The Northern Territory is a land of remarkable contrast—from vast, sunburnt outback to spectacular gorges, thundering waterfalls and crystal-clear swimming holes.

In the tropical ‘Top End’, you’ll find the latter. Teeming with unique flora and fauna and rich with 40,000 years of human history in the hands of Australia’s indigenous custodians, this is a region of staggering beauty and significance.

Join us as we hike through the breathtaking Kakadu National Park, an expansive World Heritage Listed habitat littered with ancient rock art galleries and home to sacred gorges, lush wetlands and waterfalls.

Make an unforgettable canoe journey along the Katherine River, or tackle the Jatbula Trail, our outstanding full-pack trek from Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) to Leliyn (Edith Falls) along the Arnhem Land escarpment—one of Australia’s most exceptional wilderness areas.

Take a look through our unique small group adventures and join us as we explore the dramatic landscapes of Australia’s Top End!

 
 

Find your Kakadu and Top End trip


 

Exceptional Leadership

As our client feedback will attest to, there is no better team of leaders than those at Australian Walking Holidays. Their expertise & knowledge is matched only by their friendly nature and their desire to impart everything they know about the Australian landscape to you.

Small Groups

We think small is good; it limits the environmental impact and allows you to forge life-long friendships with like-minded travellers. Feedback from our clients attests to the appeal of the small group dynamic – our clients say it's this that makes it special.

Exceptional Value

We aim to include as much as possible in the tour price, so that all you need to think about is being in the moment. We include meals & all park fees on our trips. Our inclusions are displayed against each trip in our brochures, on our website and in our trip notes.

Your Comfort

The best available food, warmth and shelter is standard on our active wilderness holidays, with selected character lodgings as well as quality camp craft and equipment. This ensures that you have the most rewarding and memorable experience.


 

Sustainable Travel

Sustainable travel is at the core of everything we do, which is why have policies in place to ensure destinations retain their natural character and cultural diversity. Environmental values filter through every aspect of the company, from the minimal impact camping procedures through to the interpretation of environment. The aim is to give you big adventures while we maintain a small footprint!


Kakadu National Park has varied seasons that can see the terrain experience monsoon rains, storms, humidity and cool weather. With such varied extremes the park’s aboriginal inhabitants have divided the year into six distinct seasons.

Mid October – late December: Gunumeleng Pre-Monsoon Storm Season

Gunumeleng is a pre-monsoon season that can last from a few weeks to a few months. From mid-October to late December, visitors can expect hot weather that becomes more and more humid. With thunderstorms in the afternoons and scattered showers throughout the day, the rain brings life to the landscape and new growth from the plants becomes more widespread. Sometimes, as the streams begin to run, acidic water rushes down from the floodplains and into the billabongs, decreasing the oxygen levels in the water and causing fish to die. You may begin to notice waterbirds in abundance as new growth becomes more widespread and barramundi begin to migrate from waterholes to the estuaries downstream to breed.

January – March: Gudjewg – Monsoon Season

Kakadu’s true wet season occurs from January to March, when the land is drenched with regular thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding. Plant and animal life during these months thrive thanks to the increase in water, heat and humidity, such as spear grass, which can grow up to 2 metres tall throughout the woodlands.

April: Banggereng – Storm Season

Also referred to as ‘knock em down’ season, Banggerreng is characterised by early, strong windy storms that roll through and flatten the spear grass that has been thriving in January – March. From mid-April, rain clouds disperse, and with it, the vast expanses of floodwater and streams begin to run clear. With clear skies and sunny days, this is a time when plants begin to fruit and animals care for their young.

May – Mid June: Yegge – Cooler but still humid Season

While the southern states of Australia shivers through winter, Yegge in Kakadu is relatively cool with low humidity. During this time, waterlillies carpet the billaongs and shallow wetlands, providing picture-perfect scenes in areas such as the Yellow Water Billabong. Spend your mornings gazing over the misty plains and waterholes in the early hours, or your afternoons admiring the flowering woolly butt flowers in bloom.

Mid June – Mid August: Wurrgeng – Cold Weather Season

The ‘coldest’ months in Kakadu are not considered cold by any stretch of the imagination, as daytime temperatures hover around 30°C and evenings dip to 17°C. This is prime walking season in Kakadu or on the Jatbula Trail, thanks to its clear blue skies, sunny days and manageable temperatures. You’re more likely to see an abundance of waterbirds around billabongs, as the waterholes begin to drink after months of no rain.

Mid August – Mid October: Gurrung – Hot Dry Weather

Typically hot and dry, the early spring months are pleasant and can offer travellers a chance to see wildlife such as long-necked turtles layingt their eggs on some of Kakadu’s sandy beaches. Towards mid October, temperatures build alongside the thunderclouds, signalling the approaching pre-monsoon season.


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Discover the Jatbula Trail, one of the Top End's best kept secrets