KH01
EXPERIENCES / KAKADU
Kakadu Highlights No. 1
Overview
- Two separate walks in two very different areas.
- Baroalba Creek, one of the most amazing landscapes in the park.
- Litchfield: Tjaynera to Tableland.
Dry season visitors never see anything like this. Every waterfall will be flowing, the landscape will be lush and green. Better still, we'll have every one of our swimming pools to ourselves.
KAKADU
Jan 7-20 2024
We begin with a fairly long drive from Darwin to the Kubara walking track in Kakadu. We park the cars and walk about 3 km along a marked trail to the start of our walk up Baroalba Creek.
Later in the season the creek will dry to a series of small pools. But, at this time of year, every little waterfall will be flowing at its best.
Later in the season the creek will dry to a series of small pools. But, at this time of year, every little waterfall will be flowing at its best.
Our first campsite is less than 3 km from where we leave the marked trail.
Now comes the easiest part of the trip.
After another relatively short walk, we spend three days exploring the basin with day packs. Here we find an incredible concentration of art sites as well as quarries containing the remains of discarded stone tools that didn't make the grade.
Much of the area is very flat. Sometimes it is very wet, sometimes it is relatively dry — relatively. This is still the wet season so water is everywhere.
During the day, we can sit out a passing storm in one of the many rock shelters just as the original inhabitants of the area did for thousands of years.
At camp, our group fly keeps us dry if it rains at dinner time.
At the end of the walk, we return to our vehicles and drive to the small town of Batchelor for a night in accommodation before beginning the longer walk in Litchfield: Tjaynera to Tableland.
The first camp isn't very far, but it's too nice to move on so we have a relaxing first day.
There are a number of ups and downs as we make our way south. We walk through gorges, patches of monsoon forest and open woodland.
Swims are frequent as we stop to enjoy the many pools we find along the way.
We spend the last few days on Tableland Creek. Pool after pool, waterfall after waterfall, swim after swim, it is a magic spot. Most of the walking is fairly easy but there are likely to be a couple of ups and downs along the way.
From our final camp, it is about two and a half hours, much on a 4WD track, to where we meet the pick up for the 200 km drive back to Darwin.
Details
DATES
Jan 7-20
Sec 1: Jan 7-13
Sec 2: Jan 12-20
PRICES
Full price: A$3995
Sec 1: A$2095
Sec 2: A$2695
*discounts available
GROUP SIZE
4 - 12 guests
CAMP SITE
Mix of sand and rock ledges. Most sites are good to excellent but we have to avoid some of our dry season campsites which could get flooded. You are unlikely to see anyone else anywhere along the route.
ART
We visit a variety of art sites
SWIMMING
This is the best time to see the Top End waterfalls. We will have good pools at almost every campsite and lunch spot.
WILDLIFE
Birds are always present but spread out at this time of year. You are unlikely to see many large animals. The Yellow Waters cruise is excellent for birds, many of which you are unlikely to see on the walk. It also gives you a good chance to see large estaurine crocodiles.
CLIMATE
It will be hot (although not as hot as you might think) and it will be humid. The average daily maximum is 33-34ºC (91-94ºF). If we get a spell of relatively dry weather, the temperature could reach 40ºC (104ºF). The average minimum is 24ºC (75ºF). Sleeping bags are not needed. Rain is almost certain. On average it will rain two days out of three, mostly in short, sharp bursts. Averages can, however, be misleading. Occasionally, it might rain for days at a time
COOKING
In spite of the wet weather, we will have campfires every night and hot water available every morning.
WALK RATING - HARD
Terrain
There are few steep climbs, none of which is over 200 m. As short as they are, these climbs are strenuous. Some may require using your hands to hold on as you climb up or down. None are technically difficult. None require ropes or other special.equipment.
You will definitely have to float your pack across one or more flooded creeks. If you can’t swim at least 100 m unaided, do not do this trip.
Vegetation
Much of the walking is through relatively flat, open woodland with a grassy understorey.
Distance
4-6 hours per day
Pack Weight
You need to carry 6 days of food on each section.
Unless you have walked in the wet season before, please do not book this trip until you have read our
Wet Season page. This links to two additional pages, just as important if you are to enjoy the trip.
Download detailed trip notes
Jan 7-20
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Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
The first two rows of photos below are from Baroalba, the next three from Litchfield.
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