Is your camera charged and ready for photography in Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory of Australia? Great! This jewel of a park is a place rich with Aboriginal history and is a biodiversity hotspot. Our trip to the Northern Territory last year was truly a journey of a lifetime. You can see my full Northern Territory and Kakadu National Park photo gallery here!
Read on to find out more about when to go there and the must-do spots for photography!
What is Kakadu National Park?
First, some background info. Kakadu National Park is the biggest national park in Australia, with an area of nearly 20,000km². That’s the size of Slovenia and nearly half the size of Switzerland! It has also been home to Aboriginal people for more than 65,000 years.
It covers four major river systems (East Alligator River, West Alligator River, Wildman River, South Alligator River), six major landforms and a huge variety of wildlife.
In recognition of its cultural and natural values, the whole park is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
When’s the best time to go to Kakadu National Park?
The Aboriginal people identify as many as 6 seasons, linked to the appearance of natural phenomena instead of set dates (Kunumeleng, Kudjewk, Bangkerreng, Yekke, Wurrkeng & Kurrung). Most non-Aboriginal people identify just two: the dry season, from April/May to September, and the wet season, from October to March.
Which season is best to visit? It depends entirely on what you’re after. I won’t go further into this here as there are already many great articles on this topic summarising the pros and cons of visiting in each season.
We went in late August, which was towards the end of the dry season. No complains about that: we enjoyed mild temperatures, low humidity, good road conditions, and next to no crowds (the summer school holidays having just ended).
Having experienced the magic of Kakadu in the dry season, we would love to see it in the wet season; it would be a dream to see the famous Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls in their full glory and the outback bursting into life in the rain.
Photography spots in Kakadu
Ubirr rock art, Nadab lookout
Ubirr. Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + EF 24-70mm f/4 IS USM - Aperture : f/22 - Speed : 1/8s - ISO : 100
Ubirr is simply a must-see. This is one of the most-photographed spots in Kakadu National Park, and for good reason. The view over the vast Nadab floodplains is breathtaking, especially at sunset. The rock art, dating back thousands of years, is some of the best in the world.
Tip: Check the sunset time of the date you’re intending to visit, then plan to reach Ubirr at least an hour and a half to 2 hours before then. This will give you time to appreciate the rock art, as well as to set up your tripod at a good spot at the Nadab lookout point. While view may be enchanting, don’t linger too long – the ranger closes the gates shortly after sunset!
If you’re interested in finding out more about the rock art, there’s a free ranger talk included in the price of your park pass.
Yellow Water Cruise
Pied heron. Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. Aperture : f/8 - Speed : 1/500s - ISO : 160
The Yellow Water Cruise was without a doubt the highlight of our trip. We took a 2-hour morning cruise at 9 am, and immediately wanted to go on another. The cruise takes you on a journey on the Yellow Water Billabong, and no two cruises are the same. The diversity and abundance of wildlife is staggering, and a real gold mine for wildlife photography. Crocodiles in their natural habitat basking in the sun, buffalo on the floodplain, eagles flying overhead…
Saltwater crocodile surfacing in the Yellow Water Billabong. Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. Aperture : f/8 - Speed : 1/640s - ISO : 320
Tip: Try to make it to the sunrise/early morning and sunset cruises if you can – the light will be harsher from 11am to 4pm – but there’s always something to see at all hours of the day!
Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land. Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + EF 24-70mm f/4 IS USM - Aperture : f/22 - Speed : 1/1000s - ISO : 100
While technically not part of Kakadu National Park, Arnhem Land is a very special place that’s well worth a visit. It’s one of the largest parcels of Aboriginal-owned land in Australia, and the degree to which the traditional owners have preserved their heritage and art is wonderful to see.
Only a few tour operators have licences to go to Arnhem Land. We went with Top End Day Tours on the Arnhem Land Day Tour to Injalak Hill (not sponsored), and it was an unforgettable experience. Climbing up the uneven rocks of Injalak Hill was not easy, but was well worth it for the magnificent view of the Arnhem Land escarpment and floodplains. We also had the privilege to have 2 Aboriginal guides to show us the incredible rock art on Injalak Hill and tell us a bit more about Aboriginal traditions and way of life.
Injalak Hill. Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + EF 24-70mm f/4 IS USM - Aperture : f/16 - Speed : 1/500s - ISO : 640
If it’s not already clear from the above, I was completely enchanted by Kakadu National Park and would go back again a heartbeat.
