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katherine andmataranka attractions

KATHERINE ATTRACTIONS

Barramundi FeedingFeed a barramundi at the Territory Manor ‘Feed the Barra Show’. This daily free tour is a must see. Watch large barramundi being hand-fed while learning about these fascinating fish and how they live and breed in the rivers and waters around the Top End. Feeding times 9.30am and 1pm.Bitter Springs Thermal PoolsThis tropical spring-fed thermal pool is located just 3km from Mataranka township. Set among palms and tropical woodland, it is ideal for bushwalking, swimming or a shady location for somewhere to simply relax. Toilet facilities, picnic benches and barbeques are available. Open daily, free entry.Coodardie Station StayGet up as close and personal as you like with gentle tropical beef cattle, antilipines and birds - even the hooded parrot if you are lucky. Native savannah woodlands coexist and naturally sustain these Coodardie Brahmans, 10km south of Mataranka. Experience a family working holistically with the environment; not against it. Relaxed and friendly outback hospitality at its best.Elsey Memorial CemeteryA significant part of Australia’s heritage, the old Elsey Cemetery, 21km from Mataranka, is the final resting place of many local characters written about in the famous 1908 novel ‘We of the Never Never’ by Jeannie Gunn. Inscriptions here date from 1898.Elsey National ParkThe park incorporates the spring-fed Roper and Waterhouse Rivers with opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing and bushwalking. Mataranka Thermal Pool, Bitter Springs, Stevie’s Hole, Korowan (Mataranka Falls) and the Botanic Walk are some of the highlights, as is birdwatching with the rare Red Goshawk, Hooded Parrot, and Northern Rosella some of the species seen. Camping is available at 12 Mile Yard on John Hauser Drive, and at Jalmurak Campground near the thermal pools at Rainbow Springs and Bitter Springs. No pets, no generators.

Arts, Culture and Indigenous Experiences Discover the wealth of Aboriginal arts and crafts from the region, with galleries such as Gallop Thru Time, Mimi Aboriginal Arts and Crafts, and Top Didj and Art Gallery specialising in original artworks, didgeridoos, carvings and investment pieces. See visual arts, music, theatre and dance performances at Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre. Partake in the Top Didj Cultural Experience where Manuel talks about tribal life, language, hunting, gathering techniques and weapons used. Try your hand at painting, firelighting, boomerang and spear throwing using a woomera. Session times are at 9.30am and 2.30pm daily, March – December and bookings are essential.Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park The park covers an area of 1499 hectares of karst limestone landscape. The main feature is the caves – a stunning creation of stalactites and stalagmites home to five species of bats, including the rare ghost and horseshoe bats. Guided tours are conducted daily. 27km south of Katherine. Admission fee applies.Crocodile Night Adventure Enjoy an evening dinner cruise under a star-filled night sky unspoiled by city lights. Spot freshwater crocodiles, owls, wallabies, and other nocturnal wildlife. Swap yarns with fellow adventurers before cruising back to the jetty at around 9.30pm. Departs Springvale Homestead, May - October.

