WURRGENG SEASON
TOURISM INDUSTRY UPDATE # 11
5 July 2013
Top of Twin Falls
JIM JIM AND TWIN FALLS AREA
OPENING TOMORROW
Great news! The Jim Jim area including Garnamarr campground is reopening this Saturday. The
area had to be closed suddenly after the suspected drowning of a visitor. Traditional owners
requested the area be closed until this Saturday as a mark of respect to the man, his family and
friends.
The Jim Jim area including the stunning Twin Falls will open tomorrow from 8.00 am,
Saturday 6 July.
Make sure you and your visitors wear sturdy footwear as rocks and boulders can be slippery with
sand and water. We recommend you get an early start and tackle the network of walking tracks
during the cooler hours of the day. Make sure you carry plenty of drinking water too.
At Twin Falls we’ve completed crocodile surveys in the gorge and installed the floating boardwalk
and the boats are back in the water ready to shuttle the first
visitors upstream.
Jump on board and marvel at the natural beauty of sheer
sandstone cliffs and crystal clear water while listening to
your skipper interpreting the natural features and cultural
significance of Gungkurdul (Twin Falls). Remember – you
are not permitted to enter the water anywhere in the gorge.
If you feel the need to cool down, please use the handpowered showers on the boardwalk.
Ticket prices for the Twin Falls boat shuttle is $12.50 per adult (U 16s are free). Purchase from the
Bowali Visitor Centre, Tourism Top End, Gagudju Lodge Cooinda, Garnamarr campground and the
boat operator in the gorge (cash only). Tour operators can also purchase tickets at a discounted
rate when buying in bulk from the Bowali Visitor Centre or Tourism Top End.
Please note there is 0.7m of water covering the Jim Jim Creek crossing. Access is by highclearance 4WD with snorkel only.
The access gate situated a few hundred metres from the Kakadu Highway turn off will be
unlocked by rangers at 8:00 am sharp. We hope you and your clients enjoy this beautiful
area.
Thank you for your understanding during what has been a sad and difficult time for us. We regret
any inconvenience caused and appreciate your support and respect.
For more information about Kakadu National Park contact Bowali Visitor Centre on (08) 89 381120 or visit our websites
www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/ or www.kakadu.com.au
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CHECK OUT OUR FREE RANGER-GUIDED ACTIVITIES
Our Seasonal Interpretive Ranger Program is well and truly underway. It will run until Sunday 6
October 2013.
This year, six rangers are delivering 50 free activities for visitors every week throughout the
park. These include guided walks, rock art site talks, evening slideshows and traditional
painting and weaving demonstrations. There is something to please everyone, every day of the
week, no matter what your age, interests or fitness level – no one can possibly be at a loose
end in Kakadu!
Everyone is welcome and no reservations are required. If you find yourself at the same site as
an interpretive ranger, please announce your presence as a courtesy and let the ranger know
you intend to stick around and enjoy their session.
You can pick up a hard copy of our ‘What’s On’ guide or download it from our website:
www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/explore/puns/whatson-2013.pdf.
Check out our program in action below! We hope you enjoy our photo gallery.
For more information about Kakadu National Park contact Bowali Visitor Centre on (08) 89 381120 or visit our websites
www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/ or www.kakadu.com.au
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CALLING ALL STEP-ON GUIDES
We’re looking for tour operators and freelance guides interested in providing step-on guiding
services to other tour operators. To register your interest please complete the registration form
attached to this newsletter.
To be eligible you must:
 be Kakadu Knowledge for Tour Guides accredited
 be able to guide tours throughout the park (between Aurora South Alligator and the
southern boundary of the park)
 provide a safety briefing.
Upon receipt of your application we will verify accreditation. If successful you will be added to
our contact list which is circulated to tour operators who require step-on guiding services.
For more details and questions, please contact kakadu.permits@enviornment.gov.au or Penny
Scarpellino on 08 8938 1170.
SPEED LIMIT – ARNHEM HIGHWAY
The Northern Territory Government is reducing the maximum speed limit on a high-risk stretch
of the Arnhem Highway from 130 to 110 km/h, effective from 8 July 2013.
The change will apply to a 61 km section of the highway between Lambells Lagoon and Bark
Hut Inn (located outside of the park).
To find out more click here or call the Bowali Visitor Centre on 08 8938 1120.
FACEBOOK
Help us reach 5,000 likes!
We’ve joined Facebook and need your help to reach our target!
Through our Facebook page we’ll providing intimate knowledge and direct promotion of
Kakadu.
We would love you to join us and help champion the amazing place that is Kakadu:
www.facebook.com/KakaduNationalPark
For more information about Kakadu National Park contact Bowali Visitor Centre on (08) 89 381120 or visit our websites
www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/ or www.kakadu.com.au
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KNOW YOUR KAKADU
OPERATING SAFELY IN THE PARK
Visitor safety is everyone’s responsibility – follow the steps below to assist your guides and
clients to stay safe and happy.
1. Always carry a first aid kit. Tour guides are often the first response when a visitor is injured.
Carrying the right first aid gear ensures your able to help until park rangers arrive. All guides
working in the park must have a current first aid certificate and ensure vehicles contain a
comprehensive first aid kit.
2. In case of emergency, stay with your injured passenger and contact park rangers by using
our Emergency Communications Devices (ECDs).
3. Ensure your visitors carry sufficient water.
4. Follow the road rules. While most people are doing the right thing, rangers and local police
have observed too many vehicles breaking the road rules - for example not driving to speed
limits.
5. Respect other tour operators. All tour operators should behave respectfully when using
public spaces in the park. All sites have non-exclusive access, so please work together and
share the common spaces to ensure all visitors have a positive experience.
These and other important safety precautions are outlined in the permit conditions for tour
operators working in the park.
To avoid any problems, please check that all your guides are aware of the permit conditions.
You can download a copy of the conditions at
http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/permits/pubs/kakadu-commercial-land-based-tours.pdf
or contact us on 08 8938 1140.
For more information about Kakadu National Park contact Bowali Visitor Centre on (08) 89 381120 or visit our websites
www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/ or www.kakadu.com.au
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SOCIAL MEDIA AND ROAD REPORT
WISH TO SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE?
Visit our website www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/industry-update.html to manage your
subscription to these awesome updates!
Don’t forget we’d love to include your guides too, so please direct them to this page. We
understand guides may not always have access to the internet when they are on the road, so
they have an alternative option by popping in to see our Bowali team and registering in person.
GOT A STORY?
This is your newsletter. If you’ve got an event or a story you’d like us to share with the tourism
industry please let us know.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook for updates about what is happening in the park.
Post your favourite photos or share a story of your own with us.
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ROAD REPORT
Daily road reports are available on our website: www.kakadu.com.au/access
For more information about Kakadu National Park contact Bowali Visitor Centre on (08) 89 381120 or visit our websites
www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu/ or www.kakadu.com.au
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