The Ultimate Motorhome Guide to Kakadu National Park

At over 20,000 square kilometres, the Kakadu National Park is the largest in Australia. Yet even more incredible than that, Kakadu is home to the oldest living culture on the planet. Aboriginal people have called this area home for more than 65,000 years, making it a place of outstanding history, and one that offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Renting a motorhome in Darwin and driving less than two hours to reach the park is an easy way to explore this natural attraction. Your own set of wheels gives you the freedom to go where you like, when you like, lingering in places you particularly love, and moving on from areas that don’t capture your attention. Note that for the most freedom possible, you’ll need to rent a 4WD campervan, as some roads are not 2WD accessible. You’ll be able to see more of the park by moving quickly, and you can spend much less time setting up a camp every evening. With a campervan, you’ll quickly understand why the Kakadu National Park is one of the best in the world.

You can stop by Kakadu National Park on a larger Darwin to Broome road trip, or simply focus on the park. With a motorhome, the choice is completely up to you.

Here’s everything you’ll need to know about visiting the Kakadu National Park with a campervan.

Image: pixculture, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

Things to see and do with a motorhome in Kakadu National Park

From swimming to hiking to viewing rock art that dates back tens of thousands of years, there are endless opportunities for adventure and fun in Kakadu National Park. These are some of the best things to do during your visit.

Ubirr: Ubirr is one of the most well-known rock art sites in the park. A one-kilometre long track will guide you through three ‘galleries’ of art, with dates as old as 15,000 years, and as young as 150 years. It’s also a good idea to walk 30 minutes uphill to the Nardab Lookout for spectacular views over the park (this is especially gorgeous at sunset).

Gunlom Falls: Gunlom Falls offers a stunning location for a refreshing swim, but what makes it stand out is the natural infinity pool effect it has as you take a dip overlooking the Mary River floodplains. The ‘infinity pool’ is found at the bottom of the falls at Waterfall Creek, but you can also continue walking up the track for more amazing views.

The Yellow Water Billabong: Swap your four wheels for a hull one evening to take a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong. You’ll spot crocodiles lurking at the waterline, buffalo stopping by for a drink, and wild horses roaming on the land. There is a 1.8-kilometre round-trip walk you can take, although a cruise is a nice way to relax and watch it all drift by.

Jim Jim Falls: Kakadu is decorated with countless waterfalls, and the Jim Jim Falls is one of the best. They drop over 150 metres into a large pool and are surrounded by high cliffs covered in dense bush. You can swim at the bottom of the falls, and take a picnic for a gorgeous and scenic afternoon.

Image: Nigel Malone (Own work), CC BY-SA 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where to camp with a motorhome in Kakadu National Park

There are 26 campgrounds dotted around the Kakadu National Park, although just 12 of these are accessible for campervans. These include fully managed and maintained grounds with bathrooms, picnic tables and fire pits, to basic grounds with very basic facilities. Many have fees, while some are free.

The main thing to remember in Kakadu is that you cannot book public campgrounds ahead of time. They are all first-come-first-served, and the campground manager will collect your fees when you arrive. Private commercial campgrounds do take bookings, however.

Here are the dozen campervan-friendly campgrounds in the Kakadu National Park:

• Anbinik Kakadu Resort Campground: A small campsite of 15 spaces, bookings essential, toilets and showers available.

• Aurora Kakadu Resort Campground: 32 powered sites in the South Alligator region of the park, toilets, showers, and laundry facilities available.

• Cooinda Campground and Caravan Park: Some powered sites, full facilities, close to the Yellow Water Billabong.

• Djarradjin Billabong Campground: Ideal for those interested in fishing and Kakadu’s abundant wildlife, toilets and showers available, as well as a boat ramp.

• Garnamarr Campground: 4WD compatible only, located close to the Jim Jim and Twin Falls, showers and toilets available.

• Gungurul Campground: A basic and quiet campground with pit toilets and picnic tables only.

• Gunlom Campground: 4WD recommended, located near multiple plunge pools, toilets and showers on site.

• Kakadu Lodge Campground: A large campground with full facilities and amenities on site, including a pool, restaurant, and store. Close to the Jabiru town centre.

• Malabanjbanjdju Campground: A basic campsite with toilet pits, close to the Bowali Visitor Centre, and multiple popular sites including Nourlangie, Nawurlandja, Nanguluwur and Gubara.

• Mardugal One Campground: Not far from Cooina, this campground has toilets and showers, and is a good spot to view wallabies and bats.

• Mary River Roadhouse Campground: A fully equipped campground with bathrooms, a store, and restaurant on site.

• Merl Campground: Close to the Ubirr rock art site, offering toilets and showers.

The best times of year to visit Kakadu National Park

• Mid-June to mid-August: This time of year offers the best weather, with high daily temperatures of roughly 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, and very little chance of rain. The nights are also cooler at around 20 degrees. Naturally, this also means that the park is busier at this time of year.

• Mid-August to mid-October: As the weather heats up and the Australian school holidays end, fewer visitors come to the park. If you can handle the heat, it’s a good time to visit as all the attractions are open, but without the crowds.

• Mid-October to March: The wet season, known as the ‘green’ season kicks in around October, meaning that it’s usually a time of a lot of rain, and some of the attractions become inaccessible. When it’s not raining, it’s typically very hot and humid. However, plenty of places are still accessible, there are hardly any other visitors to contend with, and prices are usually cheaper.

• April to mid-June: One of the best times of year to visit, as April marks the beginning of the dry season, but the waterfalls are still gushing thanks to recent rains. Some places are still inaccessible (including the Jim Jim Falls), but the park is quiet, with occasional showers to cool things down.

Important notes for visiting Kakadu National Park

Keep these notes in mind when visiting the Kakadu National Park.

• Always read signs and be extremely careful near bodies of water, as crocodiles are common throughout the park.

• You will need to pay a fee of $25 per person over the age of 16 to enter the park. Your ticket for entry is valid for 14 days after purchase, and you can pick it up at Tourism Top End, the Bowali Visitor Centre, Aurora and the Katherine Visitor Information Centre.

• Bring a lot of sunscreen and insect repellent, as well as loose clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.

• Read our top tips for motorhome tours in Australia if you’re new to the country.