Maguk – the secret Kakadu National Park swimming hole

Formerly known as Barramundi Gorge, Maguk is one of the few swimming holes in Kakadu National Park, Australia. This Northern Territory gorge and waterfall plunge pool is in the southern section of the park, and accessible by 4WD onlu.

What is Maguk?

Maguk is a gorge, waterfall and swimming hole in Kakadu National Park, one of the highlights of Australia’s Northern Territory. It is generally talked of as one of the park’s secret spots that doesn’t feature in most tour itineraries. However, it is becoming an increasingly popular spot to visit – largely because safe swimming holes are thin on the ground in Kakadu.

Maguk was formerly known as Barramundi Gorge, and offers a beautiful plunge pool surrounded by Anbinik trees and prodigious local birdlife. The waterfall is about 20 metres tall.

Day tours from Darwin generally don’t visit Maguk, although the four day tour run by Autopia Tours does.

4 Kakadu experiences worth booking in advance

Full day Kakadu tour from Darwin.

Corroboree Billabong wetland cruises.

Full day Arnhem Land tour from Jabiru.

The Yellow Water crocodile cruise in Cooinda.

Where is Maguk?

Maguk is in the stone country of Kakadu National Park, around 62km south of Cooinda Lodge and the Yellow Water Villas. The lodge is next to the Yellow Water Billabong, and the Yellow Water cruises are one of the undisputed highlights of Kakadu.

However, not that many people make it further south than Cooinda in Kakadu, which accounts for Maguk being relatively undervisited.

How to get to Maguk

Getting to the gorge formerly known as Barramundi Gorge is not simple either. Access to Maguk is via a 4WD-only track that stretches for 14km off the Kakadu Highway. From there, there’s a 2km return walk to Maguk through the monsoon forest.

This Kakadu swimming hole is not open year-round, either. During the wet season, it is closed off, and it generally only opens again in late May.

Is it safe to swim at Maguk?

Maguk is one of the few swimming holes in Kakadu National Park, but it is not as if there are lifeguards, so swimming is undertaken at your own risk.

There is also the issue of crocodiles. Park rangers take every possible step to remove any saltwater crocodiles that may have entered Maguk during the wet season before reopening for the dry season. They generally won’t reopen Maguk until they’re certain there are no saltwater crocs there.

Freshwater crocodiles are a different matter, however. Generally, they’re harmless and won’t touch humans. But a tour guide was attacked by a freshwater crocodile at Maguk in 2003.