#8 of 32 sights in Kakadu
Sight · Kakadu National Park
Secluded waterfall and clear plunge pool after a short gorge walk
Overview
Tucked in Kakadu’s south, Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) is the classic Top End payoff: a short, scenic walk through monsoon forest that drops you at a rock amphitheater with a clear waterfall-fed plunge pool. It stays flowing later than many Kakadu waterfalls (though it does taper off toward the end of the dry), which makes it a reliable swim when it’s open.
Maguk’s combo of steep rock walls, clear water and a generous pool is photogenic and refreshing without the tour-bus feel. The unsealed approach keeps numbers down compared to highway-side stops, so you get more serenity with your swim.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhat Makes It SpecialMap
Local know-how
Check road and access status the day before—openings are seasonal.
Wear grippy shoes for the rocky creek sections and slick ledges.
Bring plenty of water and snacks; there are no services on site.
Start early for cooler temps, softer light, and easier parking.
If you’re not confident on corrugations, consider a guided tour.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Kakadu Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Kakadu National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Kakadu audio tourRecorded for this place
Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) Waterfall and Plunge Pool“The turn-off coming up is for Maguk, which is also known as Barramundi Gorge. Access is via a 4WD-only road, which helps keep it a bit more peaceful than some of the other swimming spots.”
Plays as you drive up to Maguk (Barramundi Gorge) in the Parkwolf Kakadu Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
From the day-use car park, it’s roughly 2 km return along Barramundi Creek. Expect natural surfaces, rocky sections, and a couple of easy creek crossings. The track is mostly shaded by lush vegetation and those stately Anbinik trees clinging to ancient sandstone—pretty, varied, and never boring.
The plunge pool is the headline act. Swim only when the site is officially open and always follow ranger signage—Kakadu manages swimming areas seasonally. Rocks can be slick; good footwear helps. Late dry season means weaker flow but warmer water and great swimming conditions.
Keep an eye out for rainforest birds like spangled drongos and rainbow pittas along the track, and look into the pool for black bream cruising the edges. The creekside forest is lively—bring a bit of patience and you’ll be rewarded.
Wildlife
1,079 sightingsSaltwater CrocodileMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
121 sightingsWater BuffaloMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsFrilled DragonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
116 sightingsRed-tailed Black CockatooMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
101 sightingsBrolgaMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
299 sightingsMagpie GooseMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Kakadu. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
Parkwolf’s Kakadu ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
