Kakadu Day Tour from Darwin including Ubirr Art Site and Mary River Wetlands Cruise

Darwin, Australia

On this full day tour you will travel east from Darwin along the Arnhem Highway and journey into world-renowned Kakadu National Park, home to a profusion of birdlife and other native fauna. View the superbly preserved Aboriginal rock paintings at Ubirr -- a museum in the desert, and take a cruise along the Mary River Wetlands.

Depart from Darwin and travel east along the Arnhem Highway, passing the major river systems and wetland regions into Kakadu National Park. This national park covers 12,430 square miles (20,000 sq kilometers) of landscape varying from rocky escarpment that is home to historic Aboriginal rock art dating back thousands of years, to the floodplains that are abundant with wildlife.

After crossing the South Alligator River travel along the Kakadu Highway to Warradjan Cultural Centre to view informative displays before cruising down the Mary River to experience the beauty of the Mary River Wetlands.

Enjoy a buffet lunch at Cooinda, before exploring the World Heritage Area of Ubirr to see Ancient Aboriginal rock art galleries. Witness the history and culture of the Aboriginal people come alive through the impressive paintings that have stood the test of time.

Late afternoon, drive out of Kakadu National Park, pausing for a comfort stop at the Corroboree Park Tavern before arriving in Darwin at approximately 8.00pm.

USD $193.00

Review by:   Sabrina M,    May 2017
A day is not enough to get to see this beautiful National Park. The Ubirr rock art is a must while in Kakadu and the Mary River Wetland cruise was a highlight for me because we got to see crocodiles. I would come back to Kakadu and spend 2-3 days there.

Review by:   Anthony T,    January 2017
This was a fantastic tour. Enough stops on the road to stretch or get a snack. Kakadu is beautiful and the petroglyphs are definitely worth a visit. Great to stand at the same place as Crocodile Dundee and look out over the vast area. Stunning!

Review by:   78girl,    October 2016
Loved this day tour to Kakadu. The tour guide was knowledgeable, the sights amazing, and because it was a small group we were able to ask as many questions as we wanted. It was a hot climb up Ubirr Rock, but well worth it, the views were fantastic.

Review by:   laste50,    September 2016
A day is simply not enough to experience this vast pristine environment. Would love to come back again for a 3-4 day trip through the area

Review by:   Eileen G,    August 2016
Long trip but well worth the time, Deb was very knowledgeable and good fun and the scenery was spectacular. Charlie made the Wetlands Cruise very interesting and had a lot of information about the crocodiles and the birds. Would highly recommend this tour.

Review by:   Marg F,    July 2016
Disappointed with the sights - expected more majestic ones such as waterfalls, gorges, etc. Mainly in flat Savannah land. However, what we got was quite pleasant. We were supposed to stop for dinner at a tavern, but we didn't. Lunch provided at Jabiru hotel - very tasty. Our guide was pleasant and welcoming. Little cruise along the Corroboree billabong, with drink and fruit provided - lovely, but hardly any crocodiles. Fleeting glimpse of just one a long way away. Not really worth the money.

Review by:   Susan Z,    July 2016
AATKings driver knowledgeable but very boring. I felt like I was trapped in a lecture that wouldn't quit. Kakado itself did not meet my expectations. The best part was the Mary River Cruise. Overall, very disappointed.

Review by:   Jeanie F L,    June 2016
Our guide was very thoughtful and the Wetlands River Cruise was fantastic.

Review by:   Patrick B,    June 2016
The tour was amazing! Our tour guide Deb was a great people person who had all of the local knowledge! She was the reason I rated the tour 5 stars.

Review by:   Debra T,    June 2016
Saw a lot of Kakadu that we wouldn't have seen on our own. Very tired at the end of the day

Review by:   Nirosha H,    October 2015
If any local to join with this trip please make sure to mention that you are local to the administration of Viator. They had charged me for Bowali visitor centre tickets. Though I had mentioned my residence address they had not notice that.

Review by:   Ronald H,    August 2015
This tour was great from pick up to drop off ,provided a great opportunity to see Aboriginal art ._br/_ Lunch was great just what was needed on a hot day fresh salad in air-conditioned resort. Our tour guide Alison was polite and very knowledgeable on her subject. The info was just right- not a non stop monologue often provided by guides. Alison had the right balance of humour and was careful to ensure everyone had water/sunscreen for the walk to the aboriginal art ._br/_ Reuben the guide on the Mary river wetlands cruise was passionate, delightful, funny and certainly knowledgeable on his subject. Reuben knew the locations of many of the birds species and took time to ensure everyone on board had located and pictured the species. The treat was the glass of bubbly and fruit provided sitting in the boat listening to the sounds of the birds

Review by:   Almaaz A,    August 2015
Excellent trip. The day flew. Our guide Allison was very friendly and knowledgable- and Reuben who operated the cruise was fantastic.thoroughly enjoyable and educational day.

