Kakadu National Park Off The Beaten Path Tips by 1+1 Top 5 Page for this destination

Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge)

Jarrangbarnmi is one of those magic places that you have to travel rough roads to see and then realise that it was worth every bounce and bump along the way. The name means passage or pathway of the flood waters.

It's never crowded as visitor numbers are controlled by a booking system. Check in at the ranger station or Bowali Visitor Centre because you need to pick up a key.

Waldak Irmbal - West Alligator Head

Popular fishing and camping spot on the coast. Was a fishing camp years ago and a lot of relics from those days, like this old blitz truck, are still there. You need a 4WD to get in there and it's an 80 km drive off the main road.

Bilkbilkmi - cathedral termite mound

On the way in and out of Bilkbilkmi you pass by many of these giant termite mounds. This particular one is just short of 6 metres high.

Bilkbilkmi - creek

Going up the creek (walking only) you can reach what is referred to as the cascades. It's a fairly long walk, but the creek has plenty of clean fresh water. This photo was taken August, the middle of the dry season. The weather does get hotter and drier up to November.

Bilkbilkmi

Bilkbilkmi was named Graveside Gorge by Europeans, the story being that there is the grave of an old Chinese miner in the locality. To drive in you must have a 4WD vehicle. It's a fairly long, slow trip in from the bitumen of the Kakadu Highway. There's a bush camp beside the main creek near the start of the gorge, but no facilities.

Jarrangbarnmi, waterfall

There are a number of small waterfalls on the way up the gorge as well as cascades. Once you get into the gorge, to go higher up you need to keep to the right hand side and away from the creek itself.

Jarrangbarnmi, access road

Pretty well the roughest part of the road, after leaving the Gimbat road, is the South Alligator River crossing. It looks harder than it really is. Obviously 4WD only, you should check the crossing by wading through where your vehicle wheels will pass. Generally it's no more than knee deep. If the water gets too deep (wet season) the area is closed to the public.