Australia Has Six Seasons — Not Four

At a Glance: Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples recognise six seasons — not four — based on country, weather, and nature's cycles. The six-season calendar varies by region and offers a richer, more accurate way to understand Australia's landscapes, including Kakadu's dramatic wet and dry cycles.

Most of us grow up learning the same four seasons: summer, autumn, winter, spring. But what if that calendar — built for the Northern Hemisphere — never quite fit Australia to begin with?

For tens of thousands of years, Australia's First Nations peoples have read the land differently. They didn't divide the year into four equal parts. They watched the skies, the animals, the plants, and the tides — and found six seasons instead.

What Are Australia's Six Seasons?

The six-season calendar isn't one single system. Each Country has its own. The Ngan'gi people of the Daly River region recognise six distinct seasons. The Yolŋu people of Arnhem Land do too. So do the Bininj Mungguy people of Kakadu — and their seasonal calendar is one of the most documented in Australia.

In Kakadu, the six seasons look something like this:

• Gudjewg — The monsoon season. Big wet storms, flooding plains, and waterfalls roaring back to life.
• Banggerreng — "Knock 'em down" storms flatten the speargrass after the wet.
• Yegge — The cool and dry season begins. Animals move, birds flock, fish are plentiful.
• Wurrgeng — Cold and dry. The best time to travel deep into the bush.
• Gurrung — Hot and dry. The land bakes. Fires begin.
• Gunumeleng — Pre-monsoon build-up. Thunderstorms brew on the horizon.

Each season tells you something. What to eat. Where to travel. What's dangerous. What's blooming. This is a living calendar — one that's been refined over at least 65,000 years of observation.

Why Does This Matter for Young Explorers?

Here's the thing: four seasons don't explain why Kakadu floods in January, why the waterfalls disappear by June, or why the landscape looks completely different from one visit to the next. Six seasons do.

Understanding this calendar changes the way you see Australia. The wet season isn't just "rainy." Gudjewg is alive — a season of abundance, drama, and transformation. The dry isn't just "not raining." Wurrgeng is a season of clear skies, cool nights, and ancient fire-managed landscapes.

This is exactly the kind of discovery Dusty and Boomer love to share.

Your Family Challenge: Design Your Own Seasonal Calendar

Here's where it gets fun — and this one's perfect for families and classrooms.

Can you map the seasons of where YOU live?

Forget the standard four. Step outside and become a real observer. Ask yourselves:

• When do certain birds arrive or leave?
• When does it rain most? When is it driest?
• What plants flower, and when?
• What does the air smell like in different months?

Create your own seasonal calendar — draw it in a circle, label each season with a name you invent, and fill it with clues from nature around you. Compare it with Kakadu's six seasons. What's similar? What's wildly different?

There are no wrong answers. That's the whole point.

A Sneak Peek at This Month's Envelope

This month, Dusty and Boomer are heading to Kakadu — one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. Ancient rock art. Massive saltwater crocodiles. Floodplains that transform with every season. And stories that stretch back further than almost anywhere else on the planet.

The envelope is almost at your letterbox. Keep an eye out — because this adventure is one to savour slowly.

Carry the Curiosity Forward

The six-season calendar is just one piece of what makes Kakadu — and Australia — so remarkable. Every place has its own rhythm. Learning to notice that rhythm is one of the greatest skills a curious explorer can develop.

Not yet a Junior Explorer? This month's Kakadu adventure is the perfect place to start. [Subscribe to True Blue Pen Pals] and join Dusty and Boomer on their most spectacular journey yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the six seasons of Kakadu?
The six seasons of Kakadu — as recognised by the Bininj Mungguy people — are Gudjewg (monsoon), Banggerreng (knock 'em down storms), Yegge, Wurrgeng, Gurrung (hot dry), and Gunumeleng (pre-monsoon build-up). Each marks a shift in weather, wildlife, and landscape.

Do all Aboriginal groups use the same six-season calendar?
No. Each First Nations group has its own seasonal calendar based on their specific Country. The number and names of seasons vary by region, but many recognise more than four seasons, reflecting deep, localised environmental knowledge.

What age group is this content suited to?
This blog post, and the True Blue Pen Pals letters it supports, are designed for children aged 7–12. The six-season concept is accessible and sparks meaningful conversation for families and classrooms alike.

How does the six-season calendar connect to the Kakadu snail mail theme?
Kakadu's landscapes change dramatically across its six seasons — from flooded plains to crackling dry bush. Understanding the seasonal calendar helps young explorers make sense of why Kakadu looks and feels the way it does, making the snail mail adventure even richer.