Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park: Access via 4WD or helicopter flight?

Getting to Jim Jim Falls in the Northern Territory wet season requires a scenic helicopter flight from Jabiru. But it’s possible to drive to the tallest waterfall in Kakadu National Park during the Top End’s dry season – although swimming at Jim Jim Falls is not recommended.

Jim Jim Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Australia, let alone the Northern Territory. In the eastern section of the Kakadu National Park, Jim Jim Falls tumbles over the Arnhem Land Escarpment. The Jim Jim Creek drops 200 metres into the pool below, making Jim Jim Falls the tallest waterfall in Kakadu National Park.

Kakadu waterfalls by season: When is the best time to visit Jim Jim Falls?

The appearance of Jim Jim Falls varies dramatically by season, however. During the summer months – wet season in the Top End of the Northern Territory – Jim Jim Falls is a monster. A huge amount of water pours over the escarpment. Jim Jim Falls roars and rages.

During the winter dry season, however, Jim Jim Falls first becomes dainty, then slows to a trickle. By mid-July, it is barely a waterfall at all.

Can you drive to Jim Jim Falls in the wet season?

Getting to Jim Jim Falls is the hard part. During the Kakadu wet season, it is completely inaccessible, as the tracks in this part of Kakadu are flooded.

For most of the year, therefore, the only way you get to the biggest waterfall in Kakadu is on a scenic flight. Kakadu Air, based in Jabiru near the Bowali Visitor Centre and Ubirr, offers waterfall flights. These 60 minute flights head out over Kakadu, looping around Jim Jim Falls to get the best views as the water thunders down.

Getting to Jim Jim Falls in the dry season

In the dry season, however, it is possible to get to Jim Jim Falls by land. It’s hard work, though, and a 4WD vehicle is required. Four day Kakadu tours from Darwin will visit if weather permits.

From the Kakadu Highway, an unsealed and often rough 50km road leads to the Karnamarr campground. From there, creek crossings mean high clearance 4WDs are required to get to the Jim Jim Picnic Area.

Walks from Jim Jim Picnic Area

There are three walks available, the easiest of which is the Viewing Pool Walk. This is 800m return along a moderate, marked track and should take about an hour. It’s designed to offer the best views of the waterfall on the way.

The longer Jim Jim Gorge Walk heads through monsoon forest along Jim Jim Creek. It comes out at the towering escarpment and the pool beneath the falls. Swimming in this Jim Jim Falls pool is not recommended as the water is deep and cold. Drownings have happened in the Jim Jim plunge pool.

The final Kakadu National Park walk in this area is the Barrk Marlam Walk, which involves a tough ascent to the top of the escarpment. The Barrk Marlam Walk is for the fit and well-prepared only.

Opening of Kakadu National Park

There is one more snag. The Jim Jim Falls Road is one of the last to open in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park every year. You might be able to enjoy a Yellow Water crocodile cruise, visit the Anbangbang Rock Art Gallery or go birdwatching in the Mamukala Wetlands from April or May. But it can sometime be June before the Jim Jim Falls road opens. This leaves a remarkably short window to see Kakadu’s tallest waterfall by land before it essentially dries up.

More Australian waterfalls

Purling Brook Falls in the Springbrook National Park, Queensland.          

Ebor Falls near Armidale, New South Wales.

Lesmurdie Falls near Perth.

MacKenzie Falls in the Grampians National Park, Victoria.

Windin Falls in the Atherton Tableland near Cairns.