Avoid the more crowded areas of Kakadu National Park by winding your way through the 2.5-kilometre long Bardedjilidji Walk. Named after the Aboriginal word for “walking”, this often overlooked trail will take through many picturesque landscapes as you stroll along the East Alligator River.
Right along the walk you'll will find a number of unique habitats, ranging from freshwater swamps and billabongs to sandstone formations that were once believed to be islands during prehistoric times. If you decided to take a break at the cave for some momentary shelter, you sure won’t be the only one. The cave is home to bats, geckos and insects, as well as some hard to spot aboriginal rock art. Movie buffs might even recognise the cave from the famous 'Crocodile Dundee' movies.
Keep on walking
One of the great things about the Bardedjilidji Walk is that it’s left off many tour-group itineraries. This means you can often have Bardedjilidji all to yourself. The exception is on Mondays when you have to option to join a guided walk. If you’re feeling really fit from all the fresh air, mid-way along the walk you can cross Catfish Creek by the footbridge and extend your walk to include the Sandstone and River Bush Track.
To find the trail, you’ll first need to find the Upstream Picnic Area, located in the East Alligator Region of Kakadu National Park. The walk itself shouldn’t trouble many and takes only about two to three hours to complete. One thing to remember, though, is that weather is seasonal in Kakadu National Park. To be safe, always enquire at the Bowali Visitor Centre before attempting the walk as the track can be affected by certain weather conditions.
