Kakadu’s iconic Gunlom Falls is reopening!

Apr 04, 2025

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Kakadu’s iconic Gunlom Falls is reopening!

One of Kakadu’s most iconic settings, Gunlom Falls, is set to reopen this month after being closed to the public for six years.

A group of seven people are standing waist-deep in a calm, natural water pool surrounded by rocky terrain. The background features expansive hills and a clear blue sky under bright sunlight.

Gunlom Falls is a cascading waterfall on the Waterfall Creek that has always been a popular stop for Kakadu visitors – and now that it’s open, anyone on our choice of pack-free guided walks that explores this magnificent national park will be able to see what all the fuss is about!

A newly built walkway makes it easier to reach the falls and once you get there you can swim in a series of waterholes including one that looks like an infinity pool!

People on Kakadu Walking Holidays gather around and swim in a natural rock pool, embraced by rocky terrain and sparse trees. The sky is clear, casting a serene light over the distant hills in this picturesque landscape.

The falls that cascade down from the 85m high cliffs are seasonal, being at their best immediately after the wet season – making May a perfect time to reopen.

The swimming pools and spectacular views across the south of Kakadu to stone country await, with Northern Land Council Chair Matthew Ryan expecting the reopening to be popular and increase tourism across the NT.

People are enjoying a swim in a natural rock pool surrounded by trees and rocky terrain, offering a glimpse of what Kakadu Walking Holidays has to offer. The water is clear and the sky is bright blue on this sunny day, with a few swimmers visible in the background.

In a statement, Kakadu Tourism Chair, Lauren Ganley, said the reopening of Gunlom Falls represented an important new era in Kakadu’s tourism future.

“There is no destination in Australia more culturally unique than Kakadu, and so it is essential that we respect the heritage and culture of Traditional Owners in the way the Park is presented to visitors,” said Ms Ganley.

Experience a serene landscape at sunset on a guided walking holiday in the Northern Territory, where a calm river reflects the vibrant colors of the sky. Lush greenery envelops the riverbank, while fluffy clouds drift across the pink and orange-hued heavens.

“The reopening of Gunlom Falls is part of a wider program to upgrade infrastructure to allow visitors to better appreciate Kakadu’s natural wonders. Another major attraction – Twin Falls – will reopen next dry season after infrastructure upgrades and there are plans for significant investment throughout the park to re-establish it as one of the world’s leading national parks.”

A breathtaking waterfall cascades down a rocky cliff, surrounded by lush greenery, as mist rises from its base. The dense forest stretches across the landscape under sunlight—an ideal backdrop for a guided walking holiday in the Northern Territory.

Gunlom Falls is a much-visit on this tour, but where else do we go?

Well, you have a choice of three pack-free guided walks that include Kakadu in their itinerary.

A bird with a red beak stands on a large green lily pad in a pond, reflected in the water. As if on a guided walking holiday through the Northern Territory, surrounding lily pads float on the still surface, while sunlight highlights this serene scene.

There’s the 5-day tour that includes Kakadu and Litchfield national parks, the 7-day Top End Walk which adds Nitmiluk NP and Katherine Gorge to that itinerary, and finally there’s the 5-day Arnhemland Kakadu Walk Ultimate pack-free guided walk which includes a very special visit to Arnhemland, a part of the Top End closed off to the public.

Four people on a Life's An Adventure walking holiday in Australia admire ancient Aboriginal rock art adorning a stone wall. One points at the large figures depicted in the artwork, while the group, dressed in outdoor hiking attire, takes in the natural setting's beauty.

So for the perfect winter getaway – and the chance to see the newly reopened Gunlom Falls – Kakadu’s iconic Gunlom Falls is reopening!

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