From Wikitravel

[edit] Understand

Katherine is a small regional town in the Northern Territory of Australia with a population of less than 10,000 people. Located about 300 km southeast of steamy Darwin, it's the third largest settlement in the NT after the capital Darwin and Alice Springs. The area is traditionally a farming centre. Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal [1] with its F/A-18 Hornets is located 17 km south of Katherine. Katherine is situated just south of the humid environs of the tropical 'Top End' but still north of the main central Australian desert regions.

In recent times tourism has gained in importance, and the town is now a significant tourist destination, and contains all the associated tourism facilities. Attractions like Katherine Gorge drawn large numbers of tourists in the peak (dry) season.

[edit] Get in

Katherine is a long way from all of Australia's major centres, with the exception of Darwin. Unless you have a lot of travel time available, flying into Darwin is the best option. It is around 4000km from Sydney and Perth, and even if you are in the Northern Territory already, it is still around 1600km from Uluru.

If you are driving to or from Darwin from any other state of Australia you will need to drive through Katherine.

[edit] By car

Via the Stuart Highway. Katherine is around 3 hours drive and around 300km south of Darwin. Bear in mind that all cars rented in Darwin will have per day kilometre restrictions, unlimited kilometres rentals are unheard of in Darwin.

[edit] By bus

Greyhound bus services Katherine. Their office is located at BP Travel North on Katherine Terrace.

[edit] By train

The Ghan [2] train travels north twice weekly to Darwin from Adelaide via Katherine, and is one of Australia's most spectacular rail trips. It is a tourist train rather than a means of transport. Expect it to be the slowest and most expensive way to Katherine.

[edit] By Air

Darwin International Airport [3] is the closest airport to Katherine.

[edit] Get around

Most of the attractions of Katherine are not within walking distance of the town centre.

There is no bicycle hire available in Katherine, as the bike shop has closed down.

There is no local bus service in Katherine.

This really leaves car (private or hire) or an organised tour as the only ways to get around. The roads to all the major attractions are sealed.

[edit][add listing] See

• Katherine School Of The Air - Giles Street, Katherine, Northern Territory, 0850, Australia, Telephone +61-8-8972-1833. http://www.schools.nt.edu.au/ksa/. The Katherine School of the Air located in Giles Street, Katherine, is a distance education school, making it a living example of an historic outback schooling tradition. The School caters for isolated students residing in the top half of the Northern Territory or temporarily travelling in remote areas. Curriculum materials are delivered to the students via correspondence and high frequency radio. Radio broadcasts can be clearly heard as far away as Germany and the Antarctic.

The Katherine School of the Air currently delivers education to children in an 800,000 square kilometre radius. Travellers can stop by and experience the School for themselves, watching and listening as the pupils participate in lessons. This is a great opportunity to gain insight into a unique part of life in the most remote outback areas, and to learn about the vision that made the School of the Air possible.

Entry fees apply

• Katherine Art Gallery- 12 Katherine Terrace. Tel: +61-8-8971-1051. http://www.katherineartgallery.com.au/. The Katherine Art Gallery holds an excellent collection of Aboriginal Art. Presenting a portfolio of artists from the region, the gallery reflects the cultural diversity and influences of the Jawoyn, Warlpiri and Dagoman Aboriginal people, who have lived in the Katherine area for thousands of years. The gallery also houses a range of collections from regions of Arnhem Land, the Central Western Desert, and areas in Western Australia. Clients from all over the world maintain contact with the gallery to purchase the didjeridus, artefacts and paintings from the friendly characters who come to produce their work on the premises. The Katherine Art Gallery also offers fantastic rates for public Internet access. There is something for everyone and every budget in the Katherine Art Gallery. Whatever you decide to do, just watch out for the saltwater crocodile.

Free entry

• Katherine Museum - 3 km outside of town on the Katherine Gorge Road. Displays including a room on the Overland Telegraph Line, another on the Chinese in the Territory, plus detailed history of the changes of the town from the first settlement at Knots Crossing to the building of 'The Katherine', to the modern settlement.

