You can’t really call Mary River National Park a hidden gem, however it is fair to say it is often overlooked as travellers drive past on their way to Kakadu. But at only 75 minutes from Darwin, Mary River is worth a look. It is one of the great wildlife havens in the Northern Territory.
The wetlands are teeming with wildlife. It is one of the best places to see crocodiles in the wild near Darwin. For nature lovers, the cruise on Corroboree Billabong is as good as anything you will do in Kakadu. There are also some fun walks, camping spots, and if you want to catch a barramundi you can’t beat Shady Camp and Stuart’s Tree Camp.
Featured Image: Mary River © Tourism NT & Jarrad Seng
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Contents
Getting There
Mary River National Park is a long, dis-jointed park running from near Kakadu in the south to the Van Diemen Gulf in the north.
Many of the things to do in Mary River National Park are in the central area which is about 75 minutes from Darwin on the Arnhem Highway. Attractions here include Corroboree Billabong, Couzens Lookout, Bird Billabong and Mistake Billabong.
The coastal section of the park is 2.5 hours from Darwin. This more remote location includes Stuart’s Tree Fishing Camp, the Point Stuart day use area and the historic Stuart’s Tree Memorial Cairn.
Can you Swim at Mary River National Park?
No! There are crocodiles everywhere. In fact, Mary River National Park has the highest concentration of crocodiles in the Northern Territory so leave your bathers at home.
Mary River National Park FAQs
Do you need a park pass for Mary River National Park?
Visitors to the Northern Territory will need a park pass for Mary River National Park
Can you access Mary River National Park in the wet season?
Significant parts of the park are not accessible in the wet season. The Corroboree Billabong cruise does not operate in the wet season – the billabong is in flood. Some dirt roads in the park could be impassable so check if the park is open before setting off.
Do you need a 4WD?
In the dry season much of the park is accessible with 2WD. This is the case for Corroboree Billabong, Couzens Lookout, Bird Billabong, Mistake Billabong and Shady Creek. You will need a 4WD to get to the Stuart Point section of the park. In the wet season, if the dirt roads are open, they will only be accessible for 4WDs.
Is Mary River a day trip from Darwin?
Visiting Corroboree Billabong and a couple of other central sights is a great daytrip from Darwin. You have to do the cruise – it’s fantastic (see below). If you have a 4WD you could get to Point Stuart in a day too, allow 2.5 – 3 hours each way from Darwin.
Things to do in Mary River National Park
Corroboree Billabong
From the Arnhem Highway, Corroboree Billabong is about 20km from the turn off at Marrakai just after the Corroboree Park Tavern. The last couple of kilometres is on a good dirt road.
Doing a cruise on Corroboree Billabong is one of the best activities we did around Darwin. There is a morning, lunch and dusk cruise to choose from. Mary River National Park is known for having the highest concentration of crocodiles in the Northern Territory – and you see plenty of them on the 1.5 – 2.5 hour cruise.
The birdlife is incredible too. Sea eagles, brolgas, jabirus and many other water birds were pointed out by the excellent guide. With flowering lotus lilies all around you, it is a beautiful sight. There really is something to see around every corner.
Access is mostly on a sealed road. There is a short stretch of dirt road near the end of the drive. If you have a hire car and don’t won’t to go off the bitumen, you can arrange a transfer to the jetty from the Corroboree Park Tavern which is right by the turn off from the Arnhem Highway.
We loved this cruise. If you want to know more about it, read our full review of the Corroboree Billabong Cruise and check out our pictures.
- Morning Cruise – 90 minutes, available April to the end of October
- Lunch Cruise – 2.5 hours, available April to the end of October, cold meat & salad lunch
- Sunset Cruise – 2 hours, available April to the end of October, BYO cooler bag & drinks
Barramundi Fishing
One of the most popular things to do in Mary River National Park is fishing. There are boat ramps at Corroboree Billabong, Mary River Crossing, Hardies Lagoon, Rockhole, the more remote Shady Camp and even more remote Stuart Tree Camp Site on the coast.
To combine fishing and camping, you can stay at Shady Camp and the Stuarts Tree Camp. Both require 4WD access. You can also stay at the Mary River Wilderness Retreat which is close to the Mary River Crossing boat ramp.
If that all sounds a bit hard, fishing charters to Mary River National Park run from Darwin.
Mary River Billabong
The turn off to Mary River Billabong is 19km beyond the Corroboree Billabong turn off. You then have a 1.5km drive to Mary River Billabong.
We won’t dwell here for too long. There is a picnic spot and a couple of short walks you can do along the Mary River (700m) and through the savannah forest (1km loop). There are better attractions nearby, read on.
Bird Billabong
Bird Billabong is on the same turn off as Mary River Billabong mentioned above. From the turn off, there is a 3km drive on a well maintained dirt road to Bird Billabong. We drove it in a 2WD.
This is a lovely spot. Even if you don’t have time to do the easy 4.5km loop walk around the billabong, you can just walk a short way and see a lot of wildlife. We were there in the second half of the afternoon in August. There were wallabies and birds everywhere. Whistling ducks were around in big numbers.
If you do the walk, there is an observation deck on the far side of Bird Billabong. You will want a hat; the hike is quite exposed but there are nice views of the Mount Bundey Hills. How much water you see will depend on when you go. Bird Billabong can be empty at the end of the dry season.
Couzens Lookout
To get to Couzens lookout, continue east on the Arnhem Highway for 23km after the Bird Billabong Turn off. Turn left on to the sealed Point Stuart Road for about 15km then left onto Rock Hole Road which is not sealed. It is about 15km to Couzens Lookout. We got there is a 2WD in the dry season, Rock Hole Road was in good condition.
