Kakadu National Park
The name 'Kakadu' comes from an Aboriginal floodplain language called Gagudju which was one of the languages spoken in the north of the park at the beginning of the twentieth century. Although languages such as Gagudju and Limilngan are no longer regularly spoken, descendants of these language groups are still living in Kakadu. Aboriginal languages used in the Park today include Kunwinjku from the north-eastern region, Gun-djeihmi from the central region and Jawoyn from the southern region.
Kakadu National Park is managed jointly by its Aboriginal traditional owners and the Director of National Parks. The traditional owners are proud to share their country with visitors.
Kakadu National Park is Australia's largest national park at 19,840 square kilometres (equivalent in area to Wales or Israel) and is the world's second largest national park after Northeast Greenland National Park at 972,000 square kilometres.
Kakadu is UNESCO World Heritage Listed for both natural and cultural values and is jointly managed by Traditional Aboriginal owners and Parks Australia.
Kakadu National Park is one of four Australian sites included on the World Heritage List for both outstanding cultural and natural universal values. The flood plains of Kakadu illustrate the ecological effects of sea-level change in northern Australia. The park features great natural beauty and sweeping landscapes, as well as internationally important wetlands. The park is extremely important to Aboriginal people, and many communities still occupy the region. The Aboriginal art sites of Kakadu National Park are a unique artistic achievement that provides an outstanding record of human interaction with the environment over tens of thousands of years.
Kakadu's many habitats support more than 280 species of birds, or about one-third of Australia's bird species. Some birds range over a number of habitats, but many are found in only one environment.
The entrance to Kakadu National Park is 150km from Darwin via the all weather Arnhem Highway.
