Kakadu Yellow Water Cruise (2HR/1.5 HR)
- Kakadu
- Gourmet / Sightseeing Cruises
- Special Experience
- Boat Tour
- Family-Friendly
- Instagrammable Spot
Overview
Time:
Dawn — 6:45AM — 2hrs
Morning — 9:00AM — 2hrs
Day — 11:30AM or 1:15PM — 1.5HRS
Dusk — 4:30PM — 2hrs
Overview
Join us for a two hour or 1.5 hour cruise and experience this magical time of day on Yellow Water.
Located at the end of the Jim Jim Creek, Yellow Water is part of the South Alligator River system. This river system is unique as it is included in its entirity within a UNESCO World Heritage listed National Park.
Cold Water is available on board for your convenience.
During the Tropical Summer period of December to March, we can experience extremely high temperatures in the Park. During this time, we recommend that small children, pregnant women and those who feel the heat to book an early departure
Time of Day
The time of day also changes the experience: early morning cruises are cool and atmospheric, with mist rising from the water as birds call and crocodiles warm themselves, while midday cruises are hot, bright and colourful, with reptiles basking and vivid reflections across the wetlands. Most popular times are early morning and late afternoon, as temperatures are comfortable to sit and enjoy the action.
Important (Dec–Mar): Temperatures can be extreme. We strongly recommend an early morning cruise for children, pregnant guests, and anyone sensitive to heat.
Six Bininj Seasons
During Kudjewk (Jan-Mar) and Bangkerreng (Apr) which are the monsoon and storm seasons, rising waters spread across the floodplain, bringing lush growth, lotus flowers and an explosion of birdlife as animals disperse through the wetlands
As the water recedes through Yekke (May-Jun) and Wurrkeng (Jul-Aug), wildlife becomes easier to spot, with magpie geese, egrets and crocodiles gathering along the billabongs and channels. In the drier Kurrung (Sep-Oct) months, the floodplain is clear and open, offering excellent visibility and consistent wildlife sightings.
When is the best time to visit Kakadu?
Kakadu has wet and dry seasons, but for most of the year, kakadu offers a feast of sight-seeing opportunities for visitors that can be adapted to fit the climate. It is generally dry from april through to the end of october, but even during the ‘wet’ or ‘green’ season much of the day can be fine, with rainfall occurring in short, sharp storms. Kakadu tourism offers a range of itineraries to fit the season, and visitors can be guaranteed that whenever they visit kakadu, they will be able to participate in memorable experiences
What’s included
Included
- Yellow Water Cruise (2HR/1.5 HR)
Not included
- All inclusions are as indicated on the websites at time of travel. If not stated as included the item/s are at guests own cost.
- kakadu national park day pass, Please purchase online in advance, https://book.parksaustralia.gov.au/passes/kakadu/
Ages
Tour Prices for children are applicable to children aged 5 -15 years of age inclusive. Infant aged under 4 years are free of charge. All persons aged under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult responsible for them.
children under 8 can only travel on the Yellow Water Cruises
How to use
Dry Season (Apr–Nov)
Meet at the Cooinda Lodge bus stop, directly opposite reception 20 minutes prior to your booked cruise time.
Wet Season (Dec–Mar)
Meet at Home Billabong, located at the back of Cooinda Lodge next to the boat ramp. There is parking available at the front of the lodge, and a marked path from reception to the billabong.
Please download the guidebook: https://kakadutourism.com/files/documents/Yellow-Water-Cruise/YWB-Guide-A4-English-1.pdf
Good to know
What to Bring: Make sure you have your camera ready to get an Insta-worthy pic of this incredible landscape and the bountiful wildlife. Bring some water, a hat and sunscreen. Insect repellent is recommended. Dress comfortably as we are famous for our warm days.
On very rare occasions, tours may be cancelled (severe weather, road or park closures,insufficient numbers (min. 4people, max 25-30)). Should this occur, you will be transferred to an alternative tour date,or if this is not suitable, you will receive a full refund.
Additional fees or supplementary payments may apply on certain dates and holidays. Please refer to the final price.
There will be complimentary cold water and toilets onboard the Yellow Water Cruise boats.
Important (Dec–Mar): Temperatures can be extreme. We strongly recommend an early morning cruise for children, pregnant guests, and anyone sensitive to heat.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Guests requiring wheelchair accessibility should notify our team. These guests will need to self-drive to the Yellow Waters dock for boarding onto the boat, where a designated wheelchair-accessible parking spot is available just beyond the bus drop-off point. While standard procedure involves blocking out front seats to accommodate the booked party, it's important to note that wheelchairs will be positioned at the front of the boat, with limited shade. If guests prefer, they can relocate to a boat seat, allowing the wheelchair to be folded and left on the dock or boat, based on their comfort preference. Toilets onboard are not the most accessible and there are no toilet facilities at the Yellow Waters dock. Please also note that we can’t have motorised wheelchairs due to size, we encourage these guests to use a wheelchair from the Cooinda office.
Cold water is provided. No alcohol is allowed on board.
While we obviously cannot guarantee animal sightings, it is rare that you won’t spot at least one during the drier months. During the wet season, when the water levels are high, the crocs have more places to hide and can be harder to spot.
Jim Jim and Twin Falls are only accessible throughout the drier months, usually June to October. Kakadu National Park rangers will only open the falls when they feel the access roads are safe to travel and they have completed their crocodile surveys. When the roads are closed, a scenic flight is a fantastic way to see the region or splash out on a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter ride over the falls.
It is strongly advised not to travel within the park after dark due to the wide variety of nocturnal wildlife. The majority of car rental agencies will not insure vehicles on the road after dark. Wallabies, dingoes and buffalo are frequently spotted on the roadside at dawn and dusk.
Disclaimer
After the product is successfully booked, we will send you a confirmation voucher. The main information about the reservation and the precautions for participation will be provided on the confirmation voucher. Please read it. If you do not have any feedback, we consider that you have read and know all the information on its confirmation.
As an intermediary agency, we are only responsible for making travel product reservations for tourists.
We recommend that tourists purchase travel insurance. Tourist product suppliers such as tourist attractions, hotels and transportation companies will be directly responsible for the quality, service and safety of travel products. We are not responsible for any safety issues with the products ordered.
In the event of an unexpected situation without insurance, we will only assist in handling it.
If the booking is forcibly cancelled due to the reasons of the travel product supplier, we will refund the full amount corresponding to the booking without additional compensation.
No show: Ticket holders who 'no show' without prior cancellation or notification are not eligible for a refund.
We will try our best to assist tourists to communicate and negotiate solutions with tourism product suppliers.
For some marine products (including but not limited to various cruises, whale watching cruise, etc.), the supplier reserve the right to arrange alternative vessels or make changes to itineraries, service timetables, routes and/or destinations. The supplier may cancel or abandon the cruise if they consider it necessary for weather or safety reasons and except as expressly stated in these Terms and Conditions, we will not be liable for any loss or expense incurred by the Passenger caused by such substitution or cancellation.
When visiting attractions or participating in activities, please strictly adhere to the instructions provided by the venue or staff. Ensure you fully understand the associated risks (refer to venue announcements or the safety waiver required for signature for specific details), cooperate as required to implement appropriate safety precautions, and strictly refrain from engaging in any dangerous behaviors during the activity.
