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The week-long celebration of nature offers visitors the opportunity to join expert-guided tours, cruise the wetlands and experience Kakadu’s rich Indigenous culture.

Kakadu National Park is a bird lover’s paradise – home to more than a third of Australia’s bird species – and is the perfect place to discover and learn all about the rich variety of birds living in the dual World Heritage listed Park.
Bird Week is held to coincide with the mass migration of magpie geese, which flock to billabongs such as Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba), to feed. With the waters having receded towards the end of the dry season, there is no better time to witness not just the birdlife, but Kakadu’s full array of exotic animals, including crocodiles, buffalo, brumbies and wallabies.
Kakadu was voted number one in bird watching destinations in Australia by Australian Geographic and is home to over one third of Australia’s bird species. It is a great opportunity to view graceful sea eagles, elegant kingfishers, distinctive Jabirus and watch the remarkable Jacanas (aka ‘Jesus Bird’) seemingly walking on water.
Kakadu Bird Week is the perfect time for nature lovers to discover Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. The Festival will feature a packed itinerary of events designed for both dedicated bird watchers and also those who just love seeing nature at its most spectacular.
A highlight of the Festival will be sunrise and sunset cruises on Yellow Water Billabong, led by one of Australia’s most renowned ‘twitchers’, Luke ‘Hawk Eye’ Paterson from NT Bird Specialists.
Luke’s 2-hour Bird Lovers Cruises will showcase Kakadu at its most dramatic. Seats will be strictly limited so that there is plenty of room for passengers to set up tripods to capture imagery of the birds and the landscape as the sun goes down over the wetlands.
Sunrise cruises: 30 September, 4 & 5 October
Sunset cruises: 2 & 3 October
Passengers join the cruise at Cooinda Lodge. Prices: $149 (adult), $111 (children). The cruises will be limited to a maximum of 30 passengers. Bookings and further information via: https://kakadutourism.com/explore-kakadu/events/kakadu-bird-week-2022
Yellow Water Cruises will also operate regular cruises throughout the week, from sunrise to sunset, offering plentiful opportunities to view Kakadu’s spectacular landscape.
There will be a wide range of bookable and free bird appreciation events during the week, and a special program for children has been designed to introduce them to the wonders of birding and the science of discovery.
Kakadu National Park rangers will provide free daily walks at many of Kakadu’s major tourism sites, including Ubirr and Nourlangie. Details are available via: https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/do/events/birdweek/
Accommodation throughout the week is available at Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru and at Cooinda Lodge – next door to Yellow Water Billabong – which offers accommodation ranging from quality Lodge rooms and glamping tents through to caravan and camping sites. Rooms are available from $309 per night at Mercure Kakadu and $279 per night in an Outback Retreat glamping tent at Cooinda Lodge.
Bookings: www.kakadutourism.com