Visiting Gunlom Falls in the Kakadu National Park

The Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage-listed site that boasts a range of landscapes, from rocky outcrops that date back thousands of years, to woodland that is home to hundreds of native animal species.

Gunlom Falls sit on Waterfall Creek within the park, providing an excellent mix of mesmerising waterfalls, refreshing plunge pools, and shady gums that cover the on-site picnic area for some respite from the sun.

At the top of the waterfall, you can gaze out at breathtaking views of the southern landscape of Kakadu. While you are here, enjoy a refreshing swim in the impossibly clear pools. There’s a lookout walk at the peak, too, that leads to a number of rock pools and even more views.

Alternatively, if you don’t fancy climbing to the top, you can take a flat walk across to Murrill Billabong from the Falls. Keep your eyes peeled for exotic bird species as you go. When you get there, enjoy the shady picnic area that has a range of camping facilities.

How to Get to Gunlom Falls

Once you’ve entered the Kakadu National Park turn right, and a 30km track will take you all the way to the falls. This part of the park is known as the southern hills and basins, and provides spectacular scenery as a backdrop to your drive. Here, millennia of weather damage and erosion has left a rugged and raw series of hills and ridges. Some of which date back 2500 million years.

If you want to see this scenery at its most mesmerising, travel in the morning or evening. The horizon lights up when the sun is rising or just about to set. To explore more of this ancient scenery, you can take some of the Yurmikmik walks. You will find them around halfway to Gunlom along the gravel track.

Once you get to the falls, you can park up in the camping area. From here, take the short walk through monsoonal forest to the falls. As you leave the forest, you’ll be greeted by a breathtaking emerald green plunge pool. Take a swim surrounded by pristine white sands and ancient towering cliffs.

Gunlom Falls is the epitome of Kakadu’s natural scenery. Boasting both refreshing plunge pools perfect for an afternoon dip, soaring rugged cliffs that date back thousands of years, and monsoonal rainforest that this part of Australia is so well known for.

Related article: Where can you swim in Kakadu?

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.