We have received a number of tour enquiries recently asking why we do not have Twin Falls listed in our itineraries for 2020 whilst other companies still do, so here is an explanation of why.
Accessiblity Issues!
Twin Falls is located in one of the most remotest regions of the National Park and has been subject to several accessiblity issues in the past few years.
To access it involves firstly crossing through the Jim Jim creek by vehicle and then either walking to the top of the escarpment or taking a short boat cruise through section of gorge and walking. Let’s disect the issues further …..
The Jim Jim Creek Crossing
Located a few kilometres downstream from Jim Jim Falls, the crossing has been cause for consternation for many years!
Twenty five years ago when I first visited the area it was a standard simple creek bed crossing. As tourist numbers grew, more inexperienced 4WD users began getting bogged and churning up the crossing. A number of vehicles each year would get ‘drowned’ and is the reason rental car companies do not allow their vehicles to be taken into the area.
Two main capital works upgrades by Parks over the years has seen it developed into a reasonably easy and adequate crossing based upon previous environmental circumstances.
The problem in the past few years however is that build up of wet season flood debris downstream is now holding the crossings depth at an average of 1m throughout the Dry season.
Crocodiles!
Twenty five years ago we use to swim up as you cannot walk (naturally) through the gorge to the falls. Unfortunately about 15 years ago, with the increasing population of Estaurine Crocodiles, they started re-inhabiting the area by swimming up during wet season flooding.
As such, swimming was no longer a viable (safe) option!
Gorge Access
In order to provide ongoing access to the Twin Falls beach (which you can still no longer swim at), a strategy of placing two small boats in the lower section of gorge and raised floating boardwalks into an upper section was implimented.
Each season these assetts need to be airlifted by helicopter (at considerable cost) in and out as they cannot stay in the gorge during wet season flooding.
An additional usage fee is associated to help recoup operational costs.
In 2017 the Jim Jim creek crossing started to have a significant impact on the viability of Twin Falls access. The crossing and gorge access was not available until mid August, missing the peak visitation period of June-July-August. It then closed in October meaning their was only 3 months of access.
In 2018, similarly it did not open until late August! After just being opened, 4 days later it was closed as Parks had not completed maritime safety inpsections on the boats. It remained closed for the rest of the season!
In 2019 it did not open at all!
In December 2019 we received the following notification from Parks that it would remain closed during 2020 whilst they consult, develop and impliment a new access strategy for 2021!
Kakadu Industry News – Twin Falls Closure
In Summary
Contrary to what you may read on websites and any guarantees from Agents, the only people visiting Twin Falls during 2020 will be those who are booked on extended multi day hiking tours that will be walking through the region as part of their hike.
As such, as recommended, we have amended our online itineraries to truely reflect the situation and limit any misleading expectations.