Katherine Hot Springs Located just five minutes drive from the centre of Katherine, crystal clear pools wind through the trees at a constant temperature of 32°C. The grassy, shaded banks make this an ideal picnic spot with a barbecue area adjacent to the car park. Access is from the Victoria Highway or Riverbank Drive. Wheelchair access is available via Crocker Street.Katherine Museum Housing Aboriginal artefacts and Overland Telegraph, rural, WWII and aviation history displays – including Dr Clyde Fenton’s original Flying Doctor plane. Picnic facilities are free to visitors. Entry fee applies for visiting exhibits. Open daily 9am – 4pm.Katherine Outback ExperienceMeet local singer/songwriter Tom Curtain, as he provides an authentic and unique insight into the training of stock-horses and working dogs for Northern Territory cattle stations. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4:30-6pmLeliyn (Edith Falls) Part of Nitmiluk National Park, the area offers a variety of walking trails and swimming opportunities. A picnic area, campground and kiosk are provided near the base of the falls. 46km north of Katherine. No pets, fishing or generators. Marksie’s Stockmans Camp Tucker Night Dine under the stars around the campfire in the grounds of the Katherine Museum and be entertained with great Aussie humour. This is a great meal and fun night to remember in the Australian outback. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, March – December, 7pm. Bookings essential.Nitmiluk National Park - Gorge Tours Nitmiluk Tours offer you many ways to explore the park, including the gorge - a series of 13 magnificent gorges sculpted from the sandstone bedrock over the millennia by the Katherine River. Choose from a variety of tours including culturally based cruises, on-board dining and canoeing.Nitmiluk National Park – Bushwalking There are numerous walking tracks in the park offering a variety of experiences, ranging from strolls along the riverbanks, overnight walks and the Jatbula Trail - a five day walk from Nitmiluk Gorge to Leliyn (Edith Falls). Overnight walkers are required to register with the Parks and Wildlife NT at the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine River – Canoeing Explore the gorges at your own pace by canoe with time to marvel at the scenery. Overnight canoe hire is available with camping at the fifth gorge, 9km from the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. Canoes may be hired from Nitmiluk Tours at 8am and 1pm, or contact Gecko Canoeing for fully-inclusive guided canoe adventures on the Katherine River. Canoe hire is also available at Springvale Homestead. Subject to weather conditions and operates in the dry season only. NT Rare Rocks NT Rare Rocks is a rock and gem shop and manufacturer of stone products with semi-precious stones and tumbled stones including crystals from Wave Hill Station, zebra stone, okapi stone and rainbow siltstone from Newry Station. Many products are available onsite for purchase. Open until dark 7 days, June – October. Scenic Flights To truly take in the magnificence of the Nitmiluk National Park and the gorge system , take a scenic flight. Whether you choose a two hour flight over Nitmiluk, Arnhem Land and Kakadu by light plane, or a trip deep into the heart of Nitmiluk National Park in a helicopter, it will be an experience to last a lifetime. Coolibah Air, Heli-Muster NT, and Jawoyn Helicopters offer helicopter tours, while Katherine Aviation provides light plane tours. Springvale Homestead The oldest original homestead in the Northern Territory, established in 1878 and managed by Alfred Giles, the ex-Overland Telegraph linesman. The homestead is open to visitors and features photographic displays and information on the early history of the property. The area around the homestead is home to an abundance of wildlife with many species of birds, and wallabies wandering freely. Free guided homestead tours run May-October.

MATARANKA ATTRACTIONS

Elsey Homestead ReplicaThe Homestead, an authentic replica of the original, was constructed for the film ‘We of the Never Never’ with every detail lovingly duplicated, down to the hand-hewn local cypress pine. Visitors can appreciate how life was on the station in those early years of the last century. Open daily, free entry.Korowan (Mataranka Falls) Access to the falls is via a moderate 8km return walk of around four hours. Follow the Roper River down to the tufa dams that traverse it forming gentle rapids. These tufa dams are created by lime build-up, on rocks and vegetation, from the spring water gradually forming a lip or dam across the path of the river. Building up over the years the dams redirect the water flow into waterfalls. Enjoy a leisurely canoe trip on the Waterhouse River at Mataranka or the Roper River. Concrete boat ramps are located at 4 Mile and 12 Mile Yards for canoes and boats (maximum 15 hp).Mataranka Thermal PoolsMataranka Thermal Pool was dedicated as a reserve in 1967 to ensure the preservation of the thermal spring and surrounding palm forest. The pool is at a constant 34°C and flows from Rainbow Springs at an amazing 30.5 million litres a day. Pets must be restrained in the private pet parking bay outside the park and the camping area. Open daily, free entry.

Key Accommodation Telephone

1 Coodardie Station Stay 8975 4460

2 Mataranka Cabins and Camping 8975 4838

3 Territory Manor Motel and Caravan Park 8975 4516

While its star attraction is undoubtedly the famous Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge), Katherine and its surrounds include great fishing, hidden natural wonders and a rich indigenous and pioneering history. The region stretches from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the West Australian border. Around 300 kilometres south of Darwin, Katherine is set on the banks of the Katherine River.

Katherine was named by explorer John McDouall Stuart in the late 1800s after the daughter of one of his expedition sponsors. The area was renamed ‘Nitmiluk’ - meaning ‘cicada place’ - in 1989 when traditional owners, the Jawoyn Aboriginal people, gained title to the land.

