Katherine & Nitmiluk

An outback town in the Northern Territory with cruises through Nitmiluk's 13 gorges, Edith Falls and natural hot springs, on the traditional lands of the Jawoyn people.

Katherine lies in Australia's Northern Territory at the junction of the Stuart and Victoria highways, about 320 km from Darwin. It is the Territory's third-largest town and the gateway to Nitmiluk National Park. This is the traditional land of the Jawoyn, Dagoman and Wardaman peoples, and Nitmiluk National Park is jointly managed by the Jawoyn people and the Northern Territory Government. The main attraction is Katherine Gorge: cruise or canoe through 13 red sandstone gorges, climb to Baruwei Lookout for views over the river bends, or hike to Southern Rockhole for a swim. In the northwest, Edith Falls (Leliyn) has a large natural swimming pool, and the 62 km multi-day Jatbula Trail links the two. In town there are the free Katherine Hot Springs, Aboriginal art centres and the School of the Air, with Cutta Cutta Caves to the southeast and Mataranka's thermal pool and Bitter Springs about 105 km further south. The climate is tropical monsoonal: the dry season from May to Sep is sunny and dry and the best time for cruises, swimming and hiking, while the wet season from Nov to Apr is hot and rainy, with swollen rivers and some trails and swimming areas closed due to flooding or crocodile surveys. Katherine is about a 3.5-hour drive from Darwin, or you can take The Ghan, which stops here; driving is the easiest way to get around. Plan on 2–3 days, or 3–4 days including Mataranka. Protect yourself from the sun, stay hydrated, and swim only in areas signposted as safe.

Top sights

• Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk Gorge) – The Katherine River has cut thirteen gorges through sandstone; ride a boat or paddle a canoe between the red cliffs.
• Edith Falls (Leliyn) – Waterfalls and a broad natural swimming pool at the northwest corner of Nitmiluk, plus a loop trail to quieter upper pools.
• Baruwei Lookout – A short hiking trail beside the visitor centre, offering a classic view over the first gorge and the Katherine River bends without taking a…
• Southern Rockhole – A seasonal waterfall pool at the end of the gorge trail, where swimming is possible in the early dry season. It is one of the most popular…
• Jatbula Trail – A 62 km multi-day hike from Nitmiluk Gorge to Edith Falls, one of Australia's classic long-distance trails.
• Katherine Hot Springs – A natural hot spring creek on the Katherine River just outside town, at about 25-30°C. It is free to visit and a great place to relax after…
• Cutta Cutta Caves – Limestone karst caves beneath the tropical savanna, accessible only on a ranger-guided tour, where you can see stalactites and rare bats.
• Mataranka Thermal Pool – A bright blue thermal pool ringed by palms, kept at around 34°C year-round, and a classic stop on a self-drive south along the Stuart Highw…
• Bitter Springs – A natural hot spring creek near Mataranka where you can drift downstream on a floating noodle through clear, emerald-green water.
• Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre – An Aboriginal and local arts centre in Katherine, with rotating displays of traditional-style paintings, weavings and contemporary works.
• Katherine School of the Air – A 'School of the Air' that teaches children on remote cattle stations, where visitors can watch live lessons and learn about Australia's un…
• Top Didj Cultural Experience & Art Gallery – Katherine's top-rated Aboriginal cultural experience, where you can learn fire-making by friction, spear-throwing and traditional cross-hat…

Where to eat

• Pop Rocket Container Café – A container café beside the Katherine Hot Springs car park, with house-roasted coffee and breakfast buns ranked first i…
• Black Russian Caravan Coffee Bar – A caravan coffee bar beside the Katherine Visitor Information Centre, where many travelers rate the toasted sandwiches…
• Maiden's Lane Café – A popular brunch spot tucked into an industrial area, where laksa Turkish eggs and fried chicken burgers are loved by l…

Itineraries

• Top End: Kakadu, Katherine & Litchfield – Loop through three major national parks from Darwin to see rock art, wetlands, gorges, and plunge pools.
• Explorer's Way: Uluru to Darwin – Drive from south to north across the Northern Territory, traveling from the Red Centre all the way to tropical Kakadu a…
• Darwin to Broome Highway Crossing – Traverse the southern edge of the Kimberley from the Northern Territory along sealed highways, fly over the beehive dom…