With seven days to discover the beauty of Katherine, you’ll see how this is prime adventure territory.

Discover gorges, waterholes, waterfalls Katherine and thermal springs and learn about the history and traditions of the traditional & surrounds owners while exploring galleries, rock art sites and on cultural tours.

Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine Hot Seven-day itinerary Springs and Elsey National Park are all a must when visiting the Katherine region.

To Darwin To Kakadu Boat cruise, Nitmiluk Gorge National Park Tourism NT/Katie Goldie Adelaide River

Daly River Pine Creek Nitmiluk National Park Leliyn/Edith Falls Nitmiluk Gorge Katherine Katherine Hot Springs Mataranka Thermal Pools Cutta Cutta Bitter Springs Caves Elsey Aboriginal art Nature Park National Katherine Hot Springs Park Tourism NT/Felix Baker Tourism NT/Nicholas Kavo To Victoria River To

DAY 1 cool drink at the Lazy Lizard Tavern. Be sure to check out the uniquely The is only a 3.5 carved images of local wildlife hour drive south of Darwin on the onto the termite mound mud brick Stuart Highway, with many great structure while you’re at the Top 10 things to see and do along the way. Tavern. 1. Explore the mighty Nitmiluk Gorge by canoe, The Adelaide River Inn is the Next stop, a dip in the Katherine cruise or helicopter perfect place to refresh with a Hot Springs – a series of clear pools cool drink and meet ‘Charlie’, the fed by natural thermal springs. On 2. Conquer the world-famous Jatbula Trail taxidermied Buffalo who starred the banks of the Katherine River, 3. Enjoy an authentic cultural experience with Top in Crocodile Dundee. While you’re it’s a great place to relax and enjoy Didj Cultural Experience and Art Gallery in town, visit the Adelaide River a picnic. If you are up for more 4. Watch award-winning country music artist and War Cemetery, a reminder of the excitement, check out the Pop horseman Tom Curtain at Katherine Outback impact of WWII on the Territory and Rocket Café. Here you can hire high Experience for a show that will give you a taste commemorating military and civilian quality on and off-road bikes for of life on a real outback Australian cattle station casualties. selfguided and guided tours. 5. Explore the natural swimming holes in Elsey Explore the trails at your own National Park Further along the road is Pine Creek, pace or join an organised bike tour 6. Go underground at the Cutta Cutta Caves a town with pioneering and gold tailored to your needs. mining history. Visit the National 7. Relax in the pools at Katherine Hot Springs Trust Museum and wander around There are many options for where 8. Take your seat under the stars for a real Aussie Pine Creek Railway Precinct, an to lay your head in Katherine, dinner at Marksie’s Stockman’s Camp important transport hub during including central hotels, 9. Take a swim or a short hike around Leliyn (Edith the 1870s mining boom and WWII. backpackers, campsites and a Falls) Afterwards, stop in for lunch and a luxury lodge. 10. Delight in a meal at Adelaide River Inn, and meet the famous ‘Charlie the Buffalo’ from the movie – ‘Crocodile Dundee’

@NTaustralia

@NT_Australia

Visit northernterritory.com #NTaustralia DAY 2

First, stop in at the Black Russian Caravan Park for the best smoky bean jaffle you’ll ever have! Tasty treats are served hot from the retro pop-up van in the grounds of the Katherine Information Centre. There are shaded areas for the kids to play while you savour your toasties, washed down with one of the best lattes in the NT.

After breakfast, call in at the Aboriginal art galleries in Katherine to browse or invest in some original pieces by artists from the region and beyond. You may even be lucky enough to Bitter Springs, Elsey National Park meet the artist. TourismTop Didj NT/Carmen cultural experience Huter Tourism NT/Geoffrey Reid Gallop-Thru-Time Gallery and Framing offers a comprehensive range of Aboriginal and contemporary art from the Katherine region. Along with a resident framer to offer expert advice on framing, packaging and shipping for your convenience.

The Top Didj Art Gallery and Aboriginal Cultural Experience offers the chance to meet with local Aboriginal artists. You can also get involved and create some of your own artwork and learn traditional painting styles, or try your hand at spear throwing using a woomera. Guests can also have an opportunity to try a traditional way to start a fire using two sticks.

Dine under the stars at Marksie’s Stockman’s Camp Tucker Night which is conveniently located at the same site as Top Didj. In surroundings reminiscent of an outback stockman’s camp, you will feast on traditional Marksies Camp Dinner, Katherine outback tucker cooked using a range of Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught Aboriginal spices to develop unique tastes. Partake in a scavenger hunt, or sit back and enjoy humorous yarns and stories with your host, To Nitmiluk Geoff Mark. Katherine National Park

Katherine River Marksie’s Stockman’s Township Camp Tucker Night Gorge TopRd Didj Cultural Experience & Art

Giles St Gallery To Darwin Leliyn/Edith Falls

Stuart Hwy

O’Shea Park Chambers Dr.

Zimin Dve O’Shea Tce

Katherine Outback Experience Golf Course To Mataranka Riverbank Dve Black Russian Caravan Cafe Racecourse Cutta Caves, & Showgrounds Bitter Springs & Elsey Tourism NT/Matt Cherubino Bicentennial Rd National Park

Katherine Hot Springs Katherine Low Level Nature Park northernterritory.com #NTaustralia

Victoria Hwy DAY 3 There are many diverse accommodation options to choose Just 30 km up the road from the from tonight. Pitch a tent in the township of Katherine is the world camping area in the Park, relax in renowned Nitmiluk National Park. a self-contained chalet, or treat Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is a yourself to a luxury experience at network of 13 gorges carved by Cicada Lodge. Dining options are the Katherine River from ancient available within the Park including sandstone country. Start the day buffet breakfast or lunch as well at the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre for as an al-a-carte menu at Sugar advice on the many ways you can Bag Café in the Visitors’ Centre, experience the spectacular gorge – or in season, (May – October) you can walk, swim, canoe, boat or relax at Jatti Poolside Bistro for a fly! refreshing drink or relaxing dinner.