Review by:   Bev B,    August 2015
Wonderful and amazing and the guide went out of his way to please us. Highly recommend

Review by:   Susan E,    August 2015
This trip was well worth the long drive. The driver Alison was very informative in relation to Darwins history and it on going development, the aboriginal culture and the stories behind indigenous paintings. The buffet lunch was delicious and enjoyed by all. The Mary River cruise was fantastic and refreshing. Ruben was a wonderful guide and passionate about his heritage. Overall even though I have lived in Australia for 57 years I am still learning about this magnificent country and its people. I would recommend this trip to all visiting Darwin.

Review by:   Say Chuan N,    August 2015
Tour was conducted at a good pace. Both the guides were knowledgeable and friendly. My family and I enjoyed the trip very much. Highlight of the trip was definitely seeing the crocs in their natural habitat and standing off around the buffalo.

Review by:   DR G W,    August 2015
Driving rather lengthy but rock art and water trip fabulous Reuben was a great guide in the water

Review by:   Rosemary M,    August 2015
The day was brilliant, from the prompt hotel pick up to being dropped off back at the same spot. Will, outré driver/guide was entertaining and knowledgable. The highlight for me was the Corroborree Billabong cruise. We were lucky enough to see three really large crocs up on the bank with a dead water buffalo. Out guide told us that this was very rare as crocodiles are very territorial but will put aside disputes for a good meal! Overall, a day trip I would heartily recommend.

Review by:   Anthony P,    July 2015
Great trip. Superb driver, Dave, on the bus, very informative. Long drive but worth it. Mary River cruise fantastic. Ruben was an amazing host. Obviously very proud of his culture and the company he works for. Really did us all proud. All in all a very enjoyable day complemented by ther others on the tour, our hosts, the information provided and the scenery.

Review by:   Samuel B,    June 2015
There is a lot of driving on this tour therefore only four stars, but the highlights Ubirr and especially the exciting Mary River Cruise were well worth the time on the bus. Our guide was very competent and provided a lot of information.

Review by:   Ed H,    December 2014
My wife and I loved the trip. Guide was very good and provided a lot of information. The birds were out of this world. Too hot for the crocs to show much.

Review by:   Kim M,    November 2014
I particularly enjoyed the Mary River Cruise experience.

Review by:   Dr M S Campo,    October 2014
It was a thoroughly outstanding day! The Ubirr art was misterious and very interesting, the nature trail fascinating and the Mary River Cruise out of this world!

Review by:   Andreas W,    October 2014
This trip was extremely well organised. The driver/guide told us very interesting stories about aboriginal culture and provided us with information on the locations we traveled through on our way to Kakadu. Also the boat trip on the Mary river was very lovely and interesting.

Review by:   Alessandra M,    September 2014
Great experience, a long time spent on the bus but Ubirr and Mary River are worth it! Breathtaking landscapes and art, loads of wildlife to see and a nice and competent guide! A++

Review by:   Josef S,    September 2014
The tour as such is not bad. But it is well below what the organizers promise. For example, the Ubirr art site is NOT included and you will not see it. The included "lunch" is nothing more than a cold salad - you better take some food from home. The bus was good and new, but the tour operator uses it as some sort of public bus: it will stop frequently, and people will get in and out - and you too will probably have to change busses several times. Plus lots of advertisement for the expensive flight, etc. The tour is simply overpriced._br/_ The river cruise was great but short. Beautiful landscapes.

Review by:   David B,    September 2014
This was a long day, but very interesting and with great views. The tour had changed from our booking from Yellow River to Mary River Wetlands. Our guide was excellent. The visit to the aboriginal paintings were great and cultural was very educational but the highlight of the tour was the Mary River wetlands cruise. There was heaps of crocodiles and the water lilies were beautiful and too sit among them and sip on champagne and eat fruit was so peaceful. The bird life was wonderful. Overall the day was inspiring.

Review by:   Edwin Howden,    September 2014
I was contacted a few days before the tour and advised that it would not go ahead due to small numbers and I could join an alternative tour. I did the other tour as I had no choice.i consider that more time should have been made available to me to consider alternatives

Review by:   John D,    August 2014
A very interesting day, the highly knowledgeable driver was a great help during the long travel distances. We enjoyed the rock art sites and the wetlands cruise especially the bird life. The many "off the bus" times were all positive experiences and seemed to be enjoyed by all age groups.

