Visit Bowali Visitors Center in Kakadu Australia |

Visiting Bowali Visitors Center in Kakadu National Park

http://www.environment.gov.au/

Head Office - Goyder Centre 25 Chung Wah Tce Palmerston, NT 0830
PO Box 496 Palmerston NT 0831
Ph: +61 (0) 8 8999 5511

  Crocodile Safety Information

Northern Australia is crocodile country. Therefore it is important to put awareness of crocodiles and safety at the top of your priority list when living in, working in or simply visiting crocodile habitat. Living with crocodiles is not difficult so long as you bear the following points in mind.

• Always be aware that crocodiles may be present anywhere that there is water.
• Unless there is clear signage that it is safe to swim, assume that crocodiles may be present.
• Warning signs are there for your benefit! Ignoring them is foolish.
• Always check with local authorities and rangers whether an area is likely to contain crocodiles.
• If in doubt, always swim in designated swimming areas only.
• If there's no sign, don't go swimming.
• A spotlight or LED head-torch is strongly recommended at night so that any eyeshines can be seen, but a lack of eyeshines does not mean that it's safe to swim - crocodiles may be underwater.

© We suggest you also visit a website called http://www.nt.gov.au/becrocwise

 

Kakadu General Information

There are many interesting places to discover in the area, but some things to remember too:
• Saltwater crocodiles inhabit the South Alligator River and are extremely dangerous. Do not risk your life, keep away from the waters edge.
• Freshwater crocodiles inhabit the area. Do not approach or interfere with them.
• Do not jump off rocks or cliffs as there are unseen dangers and accidents have resulted in death.
• Jim Jim Plunge Pool can be hazardous as the shallow water suddenly becomes deep.
• Use the toilets provided.
• Observe and enjoy the native animals, but do not disturb or feed them. Fishing is prohibited.
• Use fuel stoves in preference to open fires.
• If lighting open fires, collect firewood along the access road into Gunlom and use it sparingly. Use the fireplaces provided, attend fires at all times and extinguish them before you leave.
• Use the recycling facilities supplied and place all other rubbish in the bins. Remember, cigarette butts, orange peel and tissues are rubbish too.
• Sunscreen and insect repellent pollute waterways. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and hat as alternative protection.
• The mornings and evenings are the best times to walk and observe wildlife. For your own comfort and safety please keep to the marked tracks, wear a hat and sturdy shoes, and carry plenty of drinking water.

 

Kakadu National Park - Seasons

But Australia's Kakadu sees seasons of varied extremes -- so varied, in fact, that the park's longtime aboriginal inhabitants have divided the year into six distinct seasons.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gunumeleng Pre-Monsoon Storm Season - Gunumeleng, from mid-October to late December, may in fact last from a few weeks to several months.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gudjewg - Monsoon Season - Gudjewg, from January to March, can be described as the 'true' wet season.
• Kakadu Seasons - Banggereng - Knock 'em down storm Season - Banggerreng, in April, is the season when the rain clouds have dispersed and clear skies prevail.
• Kakadu Seasons - Yegge - Cooler but still humid Season - Yegge, from May to mid-June, is relatively cool with low humidity.
• Kakadu Seasons - Wurrgeng - Cold Weather Season - Wurrgeng, from mid-June to mid-August, is the 'cold weather' time; humidity is low, daytime temperatures are around 30°C and night-time temperatures are around 17°C.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gurrung - Hot Dry Weather - Gurrung, from mid-August to mid-October, is hot and dry.

Seasons

The dry season which is approximatley which is classed generally as May - October each year.Though in current year the wet has not set in till late December or January and then finishes mid April.

Access To Jim Jim Gorge
The dry season which is approximatley which is classed generally as late June - October/November each year. We recommend you contact the offical Bowali Vistors Centre for more information.

 

Kakadu National Park - Swimming

Are there certain times of the year that I can’t swim?
The seasonality of waterholes across the Northern Territory depend on the amount of rain throughout the year. NT Parks and Wildlife monitor water levels and erect signs advising visitors when it is safe to swim. Always obey sign posts. Check the latest access report on the web, www.nt.gov.au/.

How can you identify if a water-hole is safe to swim in?
Salt and freshwater crocodiles are found in most Top End billabongs and rivers, and are occasionally seen on remote beaches. The accessible rivers and billabongs are generally sign-posted if saltwater crocodiles are known to inhabit the area, but if you are not sure, don’t swim. Swim only where recommended and always observe and read the crocodile warning signs.

Aren’t swimming spots hard to get to or only acesible as part of a tour?
All the swimming spots in Darwin, Litchfield National Park, Katherine, Mataranka and the MacDonnell Ranges are accessible by self-drive. A few locations are only accessible by four wheel-drive, such as Butterfly Gorge Nature Park and Tjaynera Falls in Litchfield National Park. Tour operators with swimming options include Adventure Tours Australia, Australian Pacific Touring, Connections Safaris, Odyssey Tours and Safaris and many more'.

Resources Links
• parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au/
• environment.gov.au/parks/
• facebook.com/RoadReportNT
• roadreport.nt.gov.au/
• ntlis.nt.gov.au/roadreport/
• toiletmap.gov.au/
• travelnt.com/
• kakadu.com.au/access

• © source | courtesy of kakadunationalparkaustralia.com
• © source | courtesy of litchfieldnationalpark.com
• © source | courtesy of tropicaldarwin.com
• © source | courtesy of australia4tours.com
• © source | courtesy of darwin4tours.com