Suelynne

Three weeks today until we leave for Darwin and East Timor, and getting very excited!
Given our time in Kakadu is limited - two nights and the best part of three days - we're keen to select well. If we have time to do only one cruise, which would you recommend: Guluyambi or Yellow Waters? If we decide to do the latter, is booking the day before in Cooinda the only way to book [for the early cruise]? And if we decide to go on a later one, can we book on the day? And what about the Guluyambi one? Many thanks.

marg

We've done both but if you only have time for one, definitely do the Yellow Waters cruise. I'd try to book as far ahead as you can as it will be peak tourist season - perhaps the tourist office in Darwin can make a booking for you as the early cruise seems to be the most popular. Having said that, we arrived at Cooinda on one holiday and got on a cruise that afternoon.

LynAK

I think I'd take the Yellow Waters cruise for the sheer beauty of it if I could only do one. We went at 6:45 am on an August morning. It was amazing, lots of wildlife. I can't remember where we booked, but probably it was at the hotel when we checked in the night before. There are numerous boats that go out around the same time (but they fan out so you aren't all moving around the water together).

I really enjoyed the Guluyambi trip down the E. Alligator, but not so much for the beauty of river or the boat ride as much as the interesting information we got from the guide, who was very good. Also, fun to see those big crocodiles along the river. I also liked that we got to get off in Arnhem Land and walk around. You don't go anywhere there, but I can say I've been there! The guide had a demonstration of aboriginal tools, etc. while we were off the boat. I learned a lot and was glad we did it. I think our 10 yr. old daughter probably liked this cruise better than the Yellow Waters at 6:45. She liked the crocs, the demonstrations and the fact that she didn't have to get up so early to do it.

But the Yellow Waters tour was just a feast. You also learn about the various wildlife and some guides are better than others, as is always the case. I overheard the guide on a different boat from ours at one point and remember thinking that he was better than ours...but there is no way to know ahead of time who'll you will get. So even with a less-than-great-guide we were very pleased with the experience.

RalphR

Sue: I agree with Lyn. But it is a tough question - the two cruises are quite different. Sorry, cant help re booking logistics, as it was 9 years ago we went to Kakadu.

Suelynne

Thank you very much for these replies. They're very helpful, and I think our itinerary is falling into place. I also read your contributions, LynAK, on an old thread - "Two days in Kakadu" [ or = ]. Thank you again. I'll look into booking the Yellow Waters cruise early as I know it's school holidays in many Australian states that week.

LynAK

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...-in-kakadu.cfm

Here's the link to the thread from 2008 you mention above. I just went back and looked through it. It is so much fun for me to read over what I wrote about our trip. It brings it all back so vividly. One of the benefits of giving out advice on these forums! There are several others who offer some good tips on that thread, too.

Suelynne

Thanks again LynAK!