Famous Crocodile Dundee rockpool re-opens after six years
Kakadu's Gunlom Falls, made famous in the classic Aussie movie, is re-opening to the publicKakadu National Park’s most famous waterfall, and a star of classic Aussie flick Crocodile Dundee, will re-open next month, after being closed off to visitors for the past six years.
The popular tourist site, Gunlom Falls in the southern section of Kakadu in the Northern Territory, has been closed to the public since 2019 after a new walkway being built was found to have intruded on a sacred men's rock site. Parks Australia later apologised and was forced to pay a fine of $200,000.
Known as ‘Echo Lake’ in the much-loved romantic comedy, Gunlom Falls was where Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) aims to impress visiting American journalist Sue Charlton (played by Hogan’s wife to be, Linda Kozlowski) by spearing a barramundi and then displaying his bushtucker skills with a fish and goanna BBQ dinner.
They also take a refreshing swim in the cool waters -- one of nature's finest 'infinity pools" with awesome views over Kakadu.
It's a steep hike to the serene plunge pools above, while you can also swim beneath the 85m waterfall or relax on the sandy beach at the base.
Kakadu Tourism Chair, Lauren Ganley, said the reopening of Gunlom Falls is part of a wider program to upgrade infrastructure to allow visitors to better appreciate Kakadu’s natural wonders.
“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,” Ms Ganley said.
“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.”
The 'first come, first serve' Gunlom Falls basic campground is a four and a half hours drive from Darwin, with the last section accessible by 4WD.
The reopening of Gunlom Falls in May coincides with the waterfall being at peak flow after the wet season, as well as the food and culture festival, A Taste of Kakadu which runs May 23-25.
Released in 1986, Crocodile Dundee remains the nation's highest-grossing film globally, and a 4K remastered version is set to hit the cinemas on May 8. An accompanying documentary, Love of an Icon: The Legend of Crocodile Dundee, was released in late-March.
Related: FROM BOTTOM TO TOP: Southern Kakadu
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