• Scenic flight over the Mary River and Kakadu wetlands
• Kakadu’s escarpments and waterfalls
• Yellow Water wetland cruise
• Wildlife and Aboriginal cultural significance
• Final scenic pass over Kakadu

Experience the Top End like never before. Fly from Darwin along the northern coast and follow the Mary River into Kakadu National Park and the upper Alligator River, over wetlands, escarpments and waterfalls.

Land at Cooinda for the Yellow Water cruise, where you’ll see Kakadu’s stunning waterways, abundant wildlife and places of deep spiritual significance to Aboriginal people. Afterwards, relax at Cooinda Resort before a final scenic pass over Kakadu on the way back to Darwin.

Covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park and one of very few places in the world on the World Heritage List for both its natural and cultural values. Aboriginal people have lived here for more than 65,000 years, and the Bininj/Mungguy traditional owners still care for Country today, jointly managing the park with Parks Australia.

Kakadu’s landscapes change dramatically from the tidal flats and floodplains of the coast to the sheer sandstone walls of the Arnhem Land escarpment. Its wetlands are home to saltwater crocodiles and around a third of all Australia’s bird species, and its rock art galleries record thousands of years of human history. Despite their names, the East, West and South Alligator rivers have no alligators – early explorers mistook the crocodiles.

Must-See in Kakadu National Park

• Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) – Kakadu’s most famous billabong and wildlife hotspot
• Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls – plunging off the Arnhem Land escarpment
• Ubirr and Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) – world-renowned Aboriginal rock art sites
• The Arnhem Land escarpment – a 500 km sandstone wall rising from the floodplains
• The South Alligator River floodplains – teeming with birdlife and crocodiles

Between Darwin and Kakadu, the Mary River spills across one of the Top End’s great floodplain systems – a mosaic of billabongs, paperbark swamps and grassy plains. The area is protected within Mary River National Park and is known for one of the highest concentrations of saltwater crocodiles anywhere in the world.

From the air, the river’s meandering channels, oxbow lakes and vast flocks of waterbirds create a living map of the Top End – a view that’s impossible to appreciate from the ground.

Must-See in The Mary River Wetlands

• Meandering river channels and oxbow lakes
• Paperbark swamps and billabongs
• Huge flocks of magpie geese, egrets and jabirus

• Departs: Kookaburra Air, Darwin International Airport, 15 Murphy Dr, Eaton NT 0820 (View on Google Maps)
• Duration: approx. 7 hours
• Includes: scenic flight and Yellow Water cruise
• Not included: meals and beverages
• Minimum of 2 adults per booking.

Save around 10% when you book here instead of through third-party booking sites. There’s no middleman commission, so the saving goes straight to you.

• Rated 4.9★ on Google by our Darwin guests
• Australian-owned air tour specialists with over 30 years flying guests from Perth and Darwin
• Small aircraft, personal service – an intimate experience, never a crowded coach
• Talk to the people who fly you – our own team helps you tailor times, stops and extensions
• See more in a day – fly over the long drives and spend your time where it counts

From Kookaburra Air, Darwin International Airport, 15 Murphy Dr, Eaton NT 0820. Our team will confirm your check-in time when you book. (View on Google Maps)

Approx. 7 hours. See the itinerary above for the full timings.

Cooinda and Yellow Water are around 3.5 hours by road from Darwin. Flying gets you there in two hours, with a scenic flight over the Mary River wetlands and Kakadu’s escarpments on the way.

Your tour includes scenic flight and Yellow Water cruise. Not included: meals and beverages.

Yellow Water is one of Kakadu’s richest wildlife areas – look out for saltwater crocodiles and abundant birdlife, including jabirus, sea eagles and magpie geese.

Meals and drinks aren’t included, so you can choose what you’d like at Cooinda Resort.

Yes – a minimum of 2 adults per booking applies. Travelling solo or in a bigger group? Contact us and we’ll help find the best option.

Bring a camera, sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen. Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes.

Yes. As a specialist air tour operator, we can tailor departure times, add stops and extensions, or arrange a private charter for families, groups and special occasions. Just ask our team.

Booking direct on our website saves you around 10% compared with buying the same tour through third-party booking sites, because there’s no middleman commission. You also deal directly with our own team, and our Darwin guests rate us 4.9 stars on Google.