There’s a restaurant at the visitor centre where you can take a break and appreciate the views overlooking the gorge or you can wander through the many cultural displays.

If you’re feeling adventurous, hire a canoe and experience Nitmiluk Gorge from a completely different perspective. Fasten your life jacket. Lie back and let yourself drift off on an unforgettable journey surrounded by the dramatic cliff faces of the gorge. Take a packed lunch and enjoy Cutta Cutta Caves, Katherine a break near some fresh rock pools. Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught You can even camp out under the Helicopter Tour, Nitmiluk National Park stars if you wish. Tourism NT/James Fisher

If you’d rather kick back, relax and DAY 4 be guided comfortably through DAY 5 Nitmiluk Gorge, check out one of the Nitmiluk National Park extends many boat cruises on offer – the north to Kakadu National Park and Prepare yourself for something truly spectacular. dinner cruise is highly recommended. is part of the magnificent Arnhem Travel 27 km south of Katherine to the Cutta A guide will provide commentary Land escarpment. If you are feeling Cutta Caves Nature Park. The Park covers 1,499 on the local flora, fauna and ancient adventurous, a great way to get a hectares of limestone landscape, with the main Aboriginal rock paintings, and sense of its size and beauty is from features being impressive limestone stalactites and share the culture of the traditional the air. Helicopter flights take off stalagmites. Formed millions of years ago, the caves owners,the Jawoyn people with you. year-round (weather dependent) are still growing today and are found about 15 m from the helipad near the Nitmiluk below the surface. Guided tours are conducted daily. Another great way to see this Visitor Centre or from near the countryis on foot. Follow a well- gorge at Maud Creek airstrip. Head back into town for lunch. On the main street marked track over the sandstone Heli-flights offer unforgettable of Katherine Terrace you’ll find popular cafés and plateau for a short walk, or embark experiences including exclusive eateries to tantalise your taste buds. Spend some on a multi-day hike. The 60 km landings at ancient rock art or time browsing the local shops. Jatbula Trail takes in most of spectacular waterfall swim sites. Nitmiluk National Park’s landscapes Immerse yourself in local culture this afternoon – monsoon rainforest, stone country, A must-see while in the region at Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture upland swamp, woodland and rock is the Katherine Outback Centre (GYRACC). The centre is a new cross culture pools with waterfalls. Experience with Tom Curtain. Tom enterprise that aims to showcase the cultural is equally renowned for his award diversity and artistic richness of the region. The winning music skills as he is for his centre aspires to become a ‘model for reconciliation’ horseman abilities. Watch in awe in the community through the presentation of during his 90 minute show as you exhibitions and performances of Aboriginal and non- witness authentic horse-breaking Aboriginal cultural expression together. Take home and a working dog demonstration. a ‘piece of Katherine’ from the gift shop that stocks stunning local arts and crafts.

Katherine Outback Experience Tourism NT/KOE

Canoe hire, Nitmiluk Gorge Tourism NT/Nicholas Kavo northernterritory.com #NTaustralia Bitter Springs, Elsey Nationla Park, Mataranka Tourism NT/Mitch Cox

DAY 6 DAY 7

Today you take off for Mataranka, a Today your journey back to Darwin small township about 106 km south- takes in Leliyn/Edith Falls, where east of Katherine and great a place you can have a cooling swim in the to spend the day. The area was made huge, pandanus-fringed plunge pool famous by the 1902 novel ‘We of the fed by waterfalls. Never Never’ – a book written about nearby Elsey Station by Jeannie Gunn. The area is great for bushwalking You can visit the graves of the book’s – challenge yourself to walk the characters in the Elsey Memorial 2.6 km steep rocky loop that is Cemetery or wander through the the Leliyn Trail. Your reward is a replica Elsey Homestead, made for refreshing swim in the upper pool of the filming of the movie. Visit the the falls halfway through the walk. Never Never Museum to learn about Pack a picnic lunch and head up local Aboriginal history. to Sweetwater Pool – a large Take a rejuvenating swim in tranquil swimming hole on the Edith the Mataranka Thermal Pool. River that can be reached by walking Fed by spring water from the Daly the 8.6 km return track from Edith and Georgina basins, it has a sandy Falls. The walk includes a steep climb bottom, is surrounded by a palm at the start and scenic lookouts forest, and its waters are a constant along the way. The early morning or 34 degrees Celsius. late afternoon light at Sweetwater Pool creates stunning reflections. The beautiful Bitter Springs Thermal Bitter Springs, Elsey Nationla Park, Mataranka Pool is also worth checking out, and On your journey back to Darwin opt Tourism NT/Carmen Huter is very close by to Mataranka. If you to take a short detour and spend take a snorkel and mask and look some time exploring the plunge among the roots of the pandanus pools and waterfalls of Litchfield along the banks, you’ll come face National Park. to face with northern yellow-faced turtles and long neck turtles.

On your way back to Katherine, make a detour to Beswick to visit Djilpin Arts. It’s approximately 40 minutes’ drive along the Central Arnhem Highway, off the Stuart Highway. Here you can view some great local artwork on display and listen to stories of family and culture told through dance and song.

northernterritory.com #NTaustralia Aboriginal artist, Katherine Tourism NT/Felix Baker