The Kakadu Escarpment country is a vast wilderness area in the Top End of Australia. The Kakadu Explorer trek takes us deep into this wild region.
Join us on this challenging 9 day off-track, full pack exploratory hike for a unique opportunity to explore the Kakadu Escarpment country, where few non Indigenous people have ever walked. We explore the most beautiful swimming holes, stay in spectacular camp sites and discover significant and inspiring Aboriginal rock art. This is a stunning trekking journey along two of Kakadu’s great creeks (so big you could almost call them rivers!), the Twin and Jim Jim. Your guides believe that this is the best trek they have done so far in their walking careers and are excited to take you into this incredible, remote, untouched wilderness area.
Our trek is unmarked and exploratory in nature giving us the freedom to discover this unique country with the aid of maps and a compass. There is no set itinerary; we are privileged to journey together through this beautiful country, exploring a remote wilderness where few venture.
Itinerary Summary
Day 1 : Depart Darwin, Yellow Water Lagoon Cruise | 5hrs driving, 2 hr cruise
Day 2 to 8 : Follow Jim Jim and Twin Creeks to Twin Falls | approx 80kms + exploring over 8 days
Day 9 : Twin Creek Gorge, Twin Falls, return to Darwin | 6kms + 6hrs driving
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 8 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 8 dinners.
- All delicious snacks on the trail.
- 2 experienced professional wilderness guides.
- All national park permits and camping fees.
- All camping equipment including mosquito net, sleeping mat and sleeping bag.
- All catering equipment including cutlery, cups, plates, bowls.
- Emergency satellite communication/navigation equipment.
- Wilderness first aid equipment and supplies.
- Transport from Darwin and return.
- Yellow Waters Lagoon Cruise.
- This is a small group off-track trek for experienced hikers – limited to 8 people.
- Gear hire available.
NOTES TO CONSIDER
Our 9 day Kakadu Explorer adventure is a demanding walk, we advise you to do as much training as you can before your tour with us. The more you train for the walk the easier you will handle the terrain and the more you will enjoy this wonderful part of the world. It’s also important to come along with an open mind ready for an awesome experience whatever the weather, whoever the group.
We need to stress that this is a demanding hike – there is no vehicle support once you have been dropped at the start,
and you need to feel confident carrying a full pack weighing up to 20kg. The other factor in Kakadu is the heat and humidity – while we try to walk in the coolest parts of the day, you need to be prepared for temperatures in the high 20s/low 30s and relatively high humidity.
It is very important that you bring the right gear for the conditions. A comprehensive gear list is included on the itinerary. Quality backpacks are available for hire. If you are at all concerned about your ability to do this walk, please feel free to call one of us here at Trek Tours Australia for more advice.
DAY 1: DEPART DARWIN, YELLOW WATER LAGOON CRUISE.
Pick up Darwin hotels between 7.30am and 8am. Drive to Warradjan Cultural Centre where we have a fresh healthy lunch and a chance to look around the centre. Continue to Cooinda, in the heart of the Kakadu wetlands, where an afternoon cruise on the famous Yellow Water Lagoon is a spectacular way to end our first day. We are treated to a vast array of birdlife and some of the top end’s most famous creatures – the massive and deadly salt water crocodile. Following the cruise we drive another hour to our campsite where your guides will prepare a delicious dinner, followed by a detailed tour briefing.
5hrs driving | 2hr cruise Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2 TO 8: FOLLOW JIM JIM AND TWIN CREEKS TO TWIN FALLS.
