SeasonMapKakadu (Jabiru) weather in December
Australia
December in Kakadu: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 16 rainy days.
#10 of 12 months in Kakadu · #1287 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 36/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Kakadu in December
Other months in Kakadu
Kakadu's forum calls July hot, very dry and one of the best months to visit — one of the driest stretches of the year, with a steady south-easterly breeze keeping the humidity down. Regulars still recommend packing something warmer for early mornings, since nights can drop into the high teens even after a 30°C-plus day.
Add your own note from Kakadu's card on the map.
Kakadu climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 36°C / 96°F | 🔥 sweltering |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 25°C / 78°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 41°C / 106°F | |
| Rainfall | 250 mm / 9.8 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 16 days | |
| Humidity | 75% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 23°C / 74°F | |
| Sunshine | 10.2 h/day | |
| Daylight | 12.9 h | |
| Wind | 13 km/h / 8 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 28 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Kakadu in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusySummer holidays in Australia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Kakadu's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherKakadu's weather peaks May–July.
December coincides with The build-up.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Kakadu in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Swim only where it is checked
1 Jan – 31 DecRiskSaltwater crocodiles move all over the park with the water, and rangers survey and clear the few plunge pools that open each dry. Everywhere else is closed to swimming, permanently and for good reason. Source ↗
- Season
The build-up
1 Oct – 15 Dec · usuallyExtreme heatLocals call October to December the build-up: still, heavy air and thunderheads that stack up for weeks before they deliver. Tours wind down, tempers fray, and the lightning is the show.
- Closure
Southern roads and falls close
1 Nov – 31 May · usuallyThe four-wheel-drive tracks to the big falls and most of the unsealed south shut with the first rains and reopen only once the crossings drop, which is often well into the dry. Source ↗
Where is Kakadu?
Kakadu in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Kakadu?
- December in Kakadu: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 16 rainy days. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Kakadu on SeasonMap's comfort score (36/100).
- What is the weather like in Kakadu in December?
- In December, Kakadu averages a daily high of 35.8°C and a low of 25.4°C, with about 249.5 mm of rain over roughly 15.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Kakadu in December?
- Kakadu has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 28 in December.