Mataranka township sits on the upper reaches of the Roper River, an hour’s drive southeast of Katherine. Known as the ‘Capital of the Never Never’, the area was home to Jeannie Gunn who wrote the famous book about Elsey Station titled ‘We of the Never Never’. A visit to the station cemetery and homestead replica capture the sense of isolation and hardship

confronting early settlers. Today, Mataranka is a modern town servicing outlying cattle stations and communities, and is renowned for its sandy-bottomed thermal pools. A full range of accommodation, facilities and attractions means a two or three day stay is needed.

STIRLING MILL WWII SITEKATHERINE 106km

BITTER SPRINGS THERMAL POOLSMARTIN ROAD

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MATARANKA TOWNSHIP

ELSEY MEMORIAL CEMETERYTENNANT CREEK 567km

ROPER BAR 177km

MATARANKA THERMAL POOLRAINBOW SPRINGS

ELSEY NATIONAL PARK

JOHN HAUSER DRIVE

LITTLE ROPER RIVER

BOTANIC WALK

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12 MILE YARDSAND BOAT RAMP

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Leliyn (Edith Falls) turnoff 46km

PINE CREEK 90kmDARWIN 310km

Katherine Outback Experience 4kmKatherine AviationKatherine Airport 8kmRAAF Base Tindal 15kmCutta Cutta Caves 27km

MATARANKA 106kmDALY WATERS 270kmTENNANT CREEK 672kmALICE SPRINGS 1177km

Katherine Railway Station 3kmGecko Canoeing & Trekking 9kmManbulloo Homestead 9kmFlora River Nature Reserve 122km

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tourismtopend.com.au 1300 138 886 katherine

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Attractions1 Coolibah Air 2 Cutta Cutta Caves3 Gallop Thru Time Gallery4 Gecko Canoeing and Trekking5 Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Cultural Centre6 Heli-Muster NT 7 High Level Bridge and Locomotive8 Historical Railway Station9 Jawoyn Helicopters10 Katherine Aviation11 Katherine Cinema12 Katherine Hot Springs13 Katherine Icon – Sabu Sing14 Katherine Museum15 Katherine Outback Experience16 Knotts Crossing 17 Leliyn (Edith Falls)18 Low Level Nature Reserve19 Marksie’s Stockmans Camp Tucker Night20 Mimi Aboriginal Arts and Crafts 21 Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge)22 Nitmiluk Tours 23 NT Rare Rocks 24 O’Keeffe House25 Paintball Katherine 26 Springvale Historical Homestead 27 Tick Markets28 Top Didj Art Gallery and Cultural Experience

Facilities1 Blue Sky Therapies2 Doctor3 Fire Station4 Hospital

Katherine Visitor Information Centre6 Police7 Stuart Hwy Tyres8 St Johns Ambulance9 The Ghan – Katherine Railway Station10 AANT

Accommodation1 Beagle Motor Inn2 Best Western Pine Tree Motel3 BIG4 Katherine Holiday Park4 Boab Caravan Park5 Cicada Lodge 6 Ibis Styles Katherine7 Katherine Motel8 Katherine River Lodge Motel9 Knotts Crossing Resort10 Manbulloo Homestead11 Maud Creek Country Lodge12 Nitmiluk Caravan Park and Camping Ground13 Palm Court Budget Motel and Backpackers14 Paraway Motel15 Riverview Motel and Caravan Park16 Shady Lane Tourist Park17 Springvale Homestead18 St Andrews Serviced Apartments

Dining/Retail1 Barra Café, Riverview Motel and Caravan Park2 Carriage Restaurant and Stonegrill, Paraway Motel3 Galloping Jacks, Ibis Styles Katherine4 Katherine Central Shopping Centre5 Katherine Country Club6 McDonalds7 Nitmiluk Visitor Centre Bistro8 The Escarpment, Katherine River Lodge Motel9 RJ’s Restaurant, Katherine Motel10 Savannah Bar and Restaurant, Knotts Crossing Resort

Smitt Rock, Nitmiluk National Park

Gifts & Souvenirs

The Ghan Bookings

Scenic Flights

Bicycle Tours & Hire

All Tours & Travel

Shop 2 - Mantra on the Esplanade 88 The Esplanade, Darwin NT 0800Tour Desk - Mantra Pandanas 43 Knuckey St, Darwin NT 0800

GPO Box 299, Darwin NT 0801 P: (08) 8981 0227 F: (08) 8981 2870www.darwinholidayshop.com.au info@darwinholidayshop.com.au