✅ What’s Included

Itinerary Activities

• Entry to Kakadu National Park (Parks Australia Day Pass)
• Guided walk at Ubirr or Nourlangie rock art site
• Visit to Bowali Visitor Centre and Cahills Crossing
• Comprehensive driver-guide commentary on culture, wildlife, and ecology

Guides & Support

• Accredited outback driver-guide
• Air-conditioned mini-coach with large windows

Eco & Practical

• Selected Darwin inner-city pick-up/drop-off points
• Water refill station on coach
• Minimal-impact practices and cultural respect education

🚫 What’s Not Included

• Meals, snacks or beverages (purchase at Corroboree Park Tavern or bring your own)
• Optional Jumping Crocodile Cruise (available as upgrade)
• Hotel transfers beyond the listed Darwin pick-up points
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Personal expenses or souvenirs
• NT Parks Day Pass for Fogg Dam option (if choosing that fare type — purchase in advance)

Seasonal Weather Expectations

Dry Season (May–October) — Warm sunny days (19–32°C), low humidity, cool evenings. Ideal for walking and wildlife viewing; clearest rock art access and roads.

Build-up (October–November) — Increasing humidity and afternoon storms; temperatures 25–37°C.

Wet Season (December–April) — High humidity, monsoonal rains, thunderstorms and possible flooding (24–34°C). Spectacular waterfalls and birdlife, but some roads/areas may close or have limited access. Tour still operates (adjusted schedule) except in extreme weather.

What to Pack
Tropical heat, strong sun, high humidity and possible afternoon showers or insects – pack light, responsibly and for sun/insect protection.

✅ Essentials

• 1.5–2 L refillable water bottle (refill station on coach)
• Wide-brim hat, sunglasses and broad-spectrum sunscreen
• Lightweight long-sleeve shirt and pants (sun + insect protection)
• Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes with good grip
• Tropical-strength insect repellent
• Small day pack (5–7 kg max)
• Cash or card for lunch/snacks at Corroboree Park Tavern
• Camera or binoculars for rock art and wildlife

Insect & Weather Protection

• Light rain jacket or poncho (especially wet season)
• Lip balm with SPF

Toiletries & Extras

• Personal medications
• Hand sanitiser

Luggage Limits

• Small day pack or hand luggage only (5–7 kg max; no large suitcases or backpacks – store at your accommodation)

Local Insights

• Kakadu spans 19,804 km² — roughly half the size of Switzerland and larger than Wales — making it Australia’s biggest terrestrial national park and one of the largest tropical parks on Earth.
• The Bininj/Mungguy people have cared for this Country for more than 65,000 years, the oldest continuous living culture on the planet; over half the park remains Aboriginal land and is jointly managed with Parks Australia.
• The sandstone escarpment and stone country contain rocks over 2 billion years old — some of the oldest on the planet — while the floodplains are young, constantly reshaped by seasonal monsoons and sea-level changes.
• Kakadu holds one of the world’s greatest concentrations of rock art (over 5,000 recorded sites, possibly up to 15,000), with paintings up to 20,000 years old showing everything from hunting scenes to “first contact” tall ships from European explorers.
• At Cahills Crossing, up to 50+ saltwater crocodiles can gather in just a 400-metre stretch of river at the end of the dry season — drawn by tidal fish runs — creating one of Australia’s most concentrated wild crocodile spectacles.
• The park protects one-third of Australia’s bird species and supports dynamic wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention; during the wet season the floodplains become a vast inland sea teeming with migratory birds.
• Some of the oldest ground-edge stone axe technology in the world (over 65,000 years old) was discovered at Madjedbebe rockshelter inside the park, rewriting early human migration timelines.

Carbon Footprint & Offset Report: Darwin to Kakadu Day Trip

Quick Snapshot

Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 145 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average local travel to/from Darwin pickup points)

Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 290 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.

