EXPERIENCES / KAKADU
Kakadu Highlights No. 5
Overview
- Koolpin and Freezing Gorges with their many waterfalls and beautiful pools.
- It's been a VERY wet year so we may have to walk in from the road.
- A Yellow Waters cruise, and a night in a campground between sections.
- The original section two will not run this year. Because of the rain, we couldn't be sure Jim Jim would open on time.
KAKADU
Jun 21 - Jul 29 2026
Koolpin & Freezing Gorges
The drive to Koolpin Gorge in southern Kakadu takes several hours. If the 4WD track is still closed, we will walk in from the main road. this takes an extra day.
Koolpin Gorge is so beautiful and such a special place that it normally takes us two days to get to our second Koolpin camp, only 6 km from where we began.
We then head roughly east to the base of a tall hill, drop our packs and climb up for some magnificent views. Back on the plain, we continue up and over a low pass and back to Koolpin Creek where we camp near a nice set of cascades.
We continue down Koolpin to where we follow a fault line across two low passes and drop down into Freezing Gorge.
Freezing Creek is much smaller than Koolpin but it has carved a deep and narrow gorge where the sun seldom reaches the water, hence the name. The pools are just as inviting as those in Koolpin, perhaps more so since very few of the 4WD campers are aware that it exists. You need to be prepared for a short pack float as the alternative to a 30 metre swim is an hour or two of strenuous rock climbing.
The walk down Freezing Creek below the gorge involves climbing over and scrambling around large boulders. We camp near the bottom. Next day, we return to the cars and drive to Cooinda for a relaxing night in the campground, a pub meal and a Yellow Waters cruise.
Details
DATES
21-29 June PRICES
Full price: A$3495
GROUP SIZE
4 - 12 guests
CAMP SITE
Mix of sand and rock ledges. Most sites are good to excellent.You are unlikely to see anyone else e3xcept at the beginning and end of the walks.
ART
We visit a variety of art sites
SWIMMING
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 30-31ºC (86-88ºF). The average minimum is 16-18ºC (61-64ºF). It can go as low as 10ºC (50ºF). On rare occasions, it can go even lower. Sleeping bags are essential. Rain is very unlikely but we recommend bringing something to use as a shelter if we fluke a rain storm.
COOKING
We will have campfires every night and hot water available every morning.
WALK RATING - MODERATE
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. Some short sections of grass may hide a broken rocky surface where you will have to be particularly careful. There may be some slow sections where you will have to pass though thick scrub. The vegetation can vary from year to year depending on when last burnt. At this time of year, the spear grass has finished seeding and dried out.
Distance
4-6 hours per day
Pack Weight
You need to carry 7 days of food on each section.
Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
View more
