Kakadu - A Land of Six Seasons

Kakadu is approximately a 151 kilometre drive south of Darwin. A place of wetlands and bush, it is so vast you lose the outside world when you reach its heart. For those who know Kakadu, the landscape provides life and sustenance. In step with Kakadu's changes and fluctuations, the Indigenous people who have called it home for thousands of years identified six seasons that Kakadu cycles through, each with its own beauty and power.

The Monsoon season lasts from December to March. Called Kudjewk by Kakadu's traditional owners, this season is when the thunderstorms, thick rain, and flooding of the wet season descend upon Kakadu. It is in keeping with the traditional Wet Season that Darwin and the rest of the Top End experience every year due to the tropical climate of their northern location. 

In April, Bangkerreng storm season covers Kakadu. The rain of the previous season lightens and disappears and the blue sky returns. The floodwaters of the Monsoon Season drain away and animals take care of their young. The plants and trees drop fruit and the massive bodies of water which swelled the billabongs during the Monsoon ease.

From May to mid-June, the season Yekke occurs. It still retains some humidity but is cooler. Waterlillies bloom along the billabongs and shallow pools. This is the time when tourists start to visit Kakadu due to the more breathable temperature and the accessibility of the waterways. 

Kakadu Billabongs - a home for birdlife

Wurrkeng is the cold-weather season. The whole Top End is in the midst of the Dry, when the temperature is conducive to being outdoors and enjoying the beauty of the Northern Territory's landscape. In Kakadu at this time, temperatures range from 17 to 30 degrees Celcius. Floodplains dry out and creeks stop flowing. The billabongs become congested with birdlife and magpie geese and their companions are full and sated from weeks of nourishing food. 

Kurrung Season - the hot, dry season, follows Wurrkeng. From mid-August to October, the thunderclouds begin to build, as the precursor the Wet Season is underway. Visitors to Kakadu feel the stickiness but the sheer beauty of the land is still awe-inspiring.  

Kunemeleng is the last season before the Monsoon season rolls around again. It is the pre-monsoon storm season. The humidity increases and this can last from a few weeks to several months. The thunderstorms refresh the landscape after the hot, dry weather of the previous Kurrung Season. Streams resume running and the surface area of water increases as birdlife spreads. 

Kakadu has been a land of six seasons for thousands of years. The traditional owners have taken care of this place since its beginning in the fog of pre-time. Kakadu's majesty and vastness leave an impression on any who visit. It is home to many species of animal and birdlife and gives a rare glimpse into the true power of the different seasons that cross this landscape and make Kakadu what it is today, and what it has been for generations.