You would expect to be amazed by the remote and rugged beauty of the Northern Territory’s famous Katherine Gorge. But you might be surprised how much else there is to see and do in the surrounding area.
With an idyllic setting beside the Katherine River, the town of Katherine is located three hours’ drive south of Darwin. There are plenty of attractions in and around the town itself, including the old railway station, now owned by the National Trust, and the Katherine Museum.
It’s also worth dropping in at the Springvale Homestead nearby, reputed to be the oldest cattle station in the Northern Territory. There is a daily tour between May and September and the Homestead volunteers will happily provide you with tea and scones.
For many children living in the outback, distance education is a part of life. At the Katherine School of the Air, you can watch and listen as remote students are put through their paces via correspondence and high frequency radio.
Also within easy reach are the Cutta Cutta Caves, a ten-minute drive from town. Step back in time some 500 million years and wander through a series of glittering limestone caverns, resplendent with lovely formations of calcite crystal.
For a taste of the exotic, visit the Jurassic Cycad Gardens, a two-and-a-half-hectare property close to town. It’s a beautiful spot set against a rocky prehistoric backdrop; you can stroll among the garden’s 40,000 cycads and see a collection of rare and endangered plants from around the world, as well as an assortment of succulents and cacti and an impressive array of birdlife. The garden is a 23-year labour of love for Josef and Karen Perner, who travelled the globe to collect seeds for their property, which is also a conservation resource.
Get acquainted with bush tucker and other bush skills by taking a Manyallaluk Aboriginal Cultural Tour. You can take a day trip to Manyallaluk or camp overnight, and it’s a great family outing.
The Katherine Hot Springs is a lovely spot surrounded by lawns and shaded by paperback and pandanus trees. You’ll easily pass an afternoon here, splashing around in the bath-like waters. And if that sounds appealing, it’s also worth travelling an hour south-east of the town to the Mataranka Thermal Pool. With a balmy temperature of around 34 degrees Celsius, this spring-fed crystalline pool is the ultimate antidote for travel weariness. Keep an eye out for small red flying foxes from November to May.
One of the most unforgettable experiences you’ll have in this region is a trip to the magnificent Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk). You’ll marvel at the changing colours of the billion-year-old sheer sandstone as you make your way through this 12-kilometre stretch of 13 separate gorges, connected by rapids and rocky terrain.
There are plenty of ways to experience the awesome scenery. You can canoe, camp, and bushwalk through it or soar above it in a helicopter. Better yet, combine a canoe trip with an overnight camp in the bush, and savour the serenity. Or take one of the delightful sunset and sunrise dinner and breakfast cruises that are now operating along the river.
If you are a keen bushwalker, you’ll find more than 100 kilometres of walking tracks here, catering to all levels of fitness. Serious hikers will want to tackle the Jatbula Trail. It’s a challenging 66-kilometre, five-day walk from Katherine Gorge to Edith Falls. Your efforts will be rewarded with Aboriginal rock art, marvellous scenery and waterfalls.
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