Kakadu National Park flight and Yellow Waters cruise from Darwin

You land in the national park and step straight onto the boat.

A full-day tour from Darwin combining a scenic flight over Kakadu National Park's wetlands and waterfalls with a 1.5-hour Yellow Waters boat cruise at Cooinda. The flight covers the Adelaide and Mary Rivers, the upper Alligator River, and during wet season also Jim-Jim and Twin Falls. You then board the famous Yellow Waters cruise to see wildlife and the water systems up close. Scenic flight, bottled water, window seat and free parking are included. A live English-speaking guide leads the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic flight and Yellow Water cruise

• Take scenic flight over wetlands
• Land at Kakadu National Park
• Board Yellow Water Boat Cruise
• Relax at Cooinda Resort
• Fly back over Kakadu to Darwin

The experience

The day starts with a scenic flight out along the Adelaide and Mary Rivers, following the Mary River north over vast wetlands carved by millions of years of seasonal flooding. You'll see the rugged northern landscape from the air, watch for wildlife in the wetlands, and during the wet season the flight also passes over Jim-Jim and Twin Falls before touching down at Cooinda in Kakadu National Park.

After landing, you board the Yellow Waters boat cruise for 1.5 hours on the water. This is where the scale of Kakadu shifts from aerial views to close-up detail: the water systems, the abundance of wildlife, and the spiritual significance the landscape holds for the Aboriginal people. The cruise departs from Cooinda Resort, where you have time to rest between the flight and the water.

The tour ends with a final flight back over Kakadu's features before returning to Darwin. The whole experience runs about seven hours from pickup to drop-off. Window seats are reserved, and bottled water is provided throughout. Free parking is available if you're driving to the departure point.

What’s included

• Scenic flight along the Adelaide and Mary Rivers and over Kakadu's wetlands.
• Yellow Waters boat cruise at Cooinda for 1.5 hours.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• window seat on the aircraft.
• free parking.
• return flight to Darwin with a live English-speaking guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kookaburra Air

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Kakadu from both the air and the water in a single day. The flight gives you the scale of the landscape, and the boat cruise brings you close to the wildlife and water systems that define the national park.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What will I see on the scenic flight over Kakadu?

The flight follows the Adelaide and Mary Rivers out over the vast wetlands, the upper Alligator River, and the rugged northern landscape shaped by seasonal flooding. During the wet season, Jim-Jim and Twin Falls are also visible from the air, and you'll watch for wildlife in the wetlands before landing at Cooinda.

How long is the Yellow Waters boat cruise?

The Yellow Waters cruise lasts 1.5 hours and departs from Cooinda Resort after you land in the national park. It gives you close-up views of the water systems, wildlife, and the landscape's spiritual significance to Aboriginal people.

What's included in the tour price?

The scenic flight, the Yellow Waters boat cruise, bottled water, a window seat, and free parking are all included. A live English-speaking guide leads the tour.

How much time does the whole tour take?

The tour runs about seven hours total, including the scenic flight, the boat cruise, time to rest at Cooinda Resort between activities, and the return flight to Darwin.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the departure point?

Free parking is available, so you can drive yourself. If you need hotel pickup in Darwin, confirm that option when booking.