a fascinating world visually. Some rocks in these galleries carry history dating back to 20,000 years, which makes a visit to these sites a great opportunity to learn more about the heritage and history of the region.

• Canoe at Nitmiluk National Park

Nitmiluk National Park offers visitors a great way to experience still mornings, serenity and soft light. People who visit this park get a chance to hop into canoes and glide through the Katherine Gorge, passing countless beaches, cliffs, groves, sunbathing lizards and long necked turtles. Along the canoeing path, visits also pass an ebb of cicada’s song and enjoy seeing graceful dances by butterflies.

• ExploreKakadu National Park

When people think about the Northern part of Australia, they see a desolate scrubland. But the Aboriginal people who live in this part of world have nurtured and adored this region for thousands of year. Kakadu National Park is the place to visit if you ever go to the North. As the largest terrestrial national park in Australia, it enjoys international fame and therefore has a lot to offer.  It features spectacular landscapes, many rock art sites, untamed wildlife and untouched nature.

In this national park, you’ll get numerous hiking, exploration and swimming sites. The park is known for its billabongs, flood plains, stone and low ridges. It is home to intriguing wildlife and plant species, which makes visitors feel like they are visiting a part of Eden. If you are looking for a life time adventure that create lasting memories, Kakadu National Park is the place to visit.

Photos courtesy of TripAdvisor.