Katherine is located 340 km south of Darwin on the Stuart Highway. It's a modern town with a population of around 6,000. Katherine has all the facilities for the traveller and boasts numerous natural attractions and a diverse history.

The first people of the area were the Jawoyn and Dagomen Aboriginal people. For thousands of years the Katherine River has been of major significance to the people in the region fulfilling food, recreation and spiritual needs. The first European to pass through this country was Ludwig Leichardt in 1844 but it was John McDouall Stuart who on 4th July 1862 named the Katherine River after the second daughter of his patron James Chambers, a South Australian pastoralist who helped sponsor the epic expedition.

Katherine today is a rapidly expanding township and the centre of a vast beef industry which ensures its future prosperity. The town did not go ahead until the early 1940's when a bitumen road was constructed between Alice Springs and Darwin. As a result of this increased accessibility the natural attractions of the town were frequented and the town began to prosper. The modern shopping facilities and tidy streets we see today are symbolic of the confidence of territorians in the town.

Like other Territory centres, Katherine also boasts its own zany festival. Held in June, the culture of the city is festive. Regional festivals thus become an essential element. The Katherine Karnical is a crazy raft race from the new bridge to the low level in which every ploy is planned to sink the opposition craft. It is a hilarious and fun-filled competition followed by musical street-parade. Locales take extra pride to make this event a success.

Things to see:

The Ghan train derives its name from the early Afghan pioneers who opened up Australia's arid interior by the use of camels. Today you can make the journey on the Ghan train from Adelaide to Dawin via Alice Springs and Katherine. It is one of the best train journeys of the world.
The transcontinental journey travels through the spectacular outback and there are off-train touring options at Alice Springs and Katherine. Travel North is the booking agent for the Ghan in Katherine and their fleet of new air-conditioned buses will take visitors to the stunning local sights.
Photo: photocase.com@cardenal.mendoza

Knotts Crossing is located 5km from town along the gorge road behind the Katherine Hospital. This part of the Katherine River has a weir with a shallow crossing that was once the main river crossing before they built the Low Level Bridge, it is also the site of the original settlement of Katherine.

The Low Level is located 5km from town. The Low Level has proved a most popular swimming, picnic and fishing area with locals and visitors alike. The Katherine River flows over rock bars just below the weir and the Low Level bridge making pleasant little rapids and shallow swimming areas.

Katherine Hot Springs
These natural thermal springs (with wheelchair access),
3 km from Katherine along the Victoria Highway, consist of a number of clear pools among trees near the Katherine River. A constant 32 degrees, their therapeutic benefits are best enjoyed during the cooler months. The picnic ground is pleasant and there are walking trails and a campground nearby.

The Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge is located 30km from Katherine on an all sealed road. It consists of a series of remarkably beautiful gorges through which the Katherine river winds it's way framed by the sheer 60metre sandstone walls. Rocks and boulders separate each gorge.

The Nitmiluk National Park is probably the most beautiful of all the National Parks in the region because of the delicate rainforest which grows in the gorges. This 292,800 hectare National Park is owned by the Jawoyn Aboriginal people and jointly managed with the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. Some of the Park's features include spectacular dissected sandstone country, broad valleys and numerous, significant cultural sites. The deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River is the central attraction of the Park. The Park offers swimming, bushwalking and boating as its main activities.

Edith Falls (Leilyn), 61km north of Katherine, is situated in Nitmiluk National Park's north-western corner. A natural pool at the base of the falls, fringed by paperbarks and pandanus, is safe for swimming most of the year and camping is allowed around the pool.

Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park is located 27km south of Katherine. The park covers 1, 499 hectares of limestone (Karst) landscape. The main feature of the park is Cutta Cutta Caves. This limestone cave features beautiful formations of stalactites and stalagmites and is home to the rare ghost and orange horseshoe bat. Guided tours are available into the cave. Next to the car park a short 'Tropical Woodland' walk has been constructed for visitors to experience.