Southern 4WD: Maguk, Gunlom & Jim Jim / Twin (closed 2026)
Mary River / southern Kakadu: seasonal 4WD gorges and plunge-pool country. Maguk and Gunlom are status-critical. The Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls area is closed for all of 2026. This is not a 2WD afternoon from Darwin.
- Best for: Equipped 4WD groups in the dry, when Access Report and crocodile surveys agree
- Time: Full day per open site from a southern or Cooinda base; do not stack Maguk + Gunlom + anything else in heat
- Sealed Kakadu Highway toward Pine Creek / Katherine, then unsealed 4WD spurs. High-clearance often advised or required. Many 2WD hire contracts prohibit unsealed roads. Fuel before you leave bitumen. Stay search: Pine Creek.
Verify conditions on kakadu.gov.au → · Access Report
Jim Jim and Twin Falls — closed 2026
The Jim Jim and Twin Falls area — including Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls gorge/escarpment walks, Karnamarr/Garnamarr campground, Barrk Marlam and Budjmi lookout — is closed for all of 2026 after cyclone damage, road and infrastructure upgrades, and a Traditional Owner safety request. Do not plan it. Do not follow a pre-2026 itinerary.
Photographs of those falls are historical. This unofficial guide will not give you turn-by-turn to a closed precinct.
Maguk and Gunlom — verify, then maybe
Maguk: 4WD in, 2 km return Grade 4 to a waterfall. Access Report 11 Sept 2026 lists Open with ongoing crocodile management — enter water at your own risk. [VERIFY] again the morning you go.
Gunlom: often high-clearance 4WD only. Short steep lookout. Picnic area and viewing path. Official “open with risks” style notices have banned swimming in the bottom plunge pool. Upper rock is slick. [VERIFY].
These are not consolation Jim Jims. They are their own Country with their own rules.
Vehicle honesty
If your hire agreement bans unsealed roads, you do not have a southern 4WD day. Switch to Ubirr, Burrungkuy and Yellow Water. Pride is a poor recovery truck.
Carry water, a spare, recovery sense, and a plan left with someone. Coverage exists at listed points (Gunlom campground, Maguk campground 2 km from the falls) — not on every creek crossing. A satellite messenger is a reasonable remote-south planning note.
Fees still split three ways
Park pass (A) to be in Kakadu. Camping (B) if you use park campgrounds — first-come, no online booking for park-managed sites, water often not potable, [VERIFY] prices (Mardukal example only: adults $15 / children $7.50 / families $38). Overnight/remote (C) extra permit if you leave designated camping.
Standard day walks, when a site is open, are covered by the park pass. A closed site is not a walk.
When this area even exists for visitors
Dry season (roughly May–October) is when southern tracks are most often discussed as practical. Tropical summer rain shuts crossings and raises crocodile and flood risk. Even in the dry, a single storm or a crocodile survey can flip Maguk or Gunlom overnight.
Base thinking: Pine Creek or a listed open campground, not a same-day dash from Darwin and back.
Highlights at a glance
- Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) 2 km Grade 4 walk — [VERIFY] open and croc-clearance status
- Gunlom lookout 0.5 km Grade 3 — [VERIFY] high-clearance 4WD and swim rules
- Escarpment / stone-country views when you are actually allowed to be there
- Gunlom campground listed as a mobile-coverage point
Practical tips
- Access Report is not optional reading. It is the day plan.
- One southern site per day in heat.
- Hotel pools in Jabiru/Cooinda remain the reliable swim.
- Always verify current conditions, fees and closures with Parks Australia / Bowali Visitor Centre (08 8938 1120) and the Kakadu Access Report.
Facilities & services
- When open: Maguk and Gunlom day-use / walk infrastructure (confirm live)
- Gunlom picnic area, listed free gas barbecues, viewing path
- Park campgrounds first-come when listed open — [VERIFY] fees and water
- Nearest highway services often thought of via Pine Creek or Cooinda
Confirm toilets, parking and open facilities on the day via official sources and on-site signage.
