Places you must take your camera in Kakadu

Kakadu is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Australia’s Northern Territory and a photographer’s paradise. This park has stunning scenery, diverse wildlife and cultural sites. Whether you’re a pro looking for dynamic shots or an amateur wanting to capture nature’s beauty, this is the place. The park is over 19,000 square kilometers with the iconic Yellow Water Billabong where you can see lots of wildlife and the majestic Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls where you can shoot big or small, landscape or details of an ancient land.

About Kakadu

Kakadu National Park is a beautiful spot that is also home to many flora and fauna and Aboriginal culture. It has been awarded two World Heritage listings for its natural conservation values and cultural significance. For over 65,000 years, the traditional owners of Bininj/Mungguy have lived here and are still very connected to their land. Rock art sites all over the park tell stories of the land.

What to Shoot in Kakadu National Park?

Photographers in Kakadu National Park will be spoiled for choice when it comes to what to shoot. Here are some:

Landscapes: Indian dry season turns it into mudflats visible from kilometres away while wet season makes everything green again.
Wildlife: With over 30% of all Australian bird species here, birders’ paradise is once again found in this park. All these alive billabongs, like Yellow Water Billabong and Anbangbang Billabong, are full of life and opportunities to shoot birds and other wildlife in their habitats.

Yellow Water Billabong

Yellow Water Billabong, one of Kakadu’s famous wetlands, is a must-see for any photographer. This billabong on the South Alligator River system has calm waters that reflect the sunrise and sunset. Saltwater crocodiles and Jabiru are among the wildlife here. Similar to what you might spot on a Darwin jumping crocodile tour, birders will find many species here, making it a great spot for bird photography. Shooting here from the Yellow Water Billabong Cruise is interesting as you drift through the calm waters at dawn or dusk.

Access to the billabong varies by season. In the dry season, when the water has dropped and the floodplains are exposed, you can walk further. In the wet season, you can’t get in but the land is green.

Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls

Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls are the most photographed in Kakadu for landscape photography and adventure seekers and can only be accessed by 4WD during dry season. The cliffs rise 150 meters above and give a sense of scale of this area. The power of the water as it falls down the steep slopes gives great shots if you can get to high viewpoints such as helicopter rides mainly in the wet season when the flow is at its highest.

Ubirr

Ubirr is another gem in Kakadu that has ancient Aboriginal rock art and views across the floodplains from Nawurlandja Lookout. There are rock art galleries here that give us a glimpse into aboriginal culture from pre-historic times. Some of these are thousands of years old and show animals, traditional hunting and mystical figures. Climbing Ubirr at sunset gives us golden light to capture the big horizons of the floodplains.

The topography around Ubirr has been well preserved with walkways and some wheelchair accessible areas where photographers of all abilities can capture images of this ancient landscape. From close up shots of rock paintings to big landscape shots under changing light conditions such as twilight or dawn every viewpoint is unique.

Nourlangie Rock

Nourlangie Rock is another important cultural site like Ubirr; ancient rock art galleries here give us a window into the history of people living in Kakadu National Park to this day. Nourlangie’s Rock Art- A Journey into History and Photography Experiences Not Available Elsewhere On Earth. This site tells Dreamtime stories such as Nabulwinjbulwinj – a female-eating spirit who strikes women with yams that swallow them whole. It’s not just about the art here; it’s also about the stories and past that come alive through a camera lens.

Apart from the rock-art, Nourlangie offers great views of the Arnhem Land escarpment. Some of the best photography spots in Kakadu are on walking trails such as Anbangbang Billabong or Nawurlandja Lookout track. Each walk gives you different views of the park’s geology and ecology so Nourlangie is a must for any landscape photographer.

Moline Rockhole

Moline Rockhole is one of Kakadu National Park’s secret hideouts that’s away from the more popular tourist destinations. This hidden gem has a stunning plunge pool surrounded by dense monsoonal forest, which gives visitors shade and relief from the harsh conditions of the park. Landscape photographers will love capturing the clear waters and lush greenery around them through their lenses using wide-angle and macro lenses. The tranquillity of Moline Rockhole makes it perfect for shooting reflections at any time of day under different lighting conditions.

Getting to Moline Rockhole is via dirt roads which are tough so you need a proper 4WD. The journey itself is full of photo opportunities as the changing landscape along the way shows off the diversity of Kakadu National Park. Once you get there you’re met with deep blues and greens against the earthy tones of wet season or dry season’s muted colours. Here light interacts with water in such a way you can get high detail photos.

Anbangbang Billabong and Mamukala Wetlands

An Aboriginal Dreamtime story from the local people of Anbangbang Billabong in this area tells of a rainbow serpent called Nabilil who lived here. Nabilil dug out Barramundi Gorge with his tail which formed Maguk Creek (Kakadu National Park). The billabong is easy to get to so everyone including amateur photographers can get to it without any fuss.

The bird hide at Mamukala Wetlands is always a great spot to see and photograph its bird life all year round. In the wet season they expand and thousands of migratory birds come in which adds to the biodiversity seen from there. These images are of birds flying, feeding or interacting in their habitat so every wildlife photographer should come to Mamukala Wetlands when in Kakadu.

Early morning or late afternoon is the best time to photograph at these wetlands when the light is soft and birds are most active. This time not only gives you natural light but also plenty of room to watch life unfold in the wetland like predators hunting, birds crossing water or small movement in the reeds.

Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre

To understand the cultural background of Kakadu National Park, every person who wants to visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre must visit. The displays and programs here are about the lives and stories of the traditional Aboriginal owners of the park. It’s invaluable for photographers as it gives them insight to photograph culturally sensitive areas of the park.

This centre itself, with its circular design that represents warradjan (pig-nosed turtle) is worth photographing architecturally/culturally. For more narrative depth in photos taken within the park, inside you can find showpieces of traditional art, tools and clothing to help you understand more about Aboriginal culture.

Conclusion

Kakadu National Park is a living canvas for photographers of all levels. There are hundreds of subjects in Kakadu – from ancient rock art sites of rich aboriginal heritage to stunning landscapes and wildlife that can be photographed through a lens. Many travellers begin their journey with Kakadu tours from Darwin, making it easy to explore this photogenic wonderland. Every visit will reveal new scenes and stories of how ever this place has changed and still holds history within. Whether it’s dramatic waterfalls, peaceful billabongs, or wildlife, Kakadu National Park will always be in the heart of a photographer who’s lucky enough to experience this beauty.