Katherine Population 10,500
Katherine is situated on the Stuart Highway, 317km (197 miles) south of
Darwin and 1182km (734 miles) north of Alice Springs.
Characteristics
Katherine is the heart of the real Outback, and is attracting an increasing
number of visitors. In fact, tourism is Katherine's biggest industry,
although it also has a rich horticultural and agricultural centre. The
RAAF base at Tindal provides jobs for a number of local residents as
well as accommodating some 700 personnel and their families. A dairy
industry has been established locally, as well as chicken farms, quarries
and the manufacture of building products.
The town is also a base for a growing number of gold and other mines, an
educational and medical centre, and a major regional base for Commonwealth
and Territory Government Departments.
Attractions in the area include places of historic interest, birds and
wildlife in their natural surroundings, caves and gorges, Aboriginal lore
and art, and for the adventurers, magnificent waterfalls, canyons and billabongs
that are still unspoiled.
How to Get There By Bus
Greyhound, Pioneer and Bus Australia have daily services from Darwin and
Alice Springs.
By Road
From Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin, via the Stuart Highway.
From Western Australia, via the Great Northern Highway and the Victoria
Highway.
From Mount Isa, via the Barkly Highway.
Tourist Information
The Katherine Regional Tourist Association can be contacted on (08) 8972
2650 or by email Êat krta@nt-tech.com.au
The Katherine Visitor Information Centre can be found on the Stuart Highway
(cnr Lindsay Street), (08) 8972 2650.
Accommodation
Here is a selection of available accommodation, with prices for a double
room per night, which should be used as a guide only. &The telephone
area code is 08.
Knotts Crossing Resort Motel, cnr Giles & Cameron Streets, 8972 2511.
87 units, licensed restaurant (closed Sun-Mon), bistro, swimming pool,
spa $120.
Mercure Inn Katherine, Stuart Highway, 8972 1744. 100 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool, tennis, barbecue $110-125.
Paraway Motel, cnr O'Shea Terrace & First Street, 8972 2644. 56 units,
licensed restaurant, swimming pool, spa, barbecue $80-100.
Pine Tree Motel, 129 Third Street, 8972 2533. 50 units, licensed restaurant,
swimming pool $78.
Crossways Hotel/Motel, Katherine Terrace, 8972 1022. 19 units, licensed
restaurant, bistro, swimming pool $75-90.
Katherine Hotel/Motel, cnr Katherine Terrace & Giles Street, 8972 1622.
40 units, licensed restaurant, swimming pool $95.
Riverview Motel, 440 Victoria Highway, 8972 1011. 9 units, swimming pool,
spa $75.
Springvale Homestead (Motel), Shadforth Road, 8972 1355. 60 units, bistro,
swimming pool, barbecue $45-50.
Caravan Parks
Katherine Low Level Caravan Park, Shadforth Road, 8972 3962. (Pets allowed
at owner's discretion) 163 sites, excellent facilities, licensed restaurant,
spa, pool, barbecue - powered sites $21 for two, no on-site vans, cabins
$75-80 for two.
Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge Caravan Park, Nitmiluk Gorge National Park,
8972 1253 (No pets allowed) 100 sites, licensed restaurant - powered sites
$20 for two, no on-site vans.
Riverview Caravan Park, 440 Victoria Highway, 8972 1011. (No pets allowed)
116 sites, spa, barbecue, pool - powered sites $19 for two, cabins $65-80
for two.
Eating Out
As mentioned above, most of the motels have licensed or unlicensed restaurants.
A couple of other you might like to try are:
Annies Family Restaurant, Hendry Road, 8972 3637.
Regent Court Restaurant, 25 Warburton St, 8971 1555.
Points of Interest
Katherine Historical Museum, Gorge Road opposite Katherine Hospital, is
housed in the old airport terminal, and has many exhibits of Katherine's
colourful past including the Gypsy Moth flown by Dr Clyde Fenton in 1934.
The museum is managed by the Katherine Historical Society, and you can
buy souvenirs and books on the history of the town. Opening hours are
Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm, Sun 2-5pm, 8972 3945.
Knott's Crossing, 5km (3 miles) from Katherine via Gorge Road (turn off
just past the hospital) is the original river crossing for the young settlement
of Katherine. It was made famous by Mrs Aeneas Gunn's book We of the Never
Never, and is a pleasant picnic and swimming spot.
The Railway Station Museum, Railway Terrace, is the National Trust headquarters.
The present township grew around the railway after the railbridge was built
in 1926. It provided a vital link to Darwin and the southern capitals for
the small town. The museum has interesting displays of railway memorabilia,
information on the historic sites of Katherine, and has maps, books and
other items of interest for sale. It is open Mon-Fri 11am-1pm.