• Katherine Region Tourist Association - Corner of Stuart Highway & Lindsay Street. Tel: +61-8-8972 2650. Good first stop to get free info, maps, etc.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Katherine Gorge [4] - located in Nitmiluk National Park about 30 minutes northeast of the town. There are many ways to experience the spectacular Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) and its world-renowned gorge system - you can walk, swim, canoe, boat or fly.

Walks over the sandstone plateau range from an hour to 5 days and offer spectacular views of the Gorge, as well as other landscapes. Some, like the 58 kilometre Jatbula Trail, take in most of Nitmiluk's landscapes - monsoon rainforest, stone country, upland swamp, woodland and river – while the shorter walks may not be quite so varied, but are always spectacular. You can hire canoes at the Gorge, or bring your own. Commercially operated 2, 4 and 8 hour cruises are available, as are helicopter flights.

Rivers rising during December to April can restrict all activities but there is always something to do. Swimming and canoeing are generally only activities for May to November. The cruises available vary between the 2 varying seasons. Free entry

• Leliyn/Edith Falls - http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/. Leliyn/Edith Falls is located on the western side of Nitmiluk National Park You can enjoy swimming in the paperbark and pandanus fringed natural pool at the base of the falls most of the year, although it may be closed to swimming a t times during November and April. The lush, grassy campsites in this scenic bush setting make Leliyn/Edith Falls an idyllic spot for camping

The area is also great for bushwalking. The 2.6 kilometre Leliyn Trail is a steep, rocky loop, offering a challenging walk. There is a chance for a refreshing swim in the upper pool of Leliyn/Edith Falls half way around the trail. You can also enjoy the longer 8.6 kilometre return walk to Sweetwater Pool, a tranquil swimming hole. Leliyn/Edith Falls is the finishing point of the 58 kilometre Jatbula Trail walking track, which begins at Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) headquarters.

• Jatbula Trail - Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge). The 58 kilometre Jatbula Trail features stunning scenery, waterfalls and Jawoyn Aboriginal rock art. The trail is a 4 to 5 day walk that is only marked in one direction, from Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk Centre) to Leliyn/Edith Falls. Walkers need to make their own arrangements for transport to the gorge and from Leliyn/Edith Falls, or alternatively, contact Nitmiluk Tours for transfers.

The Jatbula Trail is a long and potentially difficult walk, however, adequate preparation will ensure a safe and pleasant trip. There is a ferry service across the Katherine River as part of the walk on the first day. Free entry

• Cutta Cutta Caves National Park [5] about 27 km south of Katherine via the Stuart Highway. Daily guided one hour tours of the unique cave system plus 20 minute 'Tropical Woodland Walk' directly off car park. Check tour times before you visit.

• North Australian Helicopters [6] - Lot 1224 Victoria Highway. Tel: +61-8-8972-1666. Scenic flights.

• Swim Seek local advice from the tourism information about swimming in Katherine, as crocodiles are present in these parts. Popular swimming spots like Low Level Crossing and pleasant for cooling off, but watch out for the current, and for snags. The Katherine river is patrolled for crocodiles in the dry season and it is usually safe to swim in the Katherine Gorge in the dry season.

• Mataranka Hot Springs are around 100km or an hours drive south of Katherine. You can swim in the hot springs, which are dammed to form a swimming hole. You can also swim in the river where the springs flow into the river, giving a 30cm hot layer on top of an otherwise quite cold river.

• Douglas Hot Springs are around 130km north of Katherine, and are a deviation off the road north to Darwin at Hayes Creek. The springs where they flow are too hot to swim, but you will see people sitting where the hot water meets the cold river. For a idyllic place to swim cross the hot stream, follow the path across the next small river, and continue on and you will find a large natural pool, at a constant 31 degree temperature, which is deep, still and surrounded by tropical vegetation. Five star hotels have spent millions trying to build a lagoon pool like this, and here is it, naturally formed.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Jurrasic Cycad Gardens [7] - Katherine Gorge Road about 4 minutes outside of Katherine. Tel: +61-8-8971-0335. Nursery and botanic garden enterprise concentrating on Cycad living fossils and featuring some of the rarest plant species on earth.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Digger Den Tavern - 7 Victoria Highway. Tel: +61-8-8971-0422.

