2 Best Sights in Kakadu National Park, The Outback

The best way to gain a true appreciation of the natural beauty of Kakadu is to visit the waterfalls running off the escarpment. Some 39 km (24 miles) south of the park headquarters along the Kakadu Highway, a track leads off to the left toward Jim Jim Falls, 60 km (37 miles) or about a two-hour drive away. The track is rough and unpaved, and you'll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to navigate it. From the parking lot, you have to scramble 1 km (½ mile) over boulders to reach the falls and the plunge pools they have created at the base of the escarpment. Note that after May, the water flow over the falls may cease, and the unpaved road is closed in the Wet.

The best way to see these falls at their best is on a scenic flight from Jabiru during the wet season (from A$250 per person for an unforgettable one-hour trip).

As you approach Twin Falls Gorge, the ravine opens up dramatically to reveal a beautiful sandy beach scattered with palm trees, as well as the crystal waters of the falls spilling onto the end of the beach. This spot is a bit difficult to reach, but the trip is rewarding. Take the four-wheel-drive-only road to Jim Jim Falls, turn off just before the parking lot, and travel 10 km (6 miles) farther to the Twin Falls parking lot. A regular boat shuttle (A$12.50; buy your tickets before you go at Bowali Visitor Centre) operates a return service up the Twin Falls Gorge, and then you need to walk over boulders, sand, and a boardwalk to the falls. Note that saltwater crocodiles may be in the gorge, so visitors are urged not to enter the water. The round-trip journey, including the boat shuttle, takes around two hours.