CanToo Kakadu Challenge 2026

Uncover the secrets of Kakadu National Park, enjoy exclusive comfort camps, and help raise funds and awareness for the CanToo Foundation

Challenge Highlights

  • Trek alongside a CanToo representative
  • Walk through Kakadu’s diverse escarpment landscapes, from cool monsoon vine forests to rugged stone country
  • Experience the iconic Jim Jim Falls (seasonal access permitting)
  • Relax in exclusive semi-permanent campsites set in stunning tropical surrounds
  • Discover some of Kakadu’s most beautiful and ancient Indigenous rock art galleries
  • Gain deeper insight into the region’s culture, wildlife, and landscapes with expert local guides
  • Enjoy a sunset cruise on Yellow Water Billabong, home to abundant wildlife including crocodiles and birdlife

Overview

Join us on an unforgettable trek through Kakadu National Park, a World Heritage Area spanning more than 20,000 square kilometres.

This immersive, walking-based itinerary invites you to step away from the crowds and into Kakadu’s wild heart. Waterfalls cascade from the red cliffs of the Arnhem Land escarpment into shaded swimming holes, wetlands brim with birdlife and wildlife, and over 40,000 years of Aboriginal cultural heritage is revealed through hidden rock-art galleries rarely seen by visitors.

Each day, our guided walks lead you into remote gorges, sparkling waterfalls and ancient cultural sites, combined with a cruise on the iconic Yellow Waters—home to saltwater crocodiles. It’s beyond the main tourist trails where Kakadu truly reveals its magic.

After each day’s trek, relax and connect with fellow fundraisers at our upgraded semi-permanent campsites, set in idyllic tropical surrounds. The itinerary is carefully designed around the season, selecting the best walks and waterfalls as wet-season floodwaters recede and access opens up.

You’ll return to Darwin having completed a powerful adventure across the tropical wilderness of Australia’s Top End—challenging yourself and making a meaningful contribution to cancer research through the CanToo Foundation.

Challenge Grade

This trip is for almost anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and competent swimming ability. This adventure is designed for the enthusiastic and adventurous in search of something different. This trip has been graded at an introductory to moderate level. However, some days will be quite active involving steep walks for most of the day, with some sections requiring scrambling. These adventures are best prepared for with some regular moderate exercise. As always with adventure travel, you should enjoy a healthy lifestyle before undertaking this trip. Please bear in mind that because you will be traveling into a remote wilderness, creature comforts are limited.

Your level of fitness can also help you acclimatise to the warm temperatures and humidity which can be up to high 30s, so we suggest a bit of swimming, walking, jogging or cycling to get yourself ready for the Territory! The best preparation for your trek is multi day bushwalking involving uneven ground, relatively steep ascents and descents and in variable weather conditions.

Itinerary

After all the preparation and fundraising our journey finally begins! On arrival in Darwin, make your way to the Argus Hotel Darwin (or similar) for overnight accommodation on a twin share basis. At 3pm this afternoon there is a COMPULSORY pre-trip meeting with your guides. Evening at leisure.

Meals:  Nil

Our journey begins with a Darwin hotel pick-up at 7:30am and travels south-east to Kakadu National Park. On the way we meet with Wulna Aboriginal elders for a traditional welcome to country, followed by morning tea, damper and a chance to discuss culture, or take a walk by the billabong. In the afternoon, after a scrumptious lunch, we visit a highlight of the Park, the world famous Ubirr Rock and enjoy the stunning walk past numerous breathtaking art sites that lead to the top of Ubirr rock and the awe inspiring view across the flood plains over northern Kakadu and to Arnhem land. In the late afternoon we drive south into in the heart of Kakadu National Park to our Djarradjin Billabong camp. After choosing your tent and enjoying a shower, we relax around the campfire and enjoy a delicious evening meal. Walking distance: 3km Approx drive time: 6 hours spread over the day.

Meals:  B,L,D

After a delicious, nourishing breakfast we drive a short distance to Nourlangie massif and begin our walk. We will take in one of the stunning lookouts of the Barrk and Nourlangie Circuit. Barrk is the indigenous name for the male black wallaroo, a member of the kangaroo family which lives in this area. From here it's a short drive to Angbangbang where we have the option of the stunning Angbangbang Billabong Walk. This is a beautiful billabong teeming with bird life. In the late afternoon we take a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong, home to an astounding variety of wildlife. We may encounter Brumbies, wallabies and goannas drinking from the waterside, salt-water crocodile and thousands of birds including Magpie Geese, Brolga, Cormorants, Pelicans and one of Australia's largest flying birds – the Black-necked stork (Jabiru). The flat-bottomed boat is guided by an expert wildlife guide. In the evening we return to our camp at Djarradjin Billabong. Walking distance: 5-6km. Approx drive time: 2 hours spread over the day