This morning we transfer by four wheel drive to the beginning of our remote Kakadu journey, Jim Jim Falls. From here we leave all the other tourists behind and make our way to the top of the escarpment. Once up top, you feel like you’re on the roof of Kakadu, looking all the way down the spectacular Jim Jim Gorge. Following a well earned rest, another swim and a bite to eat, we continue trekking beside the river to our camp tonight. For the next 8 days we follow the Jim Jim and Twin Creeks across the plateau to join up with Twin Falls. Expect free flowing waterfalls, amazing swimming and plunge pools, ancient rock and stunning natural formations, monsoonal rainforests, protected gorges, and colourful birdlife. This is spectacular escarpment country, overlooking Kakadu and beyond. We camp in areas where very few have been before. We are also introduced to some rare Aboriginal art along the trail. The southern part of the park is traditionally divided among three closely related Jawoyn clans: Bolmo, Wurrkbaba and Matjba. This area is within the traditional domain of the Jawoyn language group. The hike is untracked; your expert wilderness guides will be utilising map and compass navigation along the way. On average we expect to trek approximately 12-14 kilometres per day plus some exploring in untracked and remote areas, with a final camp destination in mind each day. We aim to reach camp mid to late afternoon giving us time to relax, swim, read and enjoy the beauty of our remote wilderness surrounds. Each campsite has its own fresh water source.
approximately 85kms + exploring over 8 days Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9: TWIN CREEK GORGE, TWIN FALLS, RETURN TO DARWIN.
An early start this morning, with amazing photo opportunities, as the early light filters through the high walls of the gorge. Our walk out from camp takes us to the top of Twin Falls before our descent from the escarpment. Following the first and only marked trail of this incredible journey; we make our way to the end of our trek at Twin Falls. Transfer to Darwin with a lunch stop on the way, arriving approximately 5pm.
Walking: 6kms | 2-3hrs, 6hrs driving to Darwin Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Australian Walking Track Grade 4 and 5 – Very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Terrain is very rough, very steep and unmarked. No directional signage and Nil designated trails.
Our Kakadu treks are in the Kakadu Stone country high atop the remote Arnhemland escarpment. The terrain experienced is completely off track, at times through high grass bush, following seasonal animal trails and balancing along dense creek and river beds across rocky, uneven terrain.
As most of our guests are travelling from significantly cooler and less humid parts of Australia, the Top End walking weather is the main challenge. Couple this with a full pack in uneven, off track terrain is what all walkers need to adapt to. We recommend arriving in Darwin at least 2 days prior to your trek to do some exploring locally to get acclimatised to the heat. We recommend being well hydrated before embarking on the days walk. This includes being well hydrated the day before and importantly taking on water regularly on the vehicle transfer to the start of the walk. We trek close to running water during our Kakadu treks, so frequent cooling down and hydration are key parts of every days walking.
WHAT YOU CARRY
On the 9 day Kakadu Explorer adventure you will need to carry all your equipment in a full trekking pack that is 70- 90 litres in capacity. This includes sleeping bag, inflatable sleeping mat, mosquito dome, a proportion of the group’s food supplies and all personal items as specified in our gear list. Depending on the quality and quantity of personal gear and toiletries, the average pack may weigh up to 20kg. A pre-trip briefing and a full gear check with your guides the afternoon before your Kakadu Explorer trek departs
will ensure you have the right mix of gear for your adventure. Please make your way to the NT General Store, 42 Cavenagh Street Darwin at 4PM the day before your trip, bringing your pack and what you intend to bring on your trek.
Adventure Curated App
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IMPORTANT NOTES
Our 9-day Kakadu Explorer adventure is a demanding walk, we advise you to do as much training as you can before your tour with us. The more you train for the walk the easier you will handle the terrain and the more you will enjoy this wonderful part of the world. It’s also important to come along with an open mind ready for an awesome experience whatever the weather, whoever the group. We need to stress that this is a demanding hike – there is no vehicle support once you have been dropped at the start, and you need to feel confident carrying a full pack weighing up to 20kg. The other factor in Kakadu is the heat and humidity – while we try to walk in the coolest parts of the day, you need to be prepared for temperatures in the high 20s/low 30s with relatively high humidity. It is very important that you bring the right gear for the conditions. A comprehensive gear list is included at the end of this itinerary. Quality backpacks are available for hire. If you are at all concerned about your ability to do this walk, please feel free to call one of us here at Trek Tours Australia for more advice (1300 133 278).
