Set within the magnificent Arnhem Land Escarpment, Jabiru is the ideal place to start your adventure in Kakadu National Park. This town is a hub for services and accommodation within the park, and is an excellent starting-point for daytrips, hikes, scenic flights, boat rides and four-wheel drive tours. Explore Kakadu National Park’s beautiful and diverse landscapes and take in the area’s fascinating Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Begin your visit to Jabiru at the Bowali Visitor Centre, where you can speak with the informative staff and plan your trip within the park. Learn about the surrounding wetlands, waterfalls, escarpments and woodlands with the centre’s informative displays. Browse the library and discover the region’s Aboriginal custodians, the Bininj and Mungguy people, and their unique relationship with the land. Check out the centre’s Marrawuddi Gallery to find Aboriginal art, books and souvenirs. Refreshments are available at the neighbouring café.
Explore the area around Jabiru on foot or by bicycle. The Bowali bike and walking track begins at the distinctive Gagudju Crocodile Hotel and winds through woodlands to the Bowali Visitor Centre. The Illigadjarr circuit starts at the Malabanjbanjdju and Burdulba campsites, passing by Burdulba Billabong and grassy floodplains. Both trails are around 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long. Enjoy a picnic or barbecue at Jabiru’s lake, play a round at the town’s 9-hole golf course or go for a swim at the Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Visit the tour operators in Jabiru to organise scenic flights, four-wheel drive tours, fishing trips and cruises around Australia’s biggest national park. Many of the hotels, resorts and campsites in Jabiru offer tour packages. Examine the ancient Aboriginal rock art sites at Nourlangie Rock and Ubirr. Don’t miss a stunning tropical sunset amid ancient rock paintings, some up to 20,000 years old.
Jabiru is 255 kilometres (158 miles) east of Darwin. Kakadu National Park has an entrance fee. The best time to visit is between May and September, when the weather is drier and the waterways are full from summer’s monsoon season. Visit Jabiru in September to experience the Mahbilil Festival, an annual celebration of cultural diversity and local communities.