Review by:   Janenne A,    August 2014
Well organised and the bus driver was very informative. A long day but very enjoyable

Review by:   Garry J,    August 2014
Tour generally good but we traveled in a small bus with very crammed seating; that's OK for a small trip but not for the 600K we chalked up through Kakadu

Review by:   Stephen G A,    July 2014
This was a wonderful Experience. Our Brazilian Guide, Fabiana was wonderful, with great local knowledge and a great manner. We saw great Aboriginal art, Museums and a wonderful cruise on the Mary River, with another great guide, who knew where all the crocodiles lived. I was surprised by the lack of bird life, which I believe is more evident on the Yellow River Cruise.

Review by:   Judy M,    July 2014
The tour was good, but we really wanted to do the Yellow Water cruise, and we had to do the Mary River cruise instead , which was fine, but not as good as the Yellow water one, so were disappointed at that , as the Yellow Water Cruise was publicised, and that was why we chose it. Ubirr Art Site and climb to top of rocks was great.

Review by:   cassinda e,    July 2014
Never been before so was a good experience

Review by:   Leonie C,    July 2014
The tour of Kakadu was excellent and our tour guide, Fabiana, was one of the best I have experienced in many years. She has had extensive experience in South America and Australia and this tour is to be recommended. It was far superior to others I have done in this area.

Review by:   Logan M,    July 2014
I had read a number of reviews before booking this tour. Some were not particularly good others were much better, so I was a little apprehensive. The tour was well and truly on the ball. The guide Rob (don't call me Bob or you will walk home) was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Before leaving Darwin, I had many questions I wanted answers for and never got to ask one; Rob in his on-route commentary had answered them all before we got to Ubirr. It's a long day but well worth it and in a rugged outback way comfortable, on the air-conditioned 21 seater bus. The buffet lunch at Jabiru was nice and a good break from the traveling. The Mary river with guide Tom was excellent and completed a very enjoyable day. If you only have one day and want a good taste of the aboriginal culture mixed in with the splendid wet lands and a pile of salt and fresh water crocs, this tour is for you.

Review by:   Norman R,    July 2014
A long day but a good experience. The coach drivers were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Loved the Aboriginal rock paintings. Saw a few crocs - including a huge one - and abundant bird life. The Aboriginal guide on the cruise was smart, funny and very willing to share his immense cultural knowledge. Thanks!

Review by:   Jennifer M,    June 2014
The coach was clean and comfortable. Driver/ guide was well informed and friendly. The day was well paced; Ubirr was wonderful and the cruise was very enjoyable. I'd do it again - thank you for a great day

Review by:   ernest w. s,    June 2014
very informative and helpful guides, enjoyable and fun day with a good lunch provision

Review by:   Helen P,    April 2014
Long day but a great experience. Loved the rock art and the river cruise. Excellent lunch! All guides were fantastic and we need to come back and see more.

Review by:   Stephen S,    March 2014
An excellent tour. Well organised, our tour guide/driver was excellent also, very informative, friendly. Had a great day, and loved the sites covered.

Review by:   Monica R,    February 2014
Had a fantastic guide who made the day pass so quickly and enjoyably.

Review by:   Nilinda P,    December 2013
Good activities, beautiful places, but the bus is too crowded and not enough leg's room!

Review by:   KatjL,    December 2013
The Yellow River Cruise was absolutely Fantastic - so close to the animals in their natural habitat = GREAT Photos!!! (Better than Adelaide River Jumping Croc Cruise!!!!)_br/_ Excellent trip overall, driver/guide was very knowledgable (- well worth listening to). _br/_ But - if I paid to go to see "Ubirr" (as it was dry season and very accessible), why did we all go only to "Nourlangie" with everyone else instead (which was good, but could have gone here any other time)??

Review by:   shanker,    September 2013
The guides were excellent!i

Review by:   Sharon E A,    July 2012
We as a family of 5 really enjoyed our trip to Kakadu. It was a big day, with a few hiccups, which the tour people ironed out as best they could. The travel was great, lunch was good. Would recommend this day trip with 4 stars.

Review by:   Laura D S,    May 2012
This tour was good and the the view from the top where the art site is was really good. This trip is really laid back and a lot of time was spent in a coach. I would have preferred a little bit more adventure, but I'm not sure if there would have been enough time for that.

Review by:   Jennifer N,    April 2012
We were a little disappointed in the river cruise. There was no wildlife to be seen. It was a very long day. Would suggest overnighting in Kakadu.

Review by:   Jane,    December 2010
Excellent tour. Well planned. Very informative guides (and drivers). Thank you Rob and Robert for the wonderful day.

Review by:   Harold M,   United States of America, May 2009
This was a good way to explore Kakadu from Darwin. Especially enjoyed the Guluyambi cruise, didn't find like one of your other commentators that too much time was spent in cafes or shops. Had an excellent experience on the cruise, all around.