Kakadu Mahbilil Festival

Your chance to try tradition bush food and celebrate indigenous culture.

Kakadu celebrates in September with the annual Mahbilil Festival, held at Lake Jabiru in the small town of Jabiru within the nation park. Aboriginal people from through out Kakadu and further a field come together and enjoy a range of festivities including popular banks, traditional dancing, market stalls and bush foods. Traditional owners welcome visitors and urge them to become involved in the day’s celebrations.

The highlight for many is the grand Magpie Goose cooking competition. Children can get involved by helping traditional owners prepare the geese for cooking over the coals. Meanwhile the competitors are hard at work conjuring up the perfect recipe to impress the judges. Everyone will enjoy a taste of this traditional bush food whilst taking part in many other activities on offer.

For non Territorian's there is a AUD$25 entry fee per person, children under 16 years are free, into Kakadu National Park.