Nitmiluk National Park: Best Katherine Gorge cruises, tours & walks
There are several types of Katherine Gorge tours in Nitmiluk National Park. These include boat cruises, canoeing, Aboriginal cultural experiences and helicopter flights. Top Nitmiluk National Park walks include the 11.8km Butterfly Gorge Walk and 2.6km Leliyn Trail at Edith Falls.
Nitmiluk National Park near Katherine in the Northern Territory is best known for the series of gorges along the Katherine River.
By far the most common way to visit Nitmiluk National Park is on a boat tour. Nitmiluk Tours offers a series of Katherine River cruises. There’s a dawn tour, a sunset dinner cruise, and boat trips that visit two or three gorges. All offer commentary and the traditional explanations of the Jawoyn Aboriginal people about how the gorges were created.
Nitmiluk National Park: Best Katherine Gorge cruises
Most stick to the two hour Katherine Gorge tour, which takes in the first two gorges. These are the largest two in the system. There’s a 400 metre walk between the two gorges.
The four hour, three gorge tour offers more time for swimming in the rock pools on the way. The cruises depart from near the Nitmiluk Chalets.
Nitmiluk Tours also offers Katherine Gorge canoeing tours, helicopter tours, Aboriginal cultural experiences and rock art tours.
If you want to explore Nitmiluk National Park under your own steam, there are several talking trails available. The big boy is the 62km Jatbula Trail, which is tackled over five or six days, camping out along the way.
Nitmiluk National Park walks
Most start at the Nitmiluk Centre, climbing up to the rocky escarpment above the gorge via the 1.8km Baruwei Loop. You can continue the walk from the lookout along the top of the escarpment for another 4.9km. You can also try the 11.8km Butterfly Gorge walk, which goes along Butterfly Gorge towards Katherine Gorge. There’s also the 9.1km Windolf Walk, which gives the opportunity of swimming in Southern Rockhole under a seasonal waterfall.
There’s more details of longer walks on the Northern Territory government website.
Swimming at Leliyn (Edith Falls)
The most impressive waterfall in Nitmiluk National Park is Leliyn, also known as Edith Falls. This is in a different, eastern section of the park. Access is via the separate Edith Falls Road, which branches off the Stuart Highway about 40km north of Katherine. There’s a natural pool at the bottom of Leliyn, which is usually open for swimming between May and October.
Leliyn is the end point of the Jatbula Trail, but there’s a much shorter walk available. The 2.6km Leliyn Trail is steep, rocky and challenging, but you can stop for a swim in Leliyn’s upper pool half way round.
Nitmiluk National Park is best tackled as part of a Top End driving loop from Darwin, along with Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park. If short of time, however, it is possible to visit Katherine Gorge as a day trip from Darwin.
Katherine experiences to book in advance
- Two gorge boat cruise through Nitmiluk National Park – with commentary on nature, wildlife and Aboriginal Dreaming stories.
- Half day Nitmiluk Gorge canoe hire – get closer to nature, paddling through at your own pace.
- Outback show with live music, horse and working dog demonstrations.
- Top Didj Aboriginal cultural experience – learn about ancient customs and feed baby wallabies.
- Cutta Cutta Caves guided tour – spot bats and birds in the limestone cave system.
Best Katherine accommodation
The best Katherine accommodation choices are:
- For a pool-based resort: Knotts Crossing Resort.
- For location next to Katherine Gorge: Nitmiluk Chalets.
- For really good value: Pine Tree Motel.
- For a solid holiday park: Big4 Breeze or Discovery Parks – Katherine.
- For glamping with a view: Gorge View Bush Retreat.
More Northern Territory travel
What are the best stops on a Melbourne to Darwin road trip?
Visit the Cutta Cutta Caves on the Mataranka to Katherine drive.
Cool down at the Buley Rockhole in Litchfield National Park.
Enjoy the swimming holes while camping at Lorella Springs Wilderness Park near Borroloola.
Stop at the Mataranka Hot Springs on the drive from Darwin to Daly Waters.