You’ve probably been warned off visiting the Northern Territory during the wet season.
Yet with Kakadu National Park’s spectacular wildlife and the thundering waterfalls of Litchfield National Park, the wet season is a great time to see the Northern Territory in all its glory, without too many other visitors around.
1. Cruise down Yellow Water Billabong in Kakadu National Park
December to March is known as Gudjewg in Kakadu National Park, which is the really wet part of the wet season, and it leads to an explosion of plant and animal life in the national park.
Yellow Water Cruises, which traverse Kakadu’s wetlands, will take you into the midst of the park’s vibrant ecosystem.
You never know what to you might see in the wetlands – probably a few crocs, as well as an abundance of bird species. With around one-third of Australia’s bird species found in Kakadu, this cruise is a hunting ground for twitchers.
The sunrise and sunset cruises are always particularly popular, but it is a fantastic experience at any time of day.
2. See the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park
The wet season is prime viewing time to see Litchfield‘s spectacular waterfalls, which become thunderous as a result of heavy rain.
The park is quite close to Darwin, around 100 kilometres south near the town of Batchelor.
While many of the 4WD tracks are shut during the wet season, most of the other attractions are open, including many of the waterholes.
Unlike Kakadu National Park, most of the roads in and around Litchfield are sealed, enabling access during the Wet.
3. Nab the best camping spots
Ever tried to get a spot at the Wangi Falls camping area in the dry season? Due to the popularity of Litchfield National Park with Darwin locals, it can be a battle.
One of the good things about the wet season is that it’s much easier to nab the best camping spots (if they’re not shut, that is).
Even in parks that have restrictive access during the Wet, such as Nitmiluk National Park when the Katherine River is in flood, normally have a few camping areas available.
You don’t have to travel to Europe to get a glimpse of fascinating histories.
Australia is home to the oldest continuing culture in the world, and the rock art in the Northern Territory reveals some of the most interesting depictions of Aboriginal life thousands of years ago.
One of the best rock-art sites is Nourlangie Rock, located in Kakadu. During the wet season, it is accessible on a 1.5-kilometre circuit track.
Other spectacular rock-art sites you can visit in the Northern Territory include N’Dhala Gorge (although this is via a 4WD track that is inaccessible after heavy rain) and East MacDonnell Ranges.
