Visit Koolpin Gorge in Kakadu Australia

Jarrangbarnmi - Koolpin Gorge is located in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. Jarrangbarnmi also known as Koolpin Gorge is in the south east corner of Kakadu National Park.

You turn off the Kakadu Highway at the sign posted turn off to Gunlom Falls, up from the southern entry to Kakadu and 11km from the Wirnwirnmila (Mary River Roadhouse) not to be confused with the Mary River off the Arnhem Highway.(approx 89 km south-east from Cooinda Gagudju Resort and Yellow Water Cruise platform or app 149 km from the township of Jabiru.

Approx 26.5 km down this 4WD track you get to an intersection Gunlom Falls (turn left) and Gimbat Picnic day use area (turn right). Here you turn left for Gunlom Falls approx 10klm on the left and right for Jarrangbarnmi - Koolpin Gorge Campground area. At app the 10 klm mark is the locked gate on the left which signposted turn off to Koolpin Gorge (see below for permits and access). further on you app 7klm come to Gimbat Picnic day use area.

Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge) is a restricted access area under the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservations Regulations 2000 and a permit is required to enter this visitor site. Access is available only with a high clearance 4WD and only during the dry season.There is a limit of 40 people who are allowed to use the area at any one time and both independent travellers and tour operators have the opportunity to access the site. Permits are required for visitors wishing to enter the area for day use only and also for overnight camping.

Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge)

How to apply for this permit
If you intend to apply for a permit to access Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge), please download the application form, complete it, print it out, sign it, and post, fax or e-mail a scanned copy of the signed application and associated conditions with all required attachments to the address indicated on the form.

Please allow a minimum of 7 days for processing. Applications can only be processed from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9:00am until 4:00pm (CST). Permit applications will not be processed on weekends or public holidays. Note: All camp sites are subject to seasonal closure. Download the permit application form This permit application form is available as a Microsoft Word file click here for the Koolpin Gorge - Jarrangbarmiin permit application form. Access to Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge) permit application form for Kakadu National Park (Word - 314 KB)

Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge) is visited by specialized soft adventure tour operators with permits such as Gecko Canoeing, Wilderness Adventures and Odyssesy. You can see a selection of the
Camping tours to Koolpin Gorge at www.australia4tours.com.

Access to Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge)
Application form
Phone enquiries: +61 (0) 8 8938 1140
E-mail enquiries: kakadu.permits@environment.gov.au

About this permit
Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge) is a restricted access area under the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservations Regulations 2000 and a permit is required to enter this visitor site. Access is available only with a high clearance 4WD and only during the dry season.

There is a limit of 40 people who are allowed to use the area at any one time and both independent travellers and tour operators have the opportunity to access the site. Permits are required for visitors wishing to enter the area for day use only and also for overnight camping.

Applications for permits must be submitted seven days in advance of the time you wish to enter the area. These can only be processed from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9:00am until 4:00pm. Permit applications will not be processed on weekends or public holidays.

Visiting Facilities at Koolpin Gorge Campground in Kakadu National Park

• A car park/camping area adjacent to the downstream end of the gorge
• A toilet adjacent to the car park
• Fire rings/fire places - all fires must be contained within these areas
• Generators are not permitted in the area.

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

Visitors must not go ashore on the creek bank opposite the camping area. Refer to the signs on site. This is a sacred site and entry is prohibited under the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000, specifically under Regulation 12.23. Entering a prohibited area under Regulation 12.23 carries a maximum penalty of $5,500. Visitors to the area must keep to the creek line. Some places away from the creek are important cultural sites and can only be visited by Jawoyn who have the authority to go there. Please show respect for the views of traditional owners in relation to these significant areas.
Copyright and Courtesy of Parks NT

Beyond Koolpin Gorge

Gunlom Lookout Walk
Features: Rock pools at the top of the falls and superb views
Distance: 1 km return
Grade: Difficult climb, marked track.

Gunlom Plunge Pool
Features: Seasonal waterfall and a large plunge pool
Distance: 200 metres return
Grade: Disabled access

Murrill Billabong Walk
Features: A small seasonal billabong and the South Alligator River
Distance: Billabong 1 km return River 2.5 km return
Grade: Easy, marked track

Yurmikmik
Features: A network of walking tracks which take in the plunge pools and wet season waterfalls of the Marrawal Plateau.
Access: 2WD, camping permits required.
Carry a topographic map on longer walks.

Gimbat and Guratba (Coronation Hill)
Features: A scenic drive to a shady picnic area by the South Alligator River.
Access: 4WD only, day use only.

Gungurul
Features: A rest stop with picnic tables and toilets, lookout and short walk.
Access: 2WD, camping area.

Bukbukluk
Features: A lookout with superb escarpment views and a shady picnic area
Access: 2WD, day use only.

Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
Features: A plunge pool and small waterfall
Access: 4WD recommended. Camping area.

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

Kakadu National Park an Australian Natural Icon covers almost 20,000 square kms and is 253 kms East of Darwin the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia.

Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage listed, Kakadu National Park is the gateway to Arnhemland. The sealed roads from Darwin to Kakadu is via the Arnhem Highway and from Katherine to Kakadu National Park via the Kakadu Highway. The Bowali Visitor Centre near Jabiru in Kakadu National Park is located 253 km from Darwin in Northern Territory Australia via the Arnhem Highway entrance. If travelling by road, you should allow 3 hours travelling time from Darwin.

Key Access

Access into Jarrangbarnmi is controlled by a gate which remains locked at all times. Permit holders are required to collect a key from the Mary River Roadhouse which is located on the Kakadu Highway, just outside the southern entrance to Kakadu. Keys can be collected between 7am and 7pm daily. A copy of your permit must be presented to the Mary River Roadhouse staff and a deposit of $50 is required prior to the key being issued. This deposit is fully refundable, upon return of the key at the end of your visit.

More than one key may be obtained per group if you are arriving in multiple vehicles and at various times, however each key issued requires a $50 deposit. Keys will only be issued to people whose name appears on this permit.

Keys must be returned to the Mary River Roadhouse otherwise your deposit will be forfeited. Copyright and Courtesy of Parks NT

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 Koolpin Gorge
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.

On the way we recommend you stop the the offical Bowali Vistors Centre for more information

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.

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.

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