Parks Australia and traditional owners of Kakadu National Park are set to sign a new agreement to reopen the iconic Gunlom Falls.
The falls were closed almost six years ago after local tradition owners accused Park Australia of building a new walkway to the falls without the relevant permission and building it too close to a sacred site.
Last year Parks Australia was handed a historic $200,000 fine after pleading guilty to damaging the Gunlom Falls sacred site through the construction of the walkway.
In a statement, Kakadu Tourism Chair, Lauren Ganley, said the reopening of Gunlom Falls represented an important new era in Kakadu’s tourism future.
“There is no destination in Australia more culturally unique than Kakadu, and so it is essential that we respect the heritage and culture of Traditional Owners in the way the Park is presented to visitors,” said Ms Ganley.
“The reopening of Gunlom Falls is part of a wider program to upgrade infrastructure to allow visitors to better appreciate Kakadu’s natural wonders. Another major attraction – Twin Falls – will reopen next dry season after infrastructure upgrades and there are plans for significant investment throughout the park to re-establish it as one of the world’s leading national parks.”
Gunlom Falls is located in Kakadu’s southern ‘stone country,’ about an hour’s 4WD drive from Cooinda and four and a half hours from Darwin.
The 85m-high falls are seasonal, with the best flow right after the wet season. Below the falls is a large, emerald-colored billabong, open for swimming from May to October, depending on conditions.
The steep 15-20 minute climb to the top leads to a series of rockpools, offering stunning views of Kakadu’s stone country, woodlands, and rivers, making the hike well worth the effort.