Koolpin and Freezing Gorge Walk (Jarrangbarnmi)

This is a great spot to break away from the usual tourist destinations in Kakadu. A four-wheel drive gets you to a bush camp where you can enjoy a few days of gorge walking or Canyoning "the activity of following a river bed through a gorge. This often includes climbing, swimming, abseiling and scrambling depending upon the environment"- UK Scout Association. Give yourself a few days to get the best out of this adventure. 

Koolpin Gorge 

You will need a permit to access this area and numbers are limited to 40 campers per night. Besides this area is only open during the Dry Season as it floods during the Wet Season and becomes inaccessible. As such if you are considering a breakaway to this gorge you will need to plan to secure a permit. National Parks advises that you giving at least 7 days for applications to be processed however bookings are done on a first come first served basis and dates can be booked out well in advance.

A locked gate (key provided with the permit) marks the start of an eleven km dirt track to the campsite. The campsite is a demarcated area with multiple fire pits provided as well as a single block of composting toilets. NOTE no water is available at this site. The site lies to the south of a small hill with tall trees providing shaded sites to camp under.

Koolpin GorgeTrack

The start of the Koolpin Gorge walk is about 500m back along the road that you travelled on to get to the campsite from the main road. The Koolpin Gorge walk is signposted at the start of the walk as a 4km walk (1.5 hours) and classified as moderate too difficult. The walk starts by crossing over a low rock ridge and then crossing over the boulder-strewn river bed. You bypass the first pool to reach the second pool (Pink Pool) where swimming is permitted. 

“You should always be aware of the risk of a saltwater crocodile attack in all Top End waterways.”

The next swimming hole (Black Pool)requires some rock climbing and scrambling to get to BUT it’s worth it. This is a large, deep, cauldron-shaped swimming hole surrounded by high cliffs and fed by a 10m waterfall. A footpath on the southern section takes you high above the pools with a great view down the valley. This path then goes on to provide access to the gorge above Black Pool. The rest of the gorge consists of a low, wide gorge with a boulder-strewn river bed punctuated by shallow clear pools. This is an unmarked track and signage at the campsite suggests exploring as far as you feel comfortable. Note however you may not overnight in the gorge. If you wish to overnight or do an extended bushwalk in the area you will require a permit. This gorge is relatively easy to access from the campsite, provides great swimming holes even late in the dry season, and is an open relatively easy gorge to explore.

Freezing Gorge

A second gorge in the area known as Freezing Gorge is located to the north of the campsite. The gorge may be accessed from Koolpin Gorge or via the gorge to the northwest of the campsite. This is an unmarked hike with no path as such it is advised to travel with guides who are familiar with the terrain. The walk into the gorge entails a lot more climbing, scrambling, and squeezing between rocks than the walk up Koolpin Gorge. The gorge is narrow with a large boulder-strewn river bed. Then only do you get to Freezing Gorge with its sheer, vertical, narrow, and very high cliffs on either side of the gorge. This gorge is for the more adventurous and is best done as an overnight circular route that comes back down Koolpin Gorge. 

Getting There

A three and half hour drive from Darwin (two and half hours from Katherine) with the last 37km on a dirt road. From Stuart Highway travel down Kakadu Highway till the turnoff to Gunlom Falls. Travel the 27km down Gimbat Rd taking the Y-junction to the right towards Koolpin Gorge (the left will take you to Gunlom Falls). Continue with Gimbat Rd for another 10km and you will find the turnoff to Koolpin Gorge.

The track into Koolpin Gorge

This is a two-wheel track that is a little corrugated and bumpy in areas but overall it’s an easy drive with no serious off-road obstacles. A shallow river crossing near the turn-off from the main road is the main obstacle. The road climbs over a low ridge with evidence of past mining activity before transversing the flat plains to the campsite.