Katherine Area, Northern Territory

Katherine, the third largest town in the Northern Territory, has a population of around 11,000 and is located on the banks of the Katherine River, around three hours drive south of Darwin. There are a range of exciting attractions to see, from the Katherine Outback Heritage Museum, to the Katherine Hot Springs. The Jawoyn Aboriginal people have lived in the area for thousands of years. The town was named Katherine by the explorer John McDouall Stuart, after Catherine, the daughter of his benefactor. Katherine, often described as a place where ‘the outback meets the tropics’, is well equipped with a range of accommodation and facilities.

Travellers visiting Katherine may like to browse the Katherine Railway Museum, view the fine collection of Aboriginal art at Katherine Art Gallery, relax in the Katherine Hot Springs, gain an insight into the workings of a cattle station with a visit to the historic Springvale Homestead, built in 1878, or explore the Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, located a short distance from town. This limestone cave features beautiful formations of stalactites and stalagmites and is home to the rare ghost and orange horseshoe bat.

Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) is within easy reach of the town. Travellers can canoe, cruise and swim between sheer cliffs to the sandy freshwater beaches of the main gorges, and view ancient Aboriginal rock paintings high on rock faces of this spectacular natural wonder.