Katherine School of the Air, Gorge Street, 8972 1833, has hguided tours
Mon-Fri at 11am, except during school and public holidays.
Hot Springs are found 3km (2 miles) along Victoria Highway, on the banks
of the Katherine River. It is a popular swimming spot, with a caravan park
and motel adjacent, and a youth hostel nearby.
Katherine Low Level Nature Park, 5km (3 miles) from Katherine via the Victoria
Highway, is open shady parkland on the banks of the Katherine River with
easy access for swimming and fishing. The river here flows over the weir
into a series of shallow rapids. Between November and March, visitors should
check the river level on the bridge markers before entering the water.
The current can be very strong and dangerous after rain. Facilities include
picnic and barbecue areas, but camping is not allowed. There is a privately
owned caravan and camping ground nearby.
Springvale Homestead, 8km (5 miles) from Katherine via Zimin Drive and
Shadforth Road, 8972 1355, was the destination on one of the Territory's
most epic droving treks. Alfred Giles, well known explorer and pastoralist
of the time took 19 months to drive stock from Adelaide. The original homestead
is the oldest extant in the Territory. It is shaded by huge Indian raintrees
planted by Giles' wife, one for each of her children. The privately operated
tourist park runs free tours daily - April to October 10.30am and 2pm;
November to March 2pm.
Facilities
A wide range of sports are played in the area. Weekly competitions may
be in progress when you visit. Check in the local newspapers for fixtures.
Tours
There are many tours available from Katherine, some to the Gorge, others
further afield. The Visitor Centre has details of current prices and
times of all tours, and here are some you might like to enquire about.
Barramundi Fish Feeding, Territory Manor, Mataranka, 8975 4516.
Borroloola Scenic River Cruises, McArthur River Caravan Park, 8975 8734.
Brolga Tours (Roper River cruises), Mataranka Homestead, 8975 4544.
Crocodile Spotting Cruise Katherine River, Travel North, 8971 9999.
Cutta Cutta Caves, Travel North, 8971 9999.
Fishing Safaris, Rod & Rifle, 8972 1020.
Kakadu Camping Safari ex Katherine, Travel North, 8971 9999.
Kakadu Scenic Flights ex Katherine, Kakadu Air, 8979 2411.
Katherine Day Tours, Travel North, 8971 9999.
Katherine Extended Tours, Travel North, 8971 9999.
Katherine Gorge Cruises, Travel North, 8971 9999.
Katherine Gorge Scenic Flights ex Katherine, Travel North, 8971 9999.
Mataranka Day Tours ex Katherine, Travel North, 8971 9999.
Outlying Attractions Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge National Park
The main entrance to the park is 32km (20 miles) from Katherine on a sealed
road. A second park entrance leads to Edith Falls, north-west of the Gorge.The
180,000ha (444,600 acres) National Park was created to preserve one of
the Northern Territory's greatest natural wonders. Over millions of years,
torrential summer rains in Arnhem Land during the west season, have caused
the waters of the Katherine River to cut thirteen spectacular serpentine
gorges. During the dry season, the gorges are placid and calm, but in the
wet season they can change into turbulent floodwaters with whirlpools and
waves over 2m high.
Cut into ancient rock, the canyon walls climb steeply above cool blue water,
and there is abundant bird, fish and animal life, including the fresh water
crocodile. The rocks also have excellent examples of ancient Aboriginal
art. ÊPrivately operated guided boat tours are available to the fifth gorge,
or it is possible to hire canoes. A boat tour in the gorges is a highlight
of any trip to the Northern Territory, and even if you have seen photographs
or films of the scenery, you are still not prepared for the outstanding
beauty nor the atmosphere that prevails.
Facilities in the Park include a Visitor Centre, picnic and barbecue areas,
toilets and a public boat ramp, where boats up to 4m with motors up to
10hp may be launched. No cats or dogs are permitted in the privately owned
caravan and camping ground, and dogs are only permitted in the National
Park on controlled leads.
There are over 100km (62 miles) of marked walking tracks maintained for
easy access to interesting features in the Park. If you intend to do the
longer hikes, you must notify the Park Rangers first, and all walkers should
collect a guide pamphlet available from the Visitor Centre.
It also should be noted that when taking one of the boat tours, there is
some walking involved between gorges. Between the first and second - approximately
500m of well formed pathway and rocks; between second and third - approximately
20m of unformed pathway and rocks; between third and fourth - approximately
1km of unformed pathway, rocks and some climbing; between fourth and fifth
- approximately 600m of unformed pathway, rocks and some climbing. The
distances vary for canoeists. It is strongly recommended that you wear
comfortable, flat, walking shoes.
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park
Situated 27km (17 miles) south of Katherine on the Stuart Highway, the
caves were formed millions of years ago, and are still developing today.
