Northern Territory · Attraction
Maguk (Barramundi Gorge)
Rainforest amphitheatre plunge pool
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Maguk, known to visitors as Barramundi Gorge, conceals one of Kakadu's most rewarding swimming holes behind a short walk through lush monsoon rainforest. A 20-metre waterfall spills from steep gorge walls into a pristine natural pool set within an immense stone amphitheatre, an intimate, relatively quiet alternative to the busier sites further north.
The walk to Maguk is about one kilometre each way, passing through dense monsoon rainforest before crossing a boulder-strewn river section to reach the main plunge pool. The forest shelters rainbow pittas, emerald doves and spangled drongos, while endemic Anbinik trees tower overhead.
Maguk is located roughly one hour's drive south of Cooinda in Kakadu's Mary River region and requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. Access is seasonal and the site often closes during the wet season when water levels are too high for safe crossing. Check the Kakadu Access Report before making the trip.
A campground at Maguk operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance booking required. The relative remoteness of the site means visitor numbers are lower than at Jim Jim, and the atmosphere, surrounded by towering escarpment walls, is peaceful and genuinely wild.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Maguk (Barramundi Gorge).
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