• Fair Dinkum Cafe - 102 Third Street. Tel: +61-8-8972-3390.

• Katie's Bistro - Cameron Street. Tel: +61-8-8972-2511.

• Katherine Country Club - Pearce Street. Tel: +61-8-8972-1276. Restaurant, tropical beer garden, poker machines, 9 hole golf course, bowls and air conditioned club house.

• Kirby's Restaurant - Katherine Terrace. Tel: +61-8-8972-1622.

• Kumbidgee Lodge Tea Rooms - Gorge Street. Tel: +61-8-8971-0699.

• Main St Cafe & Takeaway - 22 Katherine Terrace. Tel: +61-8-8971-0688.

• Paraway Motel Restaurant - Corner of O'Shea Terrace & First Street. Tel: +61-8-8972-2644.

• Regent Court Chinese Restaurant - 25 First Street. Tel: +61-8-8971-1555.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• All Seasons Frontier Caravan Park and Frontier Inn - Stuart Highway. Tel: +61-8-8972-1744. Near the town centre with restaurant, swimming pool and tennis court.

• Beagle Motor Inn - Corner Fourth Street & Lindsay Street. Tel: +61-8-8972-3998.

• Best Western Pine Tree Motel - 129 Third Street. Tel: +61-8-8972-2533. Restaurant and swimming pool.

• Crossways Hotel Motel [8] - 23 Katherine Terrace, off Main Street, near the centre of town. Tel: +61-8-8972-1022. 19 air conditioned units. Beer garden. Licensed restaurant.

• Katherine Hotel/Motel [9] - Katherine Terrace. Tel: +61-8-8972-1622. Swimming pool, restaurant and lounge bar. Next to Oasis Shopping Centre.

• Katherine Low Level Caravan Park - Shadforth Road. Tel: +61-8-8972-3962 or +61-8-8972-2239.

• Katherine River Lodge [10] - Corner of Stuart Highway and Victoria Highway. Tel: +61-8-8971-0266. Motel accommodation with Cheeky Croc Restaurant (open daily for all meals), swimming pool and internet cafe.

• Knotts Crossing Resort Caravan Park and Resort Motel [11] - Corner of Giles Street & Cameron Street. Tel: +61-8-8972-2511. Motel rooms, cabins, caravan sites and camping. Air conditioned bistro style restaurant on site. Two unheated swimming pools, one in a lagoon style.

• Maud Creek Country Lodge [12] - Located 6 km from Katherine Gorge. Tel: +61-8-8971-1814. Bed and breakfast.

• Palm Court Kookaburra Backpackers - Corner of Third Street and Giles Street. Tel: +61-8-8972-2722. Air conditioned dorms, twins and double rooms. Ensuite bathrooms, colour TVs and lockers. 5 minute walk to Post Office and shops.

• Red Gum Caravan Park - 42 Victoria Highway. Tel: +61-8-8972-2239.

• Riverview Tourist Village [13] - 440 Victoria Highway. Tel: +61-8-8972-1011. Motel rooms, various kinds of cabins, backbacker rooms, powered and unpowered camping sites. Swimming pool, cafe, convenience store, internet kiosk and Caltex roadhouse. Communal backpacker kitchen and TV room. Pets allowed except in motel rooms.

• Shady Lane Van Park [14] - 1828 Gorge Road. Tel: +61-8-8971-0491. Quiet with large swimming pool. No pets.

• Springvale Homestead Tourist Park - Shadforth Road. Tel: +61-8-8972-1355. Situated 7 kms from Katherine township on the banks of the Katherine River, historic Springvale Homestead was built in the 1880s and is the oldest standing homestead in the NT. Shady parkland environment, grassed caravan and camping sites, budget motel accommodation, licensed bistro and kiosk, swimming pool and children’s waterslide.

• St Andrews Serviced Apartments [15] - 27 First Street. Tel: +61-8-8971-2288. 14 air conditioned two bedroom self-contained apartments set in landscaped tropical gardens.

[edit] Get out

• Darwin

• Alice Springs

• Uluru

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!