'Not good enough': NT tourism in 'repair mode' over Kakadu waterfall closures

The Northern Territory's tourism minister has issued a stern warning to federal agency Parks Australia over the continued closure of drawcard waterfall sites in Kakadu National Park.

Tourism officials say the closure of Jim Jim and Twin Falls for 2026 is doing reputational damage to the NT's tourism sector and sending visitors on highways out of the region.

The closures come during the peak of the territory's tourism season and at a time when the sector is already struggling from the global fuel crisis's prolonged impact on drive tourism.

NT Tourism Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said visitors were showing up in Kakadu with the expectation of viewing the renowned sites, only to be greeted by road closure signs.

"It's not good enough," she said.

"Parks Australia are running out of excuses, Territorians are running out of patience, [tourism] operators are running out of time.

"The answer is simple: open more of Kakadu and keep it open longer."

The Commonwealth-run Parks Australia has said the reason for the site closures is damage to infrastructure in the area, such as roads, wrought by a destructive wet season.

However, Ms Boothby noted that other, NT government-run national parks similarly hit by cyclones and floods had been able to open and allow tourists for 2026.

Prospective visitors changing itineraries

Tourism Top End general manager Samantha Bennett said, "having sites closed does do reputational damage" for the NT and the Kakadu closures had created ongoing uncertainty for tourism businesses.

"We are absolutely in repair mode," she said.

"It is in part due to the closures in Kakadu, but we'd already seen a massive drop in our visitation.

"The drive market didn't come … not only did we have a massive wet season, we also had a global fuel crisis … and people changed their itineraries."

Ms Bennett said she was aware of travellers opting to turn off the Stuart Highway and head to Western Australia instead of travelling further north, due to the closures in Kakadu.

"We see a lot of people going west once they get to Katherine, and heading out to the Kimberley where there are more things to do and more things open," she said.

Regional New South Wales residents Margaret and Darrell Martin, who are visiting Darwin to escape the southern winter, said the lack of options was disappointing for travellers like them.

"You don't fly from one side of Australia to the other to have closures at things you want to go and see," Ms Martin said.

Tourism operators will today hold a roundtable discussion in Darwin to try to figure out how to prevent further tourism seasons from being impacted by closures in Kakadu.

In response to the sector outcry over the closures, Parks Australia said it had slashed Kakadu entry fees for the season and waived fees for tourism operators.

"Kakadu park pass fees have been reduced to wet season pricing to encourage park visitation," a Parks Australia spokesperson said.

"Support is also being provided to the tourism industry with current Commercial Tourism Operator permit agreements extended for one year at no additional cost and Commercial Tourism Operator licence fees waived for the 2026 tour season."

The spokesperson said "authorised contractors, personnel and Kakadu rangers" had been accessing the closed sites to deliver infrastructure upgrades and "conduct land management activities".

Kakadu is jointly managed between Parks Australia and traditional owners of the area.

A federal government spokesperson said despite the closures, Parks Australia "continues to provide visitors with access to many of Kakadu's world-class attractions and experiences".

"Across Kakadu there are currently 43 sites open, with 14 being prepared for opening," they said.