Nitmiluk National Park - Katherine Gorge

One of the major towns in the Top End, Katherine is just 330km south of Darwin. It is a delightful town on the edge of spectacular wilderness regions and a part of the Top End not to be missed.

Katherine is a bustling community of 10,000 people which services an area the size of the state of Victoria. The community includes RAAF Base Tindal and has a multi-cultural mix which enhances its ‘outback’ image. Katherine Gorge, just 30km from Katherine’s town centre, is the major natural attraction in the area. The town itself has many places of interest including the historic Springvale Homestead, the River Corridor, Hot Springs and various museums and historic buildings. Katherine School of the Air, Edith Falls and the Cutta Cutta and Tindal Caves also attract many visitors every year.

Nitmiluk National Park, encompassing Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls, is one of the Territory’s most scenic natural attractions. Katherine Gorge is actually a system of 13 separate gorges, each separated by rapids. Viewed from above, the gorges are a deep fissure carved into the ochre sandstone. The sheer red cliffs that stand guard either side of the Katherine River change colour throughout the course of the day. At dawn and dusk, they glow intense shimmering shades of orange and red. There are a multitude of ways to explore the Gorge system. Boat tours reach as far as the fifth gorge, while the more adventurous can hire canoes and explore all the gorges. For a breathtaking view, scenic flights are available in a fixed wing aircraft or by helicopter.

Whichever way you choose, Katherine Gorge is an all-encompassing treat for the senses. Nitmiluk National Park features over 100 kilometres of marked walking trails. It’s the ideal way to quietly discover the surrounding countryside and its eucalyptus, unusual bush flowers and perhaps even a kangaroo or two. Once the Katherine River winds its way slowly out of the gorge, it is transformed into a gentle, tree-lined watercourse. Popular with locals, they regularly vote for the Low Level Bridge and Weir as one of their favourite places.

In addition to its own wealth of natural attractions and activities, Katherine and its surrounding regions represent the cross-roads of the Outback. Positioned as it is between four areas of outstanding beauty and environmental significance, it offers the perfect base for exploring north to Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, east to the Gulf region, west to the Victoria River District and thence the Kimberley and south to Alice Springs, Central Australia and Ayers Rock.