5-Day Kakadu Safari from Darwin: Koolpin Gorge & Jim Jim Falls

Ubirr's rock art, Jim Jim Falls' plunge pool, Gunlom's infinity swim, and Koolpin Gorge's restricted wilderness in five days

A 5-day 4WD safari from Darwin into Kakadu National Park with a guide, camp accommodation and all park fees included. You visit Ubirr to learn the rock art from your guide, swim in plunge pools at Jim Jim Falls, Maguk and Gunlom Falls, take a sunset cruise on Yellow Waters to spot crocodiles and birdlife, and spend a full day in Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge)—a special permit area restricted to 40 people daily that only this operator runs regularly. The tour requires a high level of fitness; minimum age is 12 years.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Darwin to Kakadu National Park

• Depart Darwin for Kakadu National Park
• Stop at Australiana Bark Hut for refreshment
• Visit East Alligator River to spot wildlife
• Explore Ubirr rock art and climb for views
• Overnight at Mardukal Billabong safari camp

Day 2 — Jim Jim Falls and Yellow Waters Cruise

• Breakfast at camp
• 4WD to Jim Jim Falls or alternative sites
• Walk and swim at plunge pool
• Visit Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
• Enjoy sunset cruise on Yellow Waters
• Overnight at Mardukal Billabong safari camp

Day 3 — Maguk and Gunlom Falls Exploration

• Breakfast at camp
• Hike and swim at Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
• Afternoon hike to Gunlom Falls summit
• Swim in infinity pools and relax at beach
• Camp overnight at Gunlom Falls

Day 4 — Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge) Adventure

• Breakfast at camp
• Full day hike in Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge)
• Explore rock pools, waterfalls, and wildlife
• Camp overnight at Gunlom Falls

Day 5 — Return to Darwin via Historic Sites

• Visit Old Goodparla Homestead
• Swim at Ikoymarrwa (Moline Rockhole)
• Drive through Pine Creek to Darwin

The Experience

Ubirr sits in the north of Kakadu, and the climb to the top rewards you with 360-degree views over the Nardab Floodplains and into Arnhem Land. Your guide interprets the rock art—some of the best examples of Northern Australian painting—and explains the meaning behind the designs. You camp that night at Mardukal Billabong in permanent tent accommodation with sheets and pillow included.

The next two days move through the park's swimming holes. Jim Jim Falls (or Yurmikmik region and Motor Car Falls if Jim Jim is closed) sits at the end of a 1 km walk through a gorge with 200-metre sandstone cliffs; the plunge pool is where you swim or rest on the beach. That evening, a 2-hour sunset cruise on Yellow Waters puts you in front of crocodiles and birdlife in their natural habitat. Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) comes next—a 1 km hike through paperbark forest with rock scrambling leads to another plunge pool, this one teeming with black bream and barramundi. Gunlom Falls in the south has both a bottom plunge pool and infinity pools at the top, with panoramic views across Southern Kakadu; the location is famous from Crocodile Dundee and gives you space to soak in the landscape.

Day four is the full day in Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge), the jewel of the tour. This is a special permit area restricted to 40 people daily and recognized for its cultural and environmental sensitivity; Territory Expeditions is the only operator running regular tours here. The walk up the gorge is a real wilderness walk requiring proficient fitness, and it leads to some of the park's most spectacular rock pools, waterfalls and rock landscapes. Endemic species of flora and fauna live nowhere else. On the final morning, you visit Old Goodparla Homestead—one of the first cattle stations before the park was declared—then swim one last time at Ikoymarrwa (Moline Rockhole), a spring-fed permit area, before driving back to Darwin via Pine Creek, arriving around 5 pm.

What’s included

• National Park fees.
• air-conditioned 4WD transport.
• live guide commentary on natural and cultural features.
• permanent tent or swag accommodation with sheets and pillow.
• large screened undercover camp area for meals.
• pickup from your Darwin accommodation.
• experienced tour guide.
• sunset wildlife and crocodile cruise on Yellow Waters.
• toilets and showers at each camp.

Good to know

Demanding physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Territory Expeditions

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Darwin without a car and want access to Koolpin Gorge—it requires a special permit and this operator handles both the authorization and your transport from accommodation, so you skip the logistics of getting there yourself.

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Top questions

What is the rock art at Ubirr, and what does the guide explain about it?

Ubirr holds some of the best examples of Northern Australian rock art. Your guide interprets the paintings and explains their cultural meaning, then you climb to the top for 360-degree views over the Nardab Floodplains and into Arnhem Land.

Can I swim at Jim Jim Falls, and what happens if it's closed?

Jim Jim Falls has a plunge pool at the end of a 1 km walk through a gorge with 200-metre sandstone cliffs. If Kakadu National Park closes Jim Jim Falls (as it did for the 2026 dry season), the tour visits Yurmikmik region and Motor Car Falls instead, so you still get a major waterfall and swimming hole.

What makes Koolpin Gorge different from the other stops?

Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge) is a special permit area restricted to 40 people per day and recognized for its cultural and environmental sensitivity. Territory Expeditions is the only tour operator running regular tours here. The walk is a real wilderness walk requiring proficient fitness, and it leads to some of the park's most spectacular rock pools, waterfalls and rock landscapes, with endemic species found nowhere else.

What kind of accommodation do I sleep in, and what's included?

You camp in permanent tents (twin-share) or swags with pillow and sheets included. There's a large screened undercover camp area for meals, and toilets and showers at each camp. Sleeping bags are not provided but can be hired for $20 when you book.

How fit do I need to be for this tour?

The tour requires a high level of physical fitness. The walks include rock scrambling and a full-day wilderness walk up Koolpin Gorge. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. Minimum age is 12 years.

What wildlife will I see on the Yellow Waters cruise?

The 2-hour sunset cruise on Yellow Waters gives you the chance to see abundant birdlife and crocodiles in their natural habitat. The cruise is included on day two of the tour.