Kakadu in Yegge | May - June
Yegge, in May and June, is one of Kakadu's six seasons. It is a time of cooler days and lower humidity - a great time to visit Kakadu.
The floodplains and waterholes are shrouded in early morning mist which rises with the morning sun. Fragrant water lilies carpet shallow wetlands. The drying winds and flowering Darwin woolly butt tell Bininj/Mungguy that it is time to start patch burning to 'clean the country' and encourage new growth for grazing animals. The skies become hazy with smoke from fires that slowly burn out during the night.
To plan your itinerary:
- Consider the list of places below that are often open during Yegge
- Check our daily access report at kakadu.com.au/access to make sure your favourite areas are accessible (it's a good idea to check it on the day you travel too)
- Look up your favourite sites in the Kakadu National Park Visitor Guide for maps and more information
- Have a great trip! Jump on our Facebook page (facebook.com/parksaustralia) or catch us on Twitter (twitter.com/#!/Parks_Australia) to tell us how you went
IMPORTANT NOTE - Damage to roads and infrastructure caused by heavy rain during the wet season can make parts of Kakadu inaccessible. Before you depart be sure to check the very latest conditions online at kakadu.com.au/access. For more detailed advice call our helpful staff at Bowali Visitor Centre on 08 8938 1120. You can also see our suggested itineraries.
Highlights in the park during Yegge
Seasonal ranger program
Free interpretive activities with rangers and traditional owners of Kakadu. Activities include art site talks, guided walks, cultural activities and slideshows. They run from 14 May until October 2012. Download a copy of the timetable here or pick one up from Bowali Visitors Centre.
Ubirr art site
See amazing examples of rock art and spectacular views from several lookouts. This site has wheel-chair access. Find out more
Nourlangie art sites
See amazing examples of rock art and spectacular views from the lookout. This site has wheel-chair access. Find out more
Bowali Visitors Centre and Warradjan Cultural Centre
A wealth of information to uncover about Kakadu's diverse culture and nature is found in the displays, video and libraries. Find out more
Cultural tours
Experience the many cultures in Kakadu on tours owned and operated by Indigenous people from the region. Find out more
Cruises and scenic flights
Guluyambi cruises
River cruises focus on culture and nature of Kakadu from an Indigenous perspective. Guluyambi.com.au | See the Guluyambi River cruise video
Yellow Water cruises
Cruise on Kakadu's World Heritage listed wetlands to learn about the area's plants, animals and and culture. Indigenous owned Yellow Water Cruises, who took out silver in the 2011 Austrailan Tourism Awards, operates exclusively on Yellow Water Billabong. It operates year round and provides up to six cruises a day of 90 or 120 minutes duration
gagudju-dreaming.com
Scenic flights
A great option at this time of year to see the full power of Kakadu's waterfalls, which are still inaccessible by road until the country dries out in late May or early June. Fixed wing and helicopter flights are available from Jabiru East and Cooinda Airstrips. These commercial flights provide a bird's eye view of Kakadu and its many varied habitats. Bookings can be made by contacting Kakadu Air at kakaduair.com.au or North Australian Helicopters northaustralianhelicopters.com.au
Walks
Barrk walk
A 12 km walk takes you through sandstone country of Nourlangie and Nanguluwur. The walk is great at this time of year as the creek is flowing on the southern side down the face of the rock. Remember to take lots of drinking water and a hat. Find out more (PDF 695KB)
Nawurlandja lookout walk:
In the Nourlangie region. A short (600m) and steep walk to a lookout with beautiful views of the Arnhem Land escarpment, Nourlangie and Anbangbang Billabong. Allow 40 minutes.
Gubara Pools walk
In the Nourlangie region. A 6 km return walk for keen bushwalkers past sandstone cliffs and shady monsoon forest pools (4WD access only). Allow 4 hours.
Yurmikmik walks
In the Mary River region. A series of interconnected walking tracks to the stunning Motorcar Falls and Boulder Creek (4WD recommended). The walks vary in length - see the Yurmikmik park note for details.
