We Canuks arrive in Darwin Mar 3/02 (from Alice by plane)for 4 nights in the Top End (then off to Perth)and have Darwin hotel (first and last nites)and car booked. Not impressed with prices for advance booking of Kakadu hotels, and wonder if we can just "wing it"? Will we get a room in the park if we just show up at this time of the year? This is part of a 5 week trip to OZ (we did 4 weeks 12 years ago and we are going to places we could not get to last time). We are very independent travellers in our 50's, not a lot is pre-planned, just flights and cars and trains and first and last night hotels in airplane stops, but we we love local day and overnight experiences with real Aussies. Ideas, Information? Thanks.

G'day Mags, <BR>I was in Kakadu last year with customers during Feb. and again early March. <BR>I had been quoted pretty high prices for accommodation in Kakadu and took a chance. <BR>I didn't pre book and got motel rooms at Cooinda at a discount rate, but of course there is no guarantee for the same next March. <BR><BR>Best of luck, <BR>Mike

Hello Mags<BR>Pardon my ignorance, but what is a Canuk? My husband and I have lived in Darwin for 3 years. We did a weekend trip to Kakadu a couple of months ago and pre-booked at Cooinda Lodge. It was clean and comfortable and very affordable and I'd certainly recommend staying there. There's an indoors restaurant but we chose to eat from the outdoors buffet and sat in the covered bbq area outdoors, it was very good. The Yellow Waters cruise was a wonderful experience. All in all a great weekend. To answer your question about pre-booking, like the previous reply I'm not sure about March, but if I were you I'd probably take my chances and at make enquiries when you arrive in Darwin. Cheers

Hotels/motels in Kakadu are expensive because of the captured audience. Why not take a safari trip which will do everything i.e. meals and accommodation even if its in a tent, and be taken to all the places you couldn't get to by yourselves or by bus? <BR>I note you have booked a car - be careful about booking a car in Darwin as the last time I was there they wanted me to be prepared to pay $3,000 for any damage and that was after the waiver insurance - needless to say I did not accept a car under those terms and then I got a 4 wheel drive safari in a "Northern Territory type thing" which was wonderful. Check the small print on your car rental!!!!!

Thanks for the advice. will likely check when we get to Darwin, maybe even reconsider the car and look for a tour. Canuks are Canadians, a tour operator (a great one) in the Flinders Ranges on our last trip called us "Frozen Yanks"!