Earliest time to go to Kakadu

We lived there for a few years.

Bear in mind the earlier you go the wetter the place is and more mozzies. Most of the water falls will be closed until at least May depending on the wet. The thing with the NT is there is no "best date". It all depends on a long or short wet season a small or big wet. The longer and bigger the later roads will be opened to some of the sites.

You really need to get onto the Kakadu website or NT parks and wildlife.

We got to one spot that had just opened in May but couldn't get to some of the falls as the roads were still closed. There are too many variables so close to the end of a wet season.

I was there in 1968 is that early enough,,it wasn't even called Kakadu...
I was ther for 3 months from August and the place was just beautiful..Clear skies day and night..buffalo and crocks with the odd barra tossed in,,,the hunting was just great in the old days,,but things do change and all for the better sometimes.. we used to net barra in the East Aligator river,,catch pigs on the flood plains.. Enjoy your stay as much as i did........

With bitumen roads, you can go there almost any time, but of course some things won't be accessable.

Timing depends on the wet season for that year. We were there in late July / August this year and Jim Jim falls and a few walks were still closed following the big and late wet season (and cyclone) this year.

In my view, though the earlier you go after things open the better. Some of the falls will still be flowing, plenty of water at Yellow Water etc.

In a 'normal' year April (late) is probably OK, but what's normal???

The further North we went in the park, the bigger the mozzies got. My wife used 2 or 3 cans of spray and still has marks on her ankles (3 months later) where she was bitten. They almost drove her mad. I on the other hand hardly noticed them, but that might have been the effect of the red wine.

As it is your first trip to the area, don't miss Litchfield NP as well. Much smaller and very different to Kakadu, but also very beautiful.

Hi Helena, we did a quick trip to Kakadu in the last week of April this year and so experienced Tropical cyclone Monica's effects which made all the waterfalls fantastic. It was a tremendous contrast to visiting in the dry in 05. You can't possibly see it all in a week, which means you can plan to go back again in another season. Lots of sites were closed eg Jim Jim and the Twin Falls,Gunlom and Maguk, but enough was still open even while Monica hit. Go into Places and try the following: Yurmikimk, Gubara, Ikoymarra Lookout , Kakadu and Robin Falls. Click on pix and then follow links to places within 5km and you'll get to see most of my wife's pix. Also do the same with Litchfield. Try Edith Falls later as I was trying to add some pix but it timed out. Cheers, Warrie

Hi Helena
Cant add to info so far re timing as conditions vary - however we have up to date road conditions for Kakadu on ExplorOz (Updated 2-3 times per week)
www.exploroz.com/Roads/NT.asp

My best experience - I was lucky to be one of the first vehicles into Gunlom after a very big wet in the early 90s and we were treated to a setting sun illuminating a massive flow of crystal clear water over the escarpment. The flood had deposited a beach of pure white sand to boot about where they filmed the bikini scene in Crocodile Dundee. Needless to say we stayed for a while.
I did not expect anything better than that, yet as amazing as Gunlom was, we all agreed that the highlight of the trip was experiencing the sunset at Ubirr - there is just some sort of magic there that is palpable when it is so green and still.

We were there around mid April that year.

Have a great trip

Kerry W