They are about 15m (49 ft) below the earth's surface, and spread for almost
a kilometre. The landscape surrounding the caves is unique and provides
a short and interesting walk. Ranger guided tours are available daily April
to October, usually on the hour, 8972 1940. Entrance underground is available
only at these times.
Local tour operators in Katherine also have tours available to the caves.
Edith Falls Nature Park
The second entrance to Katherine Gorge National Park is 74km (46 miles)
north of Katherine, via the Stuart Highway, and a sealed access road
that turns off 47km (29 miles) from the town. Edith Falls is a series
of waterfalls on the edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment. The main waterfall
runs all year into a huge natural billabong surrounded by pandanus palms.
There are walking tracks, swimming, barbecue and picnic areas, and a
camping ground with simple amenities.
Mataranka
Mataranka is 110km (68 miles) south of Katherine on the Stuart Highway,
in the heart of Never-Never country. The Mataranka Pool Nature Park was
dedicated as a reserve in 1967 to ensure the preservation of the thermal
spring in its environs. The pool is a constant 34C (93F) and flows at
an amazing 22.5 million litres (4,949,406 gallons) each day. A swim in
the pool is an experience that should not be missed. The surrounding
rainforest survives from an earlier age, and feeds from the thermal spring's
deep source. Combined with the thermal pool, it creates a very welcome
oasis that is a popular spot for visitors.
Mataranka Homestead was established in 1916 by Dr Gilruth, the Administrator
of the Northern Territory as an experimental cattle station. It has since
become a major tourist resort, and among its attractions is the Elsey Homestead
Replica, a faithful copy of the original hand-hewn timber homestead, which
contains many interesting displays, and is open to the public.
Elsey Station was established in 1881 and the lease encompassed Mataranka,
then known as Bitter Springs. Aeneas Gunn was appointed manager of the
Station in 1901, and assumed the position in 1902. The following year he
contracted malaria and died. His wife, Jeannie, managed the station for
a short time, then returned to Melbourne and wrote her story We of the
Never Never. The Homestead Replica was used for the set of the film of
the book.
Near the homestead are Aboriginal gunyahs, constructed by the 'Duck Creek'
people. A free homestead tour is conducted daily May-October, departing
from the kiosk at the Mataranka Homestead Tourist Resort, 8975 4544.
The Elsey Cemetery, containing the graves of the Station pioneers, including
Aeneas Gunn, Muluka, and Henry Peckham (Fizzer) the mailman is 8km (5 miles)
east of the Stuart Highway, 13km (8 miles) south of the town.
Larrimah
Gateway to the tropics, Larrimah is 72km (45 miles) south of Mataranka.
The township originated in World War II when over 3,000 servicemen were
based in and around Larrimah, then the largest army base in Australia.
The Gorrie airstrip and railsiding still remain, but are no longer in
use. One of the pubs was originally an officers' mess. Larrimah Green
Tourist Complex on the Stuart Highway, 8975 9937, have live Johnson River
crocodiles on display.
Daly Waters
The small township of Daly Waters is 72km (45 miles) south of Larrimah
on the Stuart Highway, and is home to the oldest pub in the Territory
- the Daly Waters Pub, 8975 9927. The pub is virtually an institution,
and you really can't say you have seen the Territory if you haven't spent
some time in the bar.
Victoria River
On the Victoria Highway, 190km (118 miles) west of Katherine, is the township
of Victoria River. The river itself was discovered in 1839 by Lt John
Lort Stokes aboard the British Navy sloop Beagle. The town now has a
privately owned motel and camping ground servicing the nearby Gregory
National Park.
Timber Creek
Continuing along the Victoria Highway, 290km (180 miles) west of Katherine,
is Timber Creek, with a population of around 100. The town lies on the
Victoria River and gained its name when Augustus Charles Gregory travelled
to the spot and used timber from the banks of the creek to repair a hole
in his vessel. He believed that the river led to the fabled inland sea,
and he made two further trips, looking for its source some 800km (497
miles) inland.
Pine Creek
Pine Creek is situated 92km (57 miles) north of Katherine on the Stuart
Highway. It was the scene of extensive mining in the 1880s, and is now
experiencing a renewal of interest with the reopening of mining activities.
In fact, it now hosts one of the biggest gold mines in the Territory.
The population of the town is around 600, and there are numerous historical
buildings still standing, including the Old Playford Club Hotel, the
Repeater Station, the Bakery and the Railway Siding Complex. Private
tour operators conduct tours of the surrounding area. For more information
contact the Pine Creek Hotel on 8976 1288.
Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park
The Park is 122km (76 miles) from Katherine, and 22km (13 miles) south-west
of Pine Creek. The gorge is very rugged, but has pools quite close to
the car park. There is a camping ground, picnic facilities, wood barbecues
and toilets.