It is a bit of a drive to Couzens lookout and to be honest we were slightly underwhelmed as we pulled up. There is no formal lookout. You have a broad stretch of Mary River on one side of the track and Couzens Camping area on the other. However, once you start looking around there is plenty to see, but it wasn’t what we saw that got out hearts racing.
As we walked near the bank of the river, we heard a huge splash about 20m away. All it could have been was a crocodile retreating into the water. There are other reports of people seeing huge crocs cruising up and down the river here at dusk, so keep an eye out and stay away from the banks.
The bird life was fantastic too. We saw a rainbow bee-eater chasing its lunch around the water lilies. Restless flycatchers were darting around, and several kites hunted from trees right next to us as we sat and watched. In the end, it was worth the drive. We could have sat there watching the birdlife for hours.
Brian Creek Monsoon Forest
Sometimes travel plans don’t work out and that was the case here at the Brian Creek Monsoon Forest Walk. According to the NT Parks map, it should be on Point Stuart Road, about 10km beyond the turn off to Couzens Lookout.
We drove back and forth looking for anything that resembled the start of this easy 2km loop track through the forest but failed to find it. Apparently, there is a picnic table there too. If you locate it, let us know. We’ll put it on the list for next time!
Mistake Billabong
We did however find Mistake Billabong. This sight is about 25km along Stuart Point Road. It is sealed for all but the last 200m. There is a parking and picnic area just off the road, so almost no dirt road driving is needed. From the carpark, it is a short walk of maybe 200m to the viewing platform.
This is a really pretty spot. Mistake Billabong is not only fed by a creek, but also groundwater so it has water year-round. Perhaps we were there a bit early in the day, but there was not as much birdlife here as there was at Bird Billabong or even Couzens Lookout. It is easy to get to and worth a look if you are driving past especially late in the dry season.
If you are doing a day trip form Darwin, this is probably a good spot to make as your furthest point in your look around Mary River National Park.
Shady Camp Billabong
Along with Rockhole near Couzens Lookout, Shady Camp is a popular fishing spot. Rockhole, Corroboree Billabong and here at Shady Creek all have boat ramps for access to the Mary River. Shady Creek has the advantage of also having a campground, so it is a real hotspot for barramundi fishers.
If you travel with a tinny it is one of the must do fishing spots in the Top End. Shady Camp is 2.25 hours from Darwin. Access is from Stuart Point Road. The last 30km of the track is on a dirt track so check if it is open if you are planning a wet season fishing trip.
Explore more of the Park on 4WD tracks
If you want to see more of Mary River National Park, Hardies 4WD Track and the Wildman 4WD track take you into deep into the wetlands and monsoon rainforest landscape. Both Hardies and the Wildman Tracks are only open from May to October in the dry season.
Hardies 4WD Track
This track runs from the south to the north of Mary River National Park. The southern entrance is signed at Mary River Billabong. The track goes past Bird Billabong to Hardies Crossing. From there, either rejoin the main road or do a loop that includes Hardies Lagoon, Corroboree Billabong and Couzens Lookout.
The full Hardies Track is about 100km long and takes you through a range of natural and historical landmarks. The difficulty of the track varies with the conditions. It can get quite rocky and rutted. It is well signed with blue markers.
Wildman 4WD Track
The Wildman Track cuts east – west through Mary River National Park. The 32km track links Rockhole boat ramp site with Wildman Road that comes out near Mistake Billabong on Point Stuart Road. The track weaves through a number of natural features including sea eagle nests, giant banyan trees and waterholes where you could spot a host of different birds.
Point Stuart Section of Mary River National Park
The Point Stuart Coastal Reserve is the northern most part of Mary River National Park. It holds a lot of historical significance, covering the area where explorer John McDouall Stuart and his party finished their expedition that started from Adelaide in 1862.
Access to here is on Point Stuart Road, the second half of which is a 4WD track. It will likely be closed in the wet season so check conditions before heading this way.
Attractions here include the easy 1.6km Jimmy Creek Monsoon Forest loop walk which is near the Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge. Further north on the coast you can see the Stuart’s Tree Memorial Cairn and the site of the flag raising at Charles Creek. Be aware that you have a hot, exposed 6km return walk from the day use to the site of memorial.
Fogg Dam
Fogg Dam is about halfway between Darwin and the turn off to Corroboree Billabong, 55 minutes from Darwin. If you have spent the day looking around Mary River National Park, Fogg Dam is the perfect spot to end your day on the way back into Darwin. The views from the 2 storey lookout and dam wall are fantastic. It is another great place for wetlands wildlife watchers.
Read our full guide to everything to do at Fogg Dam and see why you should pop in on your way to or from Mary River.
Mary River National Park Accommodation
There is a lot to see in Mary River National Park so staying near the park for a night or two is a good option.
There is basic bush camping within Mary River National Park at Couzens Lookout, Shady Camp and Stuarts Tree. Sites must be booked in advance with NT Parks.
For cabin accommodation in the heart of the Mary River wetlands:
- Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge – Offers Lodge Rooms, Safari, Caravan & Camping Sites
There are also a couple of options if you want to stay closer to the departure point of the Mary River cruise:
- Breeze Holiday Park Mary River – Choose from cabins, powered or unpowered sites
- Corroboree Park Tavern – Offering Cabins & Camping sites with tavern onsite
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What a brilliant post and such amazing photos. It was a great article, thanks for sharing!