2 0 TO U R IN G H O T S PO TS
WORDS & PICS CHRIS WHITELAW
A D VE N T U R E S
Nitmiluk NP, NT
FASTFACTS
GETTING THERE
Katherine is about 300km south of Darwin
along the Stuart Highway. Nitmiluk NP is 30km
north-east of Katherine.
ACTIVITIES
Boat tours in the gorge system, canoeing
(including overnight explorations up to the Ninth
Gorge), helicopter sightseeing, day walks or
multi-day treks.
STAY
Nitmiluk Caravan Park: www.nitmiluktours.
com.au/book-accommodation
MORE INFORMATION
www.nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-apark-to-visit/nitmiluk-national-park
14
ADVENTURES
Nitmiluk’s true power and beauty has to be seen to be believed.
K
atherine is often referred to as the
‘Crossroads of the Outback’ due to
its location 320km south
of Darwin and its proximity,
relatively speaking, to the Gulf Country
to the east, the Kimberley to the west
and the Tanami to the south.
Not only a geographic intersection,
Katherine also stands at the convergence
of three major Aboriginal groups, the
Wardaman, the Dagoman and the
Jawoyn people. The 2928sq km Nitmiluk
(Katherine Gorge) National Park is
owned by the Jawoyn people and jointly
managed under a 99-year lease with
the Parks and Wildlife of the Northern
Territory Commission.
The Katherine River flows 328km
from its headwaters in Kakadu NP,
joining the Daly River on its way to the
Timor Sea. Fed by monsoonal rains for
more than 20 million years, its passage
across the ancient sandstone plateau
has carved a series of 13 spectacular
gorges extending 12km between
towering 70m cliffs.
During the dry (May-September),
the river is placid and its level falls
to reveal rocky shoals and rapids that
separate the gorges, enabling Nitmiluk
to be explored in many ways.
A popular way to see at least part of
the gorge system is by flat-bottomed boat
on one of the numerous cruises operated
by Nitmiluk Tours. The company also
hires out single or double canoes
and paddling beneath the towering
sandstone is an unforgettable experience
and one of the most enjoyable ways to
see this amazing landscape.
The park has an excellent network
of walking trails, extending for about
120km through a diverse range of
landscapes. The walks are divided into
the Southern Walks and the Jatbula
Trail on the northern side of the gorge.
These are serious hikes that require
sturdy shoes, a hat, sunscreen and
plenty of drinking water.
Nitmiluk Caravan Park at the gorge
and a campground at Leliyn (Edith
Falls) – a must on your itinerary for a
cooling dip – both offer RV travellers
grassy sites, plenty of shade and full
amenities. Elsewhere in the park,
designated bush camping areas have
been established for overnight walkers
and canoeists, with toilets at some
locations and a source of water almost
always available nearby.