Djukbinj National Park

Djukbinj National Park encompasses part of the Mary River wetlands, one of the Top End’s most significant waterbird habitats. Lying east of the Adelaide River and south of Van Diemen Gulf, the park’s landscape is dominated by seasonal floodplains, billabongs, and stands of paperbark and pandanus. During the Wet Season, much of Djukbinj is submerged under a vast sheet of water; in the Dry Season, the receding wetlands concentrate wildlife around remaining waterholes. Flocks of magpie geese, plumed whistling ducks, egrets, brolgas and jabirus (black-necked storks) can be observed feeding on the plains – making it a paradise for birdwatchers. Access to Djukbinj is via Point Stuart Road (gravel), which skirts the edge of the wetlands; there are no formal visitor facilities, but a few rough tracks and levees allow 4WD passage into the park’s interior when conditions permit. Fishing for barramundi is possible in some waterways, though crocodiles are common (extreme caution required near water). There are no established picnic areas or campsites within Djukbinj – most visitors base themselves at nearby Mary River retreats or Point Stuart. The park’s purpose is conservation of the wetland ecosystem, and it forms part of the broader Mary River catchment protection. Visitors in the cooler Dry Season will experience a serene landscape of lotus-laden lagoons and a cacophony of bird calls at dusk – a glimpse of the Top End’s wild wetlands at their best.