Meals:  B,L,D

Heading south we will explore some of the other stunning waterfalls and gorges of Kakadu. Maguk (Barramundi) Falls is reached via a stunning walk through the monsoon forest, opening out to a deep plunge pool lined with blonde quartzite cliffs. Keep your eye out for birds such as Rainbow pitas, Emerald doves and Spangled drongos as well as the endemic Anbinik tree – the biggest trees in Stone Country. Tonight, we can relax and enjoy our pre-dinner nibbles and yummy dinner as we can take in another Kakadu sunset. Walking distance: 4km Approx drive time: 2 hours spread over the day.

Meals:  B,L,D

Over the day we will undertake our expedition by foot, deep in to Southern Kakadu Buladjang Country. We aim to visit Motor Car Creek Falls areas and undertake a decent walk (up to 11 km), taking most of the day. The highlight is the unspoiled, stunning crystal-clear waterhole and some outstanding views of the surrounding hills and woodland. We have the freedom to set the pace of the walk depending on the group and weather of the day. Our walk takes us through open woodland past some remarkable Salmon Gums, glowing pink in the morning sun, before entering an area of pristine monsoon rainforest. In the afternoon we arrive at our semi-permanent camp near Jim Jim Falls. Walking distance: up to 11km. Approx drive time: 4-5 hours spread over the day.

Meals:  B,L,D

We wake up to the dawn chorus of the multitude of birds of the Savannah and wetlands. Our day is focussed on stunning walks within the World Heritage listed National Park. Your Guides will choose one of two options for you depending on access to Jim Jim Falls, (decided by the Traditional Owners and National Park Ranger). Our visits to Jim Jim Falls aim for an active experience, walking beyond the reach of regular tourist groups and swim in the magnificent rock pools at the bottom of Jim Jim Falls. Keep in mind the thundering torrent usually depicted in the postcards is a phenomenon that only occurs during the wet season and this flow declines gradually through the dry season until it is a gentle, but still magnificent, trickle! We return to our semi-permanent camp nearby in the afternoon. NB: Jim Jim Falls is generally only viable after mid-July. When Jim Jim is closed, we will use this day to walk in the Ubirr region including Cahills Crossing and alter the afternoon of day one to walk to an alternative rock art site. Walking distance: 2-3km Approx drive time: 1.5 hours spread over the day.

Meals:  B,L,D

After our final night in the semi-permanent camp near Jim Jim Falls, we pack up and make our way back to Darwin. On our way we enjoy a visit to Warradjan Cultural Centre. Warradjan encapsulates the rich cultural heritage and history of Kakadu. It features an interactive museum, an art exhibit, and a gathering area where visitors can connect with our Traditional Owners on their ancestral land. Afterwards we enjoy an optional relaxing swim at Cooinda before continuing north to Darwin. We expect to arrive back into Darwin and drop you at your accommodation at around 4pm. The evening is free to celebrate the end of an extraordinary adventure at one of the many great restaurants and eateries in Darwin (at own expense). Overnight Argus Hotel Darwin (or similar) Approx drive time: 5-6 hours spread over the day.

Meals:  B,L

After breakfast, check out of the hotel. We hope you've enjoyed your journey into the unique and unforgettable country of the Top End!

Meals:  B

What's Included

  • 2 nights hotel accommodation in Darwin
  • 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
  • 2 professional wilderness guides
  • Wildlife cruise
  • Safari camps including tents, stretcher beds and swags for sleeping
  • All National Park and camping fees
  • Emergency communications and group first aid kit
  • Transport from central Darwin/airport hotels
  • All dining and catering equipment
  • High Season supplement ($120) that applies from 15 June to 15 August

What's Not Included

  • Airfares
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Backpacks
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Face masks and hand sanitiser

What You Carry

  • Kakadu Explorer is fully supported. You will need to carry just a day-pack with your water bottles, lunch, camera and other personal items. You should plan on carrying at least 3 litres of water each and every day.

Fundraising Impact

The CanToo Foundation has raised over $35 million to support early-career cancer research and health promotion in Australia, funding more than 160 research projects and empowering over 22,000 participants through fitness-for-fundraising programs that improve wellbeing while driving real impact in the fight against cancer.

Australia Challenge Reviews

Travel Dates

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Kakadu Walking Adventure

Fast Facts

Trip Dates: DepartReturn
Duration:8 Days
Activities:Day Walking
4WD
Grade:Introductory to Moderate  Click for more information
Trip Code:C2K