Walks & lookouts nearby
Grades, times and open/closed status change — open each guide and verify on the Access Report before you go.
Maguk
moderateAccess Report (11 Sept 2026): Maguk is listed Open. Crocodile management is ongoing; official wording is enter the water at your own risk and report saltwater crocodile sightings to Bowali (08 8938 1120). Traffic management on the Maguk road. 4WD. Residual risk remains. Jim Jim / Twin stay closed for 2026.
- Grade
- Grade 4 — Open with crocodile risk (Access Report 11 Sept 2026)
- Time
- ~1 hour 30 minutes
- Distance
- 2 km return
View guide →
Gunlom
moderateAccess Report (20 Aug 2026): Gunlom is open with risks. Gunlom Road is high-clearance 4WD only. Strictly no access or swimming in the bottom plunge pool while crocodile management continues. The lookout climb is a separate decision from swimming — obey fences and signs.
- Grade
- Grade 3 · high-clearance 4WD · bottom pool closed
- Time
- ~30 minutes listed · allow more in heat
- Distance
- 0.5 km one way (lookout climb)
View guide →
Itineraries that use this area
Map
Orientation only — confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.
Interactive map — pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.
FAQ — Southern 4WD
Tap a question to expand the answer.
Can I visit Jim Jim Falls in 2026?
No. The Jim Jim and Twin Falls area is closed for all of 2026. Do not go. Check the Access Report for any official change; do not trust old tour brochures.
Do I need a 4WD for Gunlom and Maguk?
Plan on 4WD; Gunlom Road has been listed high-clearance 4WD only. [VERIFY] the Access Report. Many 2WD rentals are not allowed on these roads even when a tough sedan might physically cope.
Can I swim at Gunlom or Maguk?
Only if that exact waterbody is a designated plunge pool, officially surveyed, and signed as open for swimming on your date. Residual risk remains. Bottom Gunlom pool and Maguk have both had recent official closures related to crocodiles. [VERIFY]. Default is no.
Stays, tours & gear near Southern 4WD
Optional next steps after you plan this area — park passes and official Parks Australia bookings are never affiliated.
Nearby stays
Jabiru · Cooinda · Darwin
- Hotels in JabiruIn-park town · Bowali and Ubirr access
- CooindaYellow Water / wetlands base
- DarwinAirport hub · ~3 hours to the park
All Booking.com links open in a new tab and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Official Parks Australia camping and walk permits are never affiliated.
Guided tours
Optional — useful for first visits from Darwin if you do not want to self-drive
A tour does not replace checking the Kakadu Access Report, heat, or crocodile signs yourself.
What to bring
Practical kit for heat, water and crocodile country
- 1 L+ water per person per hourHeat is the dominant hazard. Official guidance is about 1 litre per person per hour on walks
- Electrolyte sachetsHeat exhaustion and hyponatremia are real in the tropical summer — water alone is not always enough
- Sun hat + high SPFExposed sandstone and floodplain lookouts burn even when you feel a breeze
- Sturdy walking shoesUbirr lookout and Burrungkuy steps are uneven rock — not a flip-flop day
- Insect repellentMosquitoes and midges around wetlands, especially late afternoon
- Lightweight long sleevesSun and insects on open floodplain and 4WD tracks
- Day pack 20–30 LWater, electrolytes, first-aid and a layer for air-conditioned cars after 40°C walks
- Satellite messenger / PLBPlanning note for southern 4WD and remote walks — reception is still absent off the listed cells
- First-aid + blister kitSandstone, heat and remote distances — treat hot spots early
- Offline maps + power bankScreenshot the Access Report and NT Road Report; 000 needs reception
- Water treatment / extra drinking waterPark camp drinking water is often not potable — treat or bring your own
- HeadlampUbirr sunset finishes in the dark; Burrungkuy gates close at 7 pm
Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Kakadu park passes, official camping and walk permits are never affiliated. Affiliate disclosure · Privacy