Tour summary

• 12-hour day tour (departs 7:30am, returns 7:30pm)
• Group size 8–28 (usually max 21 passengers)
• Starts and ends at selected Darwin inner-city pickup points (e.g. Darwin CBD hotels)
• Air-conditioned 24-seater mini-coach (~620 km round trip)
• No meals or accommodation included
• Highlights: Optional Adelaide River Jumping Croc Cruise or Fogg Dam wetlands, Corroboree Park Tavern lunch stop, Bawoli Visitor Centre, Cahills Crossing crocodile viewing, guided ~2 km rock art walk at Ubirr (or Nourlangie seasonally) with floodplain lookout

Overview

This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.

We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.

All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).

Tour Details

• Duration: 12 hours (full day)
• Key locations: Darwin CBD start/end, Adelaide River or Fogg Dam (optional), Corroboree Park Tavern, Bawoli Visitor Centre, Cahills Crossing, Ubirr rock art galleries & lookout (or Nourlangie seasonally)
• Travel style: Eco day tour with guided rock art walk, wildlife viewing and World Heritage interpretation
• Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Local travel to Darwin pickup points is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness.

Calculation Approach

• Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
• Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for remote Northern Territory operations and tourism-level food purchases.
• Per person, full tour experience.
• Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs or optional extra activities).

Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)

Transportation – 95 kg CO₂e

• Average local travel to/from Darwin pickup points (higher-end mix of car, taxi or short flight): 30 kg
• All on-tour air-conditioned mini-coach transfers (~620 km round trip, shared): 65 kg – higher-end diesel factor with realistic occupancy buffer

Accommodation – 0 kg CO₂e

• Day tour only – no overnight stay

Meals & Food – 25 kg CO₂e

• No meals included; higher-end estimate for own purchases at Corroboree Park Tavern or brought snacks (tourism-level portions and waste): 25 kg

Activities & Excursions – 25 kg CO₂e

• Guided rock art walk (~2 km), wildlife spotting, Bawoli Visitor Centre, Cahills Crossing viewing platform and commentary

TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 145 kg CO₂e

Our 200% Offset Commitment

• Amount we will offset:2 × 145 kg = 290 kg CO₂e per individual booking
• How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
• Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
• Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact

Important Notes

• Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
• The tour already has strong sustainability practices (minimal impact guidelines, refillable water encouragement, respect for traditional owners and wildlife); our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
• Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
• This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities

Tour-Specific FAQs

Is this tour suitable for solo travellers?
Yes — many guests travel solo. The small-group format makes it easy to meet others.

Can I swim on this tour?
No — all waterholes and rivers in Kakadu contain saltwater crocodiles. Swimming is not offered.

What if I choose the Fogg Dam option?
You will need to purchase an NT Parks Day Pass separately in advance (not included in the Fogg Dam fare type).

How much walking is involved?
Approximately 2 km total on marked, uneven tracks — suitable for minimum to moderate fitness.

What happens if it rains?
The tour runs in light to moderate rain. Only extreme weather (cyclone or major flooding) causes cancellation.

Is lunch provided?
No — you can buy food at Corroboree Park Tavern or bring your own (eski provided to keep items cool).

Can children under 6 join?
No — the tour is not suitable for infants or children 5 and under due to the nature of the walks and wildlife.

What is the luggage limit?
Small day pack or hand luggage only. Suitcases and large backpacks must be stored at your accommodation.

Do I need to bring my own water?
Yes — bring a 1.5–2 L refillable bottle. A refill station is available on the coach.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
No — the short walks and terrain are not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

How do I know which rock art site we visit?
Ubirr is the primary site; if seasonal access is closed, we visit Nourlangie (Burrungkuy) instead.

What time of year is best for crocodile viewing at Cahills Crossing?
End of the dry season (September–November) when crocs concentrate in the river.

Are there toilets on the coach?
No — regular comfort stops are made at visitor centres and the tavern.