Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge

Nitmiluk National Park sits about 30 kilometres northeast of Katherine via sealed road, making it an easy half-day or full-day excursion. The gorges are best explored during the dry season, roughly May to October, when the river is calm and crocodile risks are managed. Guided boat tours run multiple sessions daily, weaving through the first gorge while rangers and Jawoyn guides share stories of the landscape's cultural and geological history.

Canoeing is a favourite for adventurous visitors, with half-day and full-day hire options available from the visitor centre. Paddling deeper into the gorge system reveals quieter reaches, freshwater crocodiles basking on ledges, and rock wallabies picking their way across clifftops. Multi-day canoe camping trips let you spend nights at remote sandy campsites under a sky brilliant with stars.

The visitor centre at the gorge entrance houses a cafe, cultural displays, and booking facilities for boat tours, canoe hire, and helicopter flights. Several walking trails fan out from the centre, ranging from the gentle Baruwei Loop to more demanding overnight routes like the Jatbula Trail. An NT Parks Visitor Pass is required for all non-resident visitors.