Adelaide to Darwin road trip tips: Distance, time & best stops
Outback road trip: Katherine and the Top End
There are a few things to do in Katherine, including the Katherine Outback Experience. But realistically it’s the gateway to Katherine Gorge, one of the highlights of the Northern Territory’s Top End. Katherine Gorge canoe tours are one way of exploring the gorge system, but most visitors opt for cruises.
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.
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.
Nitmiluk National Park isn’t just about Katherine Gorge, however. Edith Falls is worth a look too.
From Katherine, you need to make a decision about whether to continue along the Stuart Highway towards Darwin, or detour for a few days in Kakadu National Park.
Click through for the next section: Litchfield and Kakadu.