Australia is known for its rugged landscapes and wild opportunities with Crocodiles and Kangaroos all across the country. If you want to experience some the wildest areas of down under, look no further than the heart of one of the oldest national parks in Australia, Jabiru.
Jabiru is the only township in Kakadu and a great place to base yourself during your stay in the the countries second largest National Park. Jabiru may seem small but it is the perfect hub for your adventures, a unique place we had the pleasure of calling home for 5 months and completely fell in love.
Accommodation Options
Aurora Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park
As soon as you enter Jabiru you will pass by the entrance to Aurora Kakadu lodge, this has the biggest caravan park in the area with just under 200 camping spots to choose from. Due to the large number of spots available it is on a first come first served basis, no camp site bookings can be made in advance. Don’t panic! From my experience working on the reception we never had to turn anyone away, even during the busiest times, they’ve got you covered.
If camping isn’t for you they also offer a wide range of room options, from lodges with shared bathrooms to two bedroom cabins, which can all be booked in advance – phew. To have a closer look at the options available you can check out their website.
Located right in the centre of the park is a glorious lagoon style pool to hide away from the intense Northern Territory sunshine, it is shaded too.
Don’t fancy cooking dinner after a long day exploring the national park? Pop by the Poolside Bar and bistro for some top NT grub and a drink to cool off.
It was definitely where you would find me on my lunch breaks topping up my suntan or reading my latest book.
We chose to move to the Kakadu for the wide variety of wildlife that call this place home, this is one of the reasons we loved staying at Aurora Kakadu lodge. Each day you would wake up not knowing what you may encounter. In the early mornings you may spot a dingo roaming through the park looking for scraps, or catch a glimpse of the large round eyes of a barking owl through the trees. A wildlife lovers paradise.
Anbinik Kakadu Resort
Another accommodation option is the Anbinik, this is a much smaller location and requires bookings to be made in advance especially for camping with only 15 powered camp sites. Don’t fret they have 5 different accommodation options available and even have a conference space fit for the 30 people.
Not just that they have a fantastic on site seasonal restaurant serving some of the best food to be found in the area.
The Anbinik is only open seasonally so make sure to book to avoid missing out!
Mercure Crocodile Hotel
The Mercure Crocodile hotel is an indigenous owned accommodation that has a striking design of one of the infamous locals, the saltwater crocodile.
A beautiful place to base yourself with great facilities, offering a swimming pool, in house restaurant and bar, and a local gift shop and art gallery showcasing some of the incredible indigenous art from local artists.
Marrawuddi Art Gallery
You cannot visit Jabiru and not stop by Marrawuddi Art Gallery. It is a not for profit Aboriginal art centre owned by the Mirarr Traditional Owners. They have a dedicated workspace for artists and their work is put on display for visitors to admire and purchase. We purchased a decorative Lorkkon to commemorate our time at Kakadu, which is currently at my parents house waiting for the day we decide to settle down. Do we ever think that will happen?!
When you first enter through the doors of Marrawuddi you will come across their cafe, we visited daily to grab a cup of their delicious Campos coffee. Even in the bush there is always some where you can find a good brew.
Jabiru Lake
Located in the centre of the township is a small lake, which has a lovely short walk around the perimeter.
The Northern Territory isn’t short of outstanding sunsets and Jabiru lake provides a great place to sit with a tinnie to watch the sky explode with colour.
This spot isn’t suitable for any swimming or water sports. Always remember during your time in the NT if it isn’t sign posted, 99% of bodies of water will contain a crocodile. Only swim in the designated swimming holes across the whole of the Northern Territory!
Golf Club
One of the few watering holes in Jabiru at the golf club, whether you fancy playing a 9 holes or just need a cold pint to finish of the day you should stop by.
A great place for a couple of games of pool too!
Walk to Bowali Visitor Centre
When you first enter Kakadu, your next stop should be to the Bowali visitor centre to get all the information you will need for your adventure.
Not only that you will need to purchase a parks pass which you can purchase online or in person at the visitor centre. Each park pass is valid for a whole week, what better excuse to stay here for an entire 7 days!?
Whether you are a pre-trip planner or a spontaneous traveller, I recommending dropping by the say hi they know some incredible information about the area and activities you can do with your family.
Our Secret Spot!
This was our favourite spot to go to later on into the dry season, once some of the water had dried up leaving a number of different watering holes.
This is really important to note when looking for wildlife in the Northern Territory, if there is water assume crocodiles are nearby!
The reason we loved this spot so much is that it was constantly changing, each day brought different wildlife for us to see. It was also where we managed to always find the gorgeous black-necked storks looking for their next meal.
If you are a wildlife lover you just have to visit the Northern Territory, and if you do, make sure to stop in Jabiru!
Her Wild Habit | Travel and Outdoor Adventures 
amazing place. Interesting read 💕
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