Best time to visit Kakadu National Park

The best time to visit Kakadu National Park is in June and July when the temperatures are more comfortable with little or no rainfall.

However, anytime during the winter dry season from May to October. At this time you can expect cooler weather and minimal rainfall.

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Kakadu weather

Kakadu National Park experiences a hot tropical monsoonal climate characterised by two main seasons: the dry season and the wet season, with a fairly similar temperature all year-round.

The dry season is characterised by hot, sunny days with an average high of 32°C (89°F) in June, and July. Humidity is relatively low and rain is unusual.

The wet season, from November to March, is characterised by hot temperatures and monsoonal rain. This season brings the waterfalls and floodplains to life; some roads are closed due to flooding.

At Jabiru, the average maximum temperature for January is 33°C (91°F). Annual rainfall in Kakadu National Park ranges from 1,565mm in Jabiru to 1,300mm in the Mary River region.

During the 'build up' from October to December – the transition between the dry and the wet – conditions can be extremely uncomfortable with high temperatures and high humidity.

Storms are impressive and lightning strikes are frequent. The Top End of Australia records more lightning strikes per year than anywhere else in Australia. At Jabiru, the average maximum temperature for October is 37°C (99°F).

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Most non-Aboriginal people only refer to the wet and dry seasons, but the traditional owners of the land, known as the Bininj and Mungguy, identify with as many as six seasons in the Kakadu region, including…

Gudjewg – from January to March, monsoon season with thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flooding; the heat and humidity generate an explosion of plant and animal life.

Bang Gereng – April, the storm season where floodwater recedes but violent, windy storms knock down grasses.

Yegge – from May to mid-June, relatively cool with low humidity, when the Indigenous people historically started burning the woodlands in patches to 'clean the country' and encourage new growth for grazing animals.

This is one of the most popular times to sightsee in Kakadu, as the weather is mild, and the iconic attractions of Twin Falls and Jim Jim, among others, are open to the public.

Wurrgeng – from mid-June to mid-August, the cold weather season with low humidity; most creeks stop flowing and the floodplains quickly dry out.

Gurung – from mid-August to mid-October, hot, dry weather with ever-shrinking billabongs.

Gungmeleng – mid-October to late-December, pre-monsoon storm season with hot weather and building thunderstorms in the afternoons.

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What is the best month to visit Kakadu National Park?
June and July are the best months to visit Kakadu, since this is the cooler time of year, with less-intense temperatures and no rainfall.

Which is the hottest month in Kakadu?
The hottest month in Kakadu National Park is usually November, with an average daytime temperature of 37°C (98°F), high heat and humidity, and a nighttime low of 25°C (77°F).

However, on the warmest days of the month, the temperature may exceed 37°C (98°F).

The hot season in Kakadu lasts from mid-September to early-December, with an average daily high temperature above 36°C (96°F).

Which is the coolest month in Kakadu?
July is the coolest month in Kakadu National Park, with an average high temperature of 32°C (89°F) and a low of 18°C (64°F).

The 'cool season' in Kakadu National Park lasts from early-June to early-August, with an average daily high temperature below 33°C (91°F).

When is it sunniest in Kakadu?
The sunniest time of year in Kakadu National Park is usually August with around 10 hours of bright sunshine per day; that's 82% of daylight hours.

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Kakadu – Temperature averages

Weather station: Jabiru Airport (JAB), located east of Jabiru and 9km (5.6mi) northeast of Kakadu National Park, NT. Source: Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). Climate data collected during 1991 to 2024.

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What is the humidity in Kakadu?
Kakadu National Park experiences significant seasonal variation in humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 54% – 86% over the course of the year.

What do the humidity conditions feel like in Kakadu?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.

Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.

The average annual dew point in Kakadu is 20°C (68°F), and varies over the course of the year from comfortable at 14°C (57°F) to excessively humid and uncomfortable at 25°C (77°F).   

The more humid time of year in Kakadu lasts from October through April, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 25% of the time.

The months with the highest humidity in Kakadu are December through March, when almost every day in each month is muggy or oppressive.

June through August is more comfortable, with no more than one day feeling humid on average.

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Kakadu – Humidity and UV averages

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Which month has the most rain in Kakadu?
January is usually the wettest month in Kakadu National Park, with 364mm (14in) of rainfall on average, distributed across 19 days.

The wet season usually lasts from mid-November to late-March, with a greater than 32% chance of a given day being a wet day.

Which is the driest month in Kakadu?
The dry season in Kakadu National Park lasts from April to November, with the months of May through September having little or no rainfall in Kakadu.

What's the likelihood of a storm in Kakadu?
Kakadu National Park is susceptible to tropical cyclones and summer thunderstorms. The storm season lasts from December to early-April.

There's a 3.7% likelihood of a tropical storm in Kakadu during December, and a 4.5% likelihood of a tropical storm in March.

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Kakadu – Rainfall averages

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Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.

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Latest update: Best time to visit Kakadu: 14 July, 2024

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Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.

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