About Katherine

Katherine is located about 320km south of Darwin and is the gateway to the north, south, east and west so stop into the Katherine Visitor Information Centre to find out all the exciting and beautiful things to see, do and experience in the area or on your way up to Darwin or across to Kununarra (WA) or down to Alice Springs or across to Mt Isa (Qld).  The Katherine Region is definately worth seeing and experiencing.

Katherine itself is an amazing place. We have the famous Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) where you are able to take a cruise up the gorge, canoe at your leisure or even take one of the many walking tracks. The best way to see the sheer enormity of the Katherine Gorge and Nitmiluk National Park is to fly over it and view the spectacular scenery.

Edith Falls is also apart of the Nitmiluk National Park and is located only 50km north of Katherine, it is spring fed therefore it flows all year round and boasts a great day out with swimming, bush walks, picnic and camping areas.

For a hands on cultural experience you can’t go passed the Cultural Tour of the indigenous community of Manyallaluk (Apr – Oct). Here you participate in traditional ways of basket weaving, spear throwing, fire lighting and Didgeridoo playing. Or pop out to the Top Digj & Art Gallery and learn to paint and listen to the words of the resident artist Manual Pankal from the Dalabon indigenous community.

Take a stroll through the four art galleries Katherine has specializing in local Aboriginal art and artifacts including art from a wide region – Central Australia, the Kimberleys and Arhnem Land.

For a refreshing dip go and have a swim at the Katherine Hot Springs or if you are heading south make sure you stop in at the spectacular Mataranka Thermal Springs and Bitter Springs.

Sabu Sing (Pictured top right) sits perched on his stockhorse at the southern end of town and is a magnificent bronze statue in tribute to a great stockman and great station manager in the Top End who tragically died in a car accident in 1993.

Cutta Cutta Caves are located only 27km south of Katherine. The cave is a series of limestone caverns dating back 500 million years featuring sparkling columns, pillars and flowstones of calcite crystal.

Just 8km west of Katherine is Springvale Homestead, the oldest original homestead in the Territory, it was built in 1879 by Alfred Giles the former Overland Telegraph linesman. 

The Katherine Museum is a must, they have a wonderful display of photo’s dating back from the early settlers, aboriginal artifacts, all the images and footage from the devasting 1998 Katherine Floods including history on WW II, Clyde Fenton the first flying doctor and horticulture in the early days.

For the ultimate stockcamp experience without going to a cattle station try out Marksie’s Stockmans Camp Tucker Night. Dine under the stars around a campfire and take in that bush experience. You will be treated with traditional camp fire cooking of roasts, stews, damper and you will have the opportunity to try a variety of different cuisines from Kangaroo, Buffalo or Camel. Great fun for the whole family.

Katherine has a wide variety of accommodation styles from apartments, to motel rooms, to cabins, Bed and Breakfast, backpackers and powered and un-powered sites for camping and caravans. 

The Katherine Region has an abundance of events which happen throughout the Dry Season from cultural experiences like the Walking with Sprits Festival (July) or Barunga Festival (June), to the prestigious Katherine Show (July), Katherine Festival (August) and Katherine Country Music Muster (May) plus the many regional fishing competitions. Be sure to check out our events page for all of the details on all of the events.