Private Kakadu Day Tour: Ubirr Rock Art & Wildlife Cruises

Kakadu at your pace, not the tour bus schedule

A private day tour of Kakadu National Park with a live guide and your own vehicle, letting you choose between rock art sites, wildlife cruises, and wetland spotting based on what interests you. You pick the stops (Ubirr's ancient Aboriginal paintings, the East Alligator River's cultural cruise, Yellow Water Billabong, or Fogg Dam's birdlife), and move through the park at your own rhythm, with lunch and national park entry included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private Kakadu National Park Tour

• Explore Kakadu at your own pace
• Take a Jumping Crocodile or East Alligator River cruise
• Visit Nourlangie or Ubirr rock art sites
• Spot wildlife at Fogg Dam Reserve
• Explore Mamukala Wetlands (seasonal)
• Optional visit to Howard Springs Wildlife Park
• Enjoy outback pub dinner at Humpty Doo Hotel

The experience

The tour runs 12 to 16 hours depending on which sites you choose and how long you linger. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide who holds accreditation and speaks English, and the flexibility is the whole point: instead of a fixed itinerary that stops at the same three places for every group, you decide what matters to you. Want to spend two hours at Ubirr exploring the rock art and escarpment views? You can. Prefer a Jumping Crocodile cruise on the East Alligator River to see saltwater crocs up close? That's an option. The Guluyambi Cultural Cruise on the East Alligator River, a dry season choice, includes an Aboriginal guide and a stop on the Arnhem Land side where you see traditional hunting and gathering tools and learn how Indigenous Australians used the river's plants and animals for food, medicine, and tools.

Fogg Dam Reserve takes about an hour and rewards you with wallabies, freshwater crocodiles, and dense birdlife. Yellow Water Billabong is another wildlife option. In the wet season, when water levels are high, you visit Nourlangie Rock instead of Ubirr for the same kind of ancient art and panoramic views. Mamukala Wetlands (seasonal) and Howard Springs Wildlife Park (optional) round out the choices. Lunch is included. Dinner at the Humpty Doo Hotel at the end of the day is not, though the pub is there if you want it.

Pickup is included, and children from age 6 are welcome. The guide brings the park alive with stories about Kakadu's culture, ecology, and ancient history. The kind of detail that makes a rock art site or a billabong feel like more than just a photo stop.

What’s included

• Billabong or river cruise of your choice.
• bottled water and snacks throughout the day.
• lunch.
• Fogg Dam wildlife spotting.
• national park entry passes.
• private air-conditioned vehicle.
• expert commentary from an accredited guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 24 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendly

Operated by Down Under Safaris

Is this one for you?Pick the rock art and wildlife mix that fits your interests: the guide builds the day around your choices, so you're not locked into a set schedule or the same three stops as every other group. Children from age 6 travel comfortably in the vehicle, and the 12 to 16 hour span means you can explore deeply without rushing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

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's the difference between Ubirr and Nourlangie rock art sites in Kakadu?

Ubirr is the dry season choice, featuring ancient Aboriginal paintings and dramatic escarpment views over the floodplain. Nourlangie Rock is the wet season alternative when water levels are too high, offering similar rock art and panoramic vistas but in a different part of the park.

Can I see saltwater crocodiles on this Kakadu tour?

Yes, the Jumping Crocodile cruise on the East Alligator River is one of your itinerary options and is designed to let you spot saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat.

What does the East Alligator River cruise include?

The Guluyambi Cultural Cruise, available in the dry season, is led by an Aboriginal guide and includes a stop on the Arnhem Land side where you see traditional hunting and gathering implements and learn how Indigenous Australians used the river's plants and animals for survival.

How long do I spend at each stop in Kakadu?

Ubirr and Nourlangie rock art sites take up to 2 hours each; Fogg Dam takes up to 1 hour; the river cruises vary but are built into the overall 12 to 16 hour day depending on which sites you choose and your pace.

Is lunch included, and what about dinner?

Lunch is included in the tour price. Dinner at the Humpty Doo Hotel at the end of the day is optional and not included, though the pub is a stop if you want to eat there.