Kakadu Access Report

The Kakadu Access Report provides daily updates on the status of key visitor sites throughout Kakadu National Park.

Take in the big picture on the map and scroll down for more information about sites which interest you.

Please visit the NT Government Road Report for more information about the surrounding region.

To learn more about interpreting this report, take a look at the steps to opening a site below.

Latest news

Gunlom open

Gunlom is now open. For safety reasons, swimming is not permitted in the lower waterhole, with fencing and clear signage in place.

For those looking to camp, the Gunlom campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis and the on-site campground manager will collect the camping fees. Visitors to the campground are advised to bring their own drinking water as potable water is not available at the campground.

Permits

Overnight/off track bushwalking permits are limited each year, with various locations subject to monthly capacity. There are currently no permits available for the 2025 season.

Please contact the permits team on kakadu.permits@dcceew.gov.au to be added to the waitlist in the event of a cancellation, email enquiries and permit applications submissions are actioned on a first come first served basis.

Notes

The NT Parks Pass is not valid in Kakadu National Park. Please purchase your Kakadu Park Pass online or visit the Bowali Visitor Centre.

There are 2 small shopping hubs at Cooinda and Jabiru. There is no shop or fuel at Mary River Roadhouse. The nearest fuel is available at Pine Creek, Cooinda or Jabiru.

Subscribe to Kakadu Access Report

Visitor site	Status	Comments
Main Roads
Arnhem Highway	Open	Drive with care
Kakadu Highway	Open
Old Jim Jim Road	Open	High clearance 4WD vehicles only
Burrungkuy (Nourlangie)
Anbangbang Billabong walk	Open
Barrk sandstone walk	Closed	Closed at the request of Traditional Owners
Bubba wetlands walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art site	Open	All year access. Gates open at 7 am and close at 7 pm daily
Djarradjin (Muirella Park) campground	Open
Kubara pools walk (Gubara pools walk)	Open	4WD recommended
Mirray (Mirrai) lookout walk	Open	All year access
Nanguluwurr art site walk	Open	All year access. 4WD recommended
Nawurlandja lookout walk	Open	All year access. Gates open at 7 am and close at 7 pm daily
Sandy Billabong (Djirrilba) campground	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
East Alligator (Erre)
Badbong Wodjmeng sandstone river walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Bardedjilidji walk	Open
Cahills Crossing	Open, but beware of risks
Downstream boat ramp	Open
Manngarre rainforest walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Merl campground	Open
Oenpelli Road (at Magela Creek)	Open
Ubirr rock art site	Open
Upstream boat ramp	Open
Jabiru
Bowali Visitor Centre	Open	Open 8 am to 5 pm daily
Bowali track	Open	All year access
Burdulba campground	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Malabanjbanjdju caravan camping	Closed	Malabanjbanjdju tent area open only
Malabanjbanjdju tent camping	Open	Malabanjbanjdju tent area open only
Yilikadjarr walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Jim Jim & Twin Falls
Barrk Marlam walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Bilkbilkmi (Graveside Gorge)	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Budjmi lookout walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Jim Jim Falls (Barrkmallam)	Closed	Expected opening late July
Karnamarr (Garnamarr) campground	Closed	Expected opening late July
Twin Falls gorge	Closed	Closed in 2025 due to infrastructure upgrades. Reopening in dry season 2026
Twin Falls plateau (escarpment) walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Mary River
Bukbukluk lookout	Open
Giyamungkurr (Black Jungle Springs)	Closed	Closed
Gungurul campground	Open
Gungurul lookout and river walk	Open
Gunlom	Open	4WD recommended
Guratba/Gimbat day use area	Open
Igoymarrwa (Ikoymarrawa) rock holes	Open	4WD access only to lower Ikoymarrwa waterfall plunge pool
Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge)	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Kambolgie campground	Open	Camping fees apply
Maguk	Closed	Expected opening mid-July
Yurmikmik walks	Open	Motor Car Falls and Boulder Creek are open. Parking is available at Motor Car carpark, while the Boulder Creek carpark is closed for upgrades.
South Alligator
Alligator Billabong (Gurdurunguranjdju)	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Bucket Billabong (Ngarrababa)	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Four Mile Hole Billabong	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Kungarre walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Mamukala wetlands	Open	Please remain on pathway leading to the birdhide.
Red Lily Billabong (Djunda)	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
South Alligator boat ramp and picnic area	Open
Two Mile Hole Billabong	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Waldak Irrmbal (West Alligator Head)	Closed	Currently closed
Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba)
Home Billabong boat ramp	Open, but beware of risks	Water levels in carpark still high. Please be aware of croc risk and take precautions.
Jim Jim Billabong (Djim Djim Anlabbarl) campground	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Jim Jim Billabong boat ramp	Closed	Due to seasonal conditions
Kungardun (Gungardun) walk	Closed	Opening in 2025 dry season
Mardukal Billabong boat ramp	Open
Mardukal Billabong walk	Closed	Closed for safety reasons
Mardukal campground one (caravans)	Open
Mardukal campground two (tents)	Open
Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre	Open	Open 9 am to 5 pm daily
Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) Boat Cruise	Open	Please contact reservations@yellowwater.com.au for all tour bookings and departure times. Boat cruise operates all year-round and passengers are to meet at Cooinda Lodge Bus Stop 20 minutes prior to cruise departure.
Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) boardwalk	Open
Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) boat ramp	Open

Park Opening Plan

Throughout the year, Kakadu’s landscapes undergo dramatic seasonal changes. The Park Opening Plan outlines what we do to open visitor sites after the wet season, how we communicate and why we may need to close sites.

Download resources

Park Opening Plan (PDF, 5 MB)

Steps to opening a site

At the end of the wet season, there are steps to opening a visitor site, ranging from preliminary site assessment to crocodile trapping and surveys.

Some sites also require infrastructure installation before they can be opened to the public.

Please refer to the table below for details of the work involved at each stage.

Step	Status	Description
Site temporarily closed	Closed	Site closed due to events beyond Kakadu's control. For example: flooding, bushfires, roadworks or extreme weather.
Preliminary site assessment	Closed	Inspect the site and plan upcoming works.
Site maintenance works	Closed	Initial cleanup, road repairs, early dry season burning, feral animal and weed control.
Site cleanup	Closed	Cleaning and maintenance of visitor facilities, walking tracks and signage.
Crocodile trapping and surveys	Closed	Crocodile trap installation and monitoring.
Infrastructure installation	Closed	Followed by Park Manager approval and site opening.
Open, but beware of risks	Open*	Possible risks include: road conditions, fire management and ongoing maintenance work.
Site open	Open	Conditions are good. Any site specific advice will be noted.

More information

For more information about Kakadu National Park, contact the Bowali Visitor Centre on (08) 8938 1120.