Nitmiluk, or Katherine Gorge, is one of the most spectacular sights in Australia’s Northern Territory. It is actually a network of 13 gorges carved out by Katherine River in what is now Nitmiluk National Park. The National Park lies 244 km southeast of Darwin and 23 km from Katherine and borders Kakadu National Park in the north.
Is it Nitmiluk or Katherine Gorge?
The naming of the gorge and the national park can be a little confusing, so here’s the spill: in 1862, explorer John McDouall Stuart passed through the area and named the river ‘Katherine’ in honour of his sponsor’s daughter. As a nearby town grew, it was also named Katherine, after the river.
When the national park was established in 1977, it was named Katherine Gorge National Park. Twenty-two years later, the park was returned to the traditional owners of the land, the Jawoyn people. At this time, the park and the gorge were renamed Nitmiluk, pronounced Nit-me-look, meaning “Cicada Place” in the Jawoyn people’s language.
So now we have the Katherine River flowing through Nitmiluk Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, 27 km from Katherine town. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the name Katherine Gorge is still often used, even if it is no longer correct.
Whatever name you use, the Gorge is absolutely spectacular. And there are several ways to experience it. You can cruise it, walk alongside it, fly over it, or feel dwarfed by the cliffs as you glide in a canoe below them.
1. Cruise the Gorge
The most spectacular way to explore Katherine River Gorge is by cruising the River as it meanders between 70-meter-high red limestone cliffs.
The Indigenous-owned and operated business Nitmiluk Tours offers a range of different cruises. The most popular options are 2-hr and 3-hr cruises, which meander through two or three gorges, respectively.
Keep in mind that you will need to walk between the gorges. The walk is not long, but people with limited mobility might find it challenging.
Sunrise and sunset cruises are a little more expensive, but they give you a chance to see the walls of the gorge glow in the warm light.
You can also take the cruise as part of an organised tour from Darwin. These tours typically visit two areas of Nitmiluk National Park: the gorge and Edith Falls. It’s a good opportunity to see different landscapes of the park.
2. Walk Along the Gorge
Another lovely way to explore Nitmiluk Gorge is on foot. Walking along the gorge brings you closer to its wild inhabitants. Early mornings are best for the walks since it’s cooler and the birds and animals are more active. Plus, the view from the lookout is at its most photogenic when the sun is lower in the sky.
Two moderately easy walking trails start from the Visitor Center. Before heading out on a walk, it’s a good idea to check for any alerts.
Baruwei Lookout is a 1.8km return walk that takes you to a stunning viewpoint over the gorge. It takes about 45 min- 1hr to complete, which makes it a great option if you just want to stretch your legs and get a taste of the landscape. There are quite a few stairs on this walk to climb to the top of the escarpment but the views provide a jaw-dropping distraction.
Baruwei Lookout and Loop Walk is a longer version of the same walk. This version is 4.8 km long and takes about 2 hours to complete. The loop walk is more exposed as it travels along the escarpment for quite a while, so make sure you carry plenty of water.
We walked these trails early in the morning, and there was lots of wildlife action. On the walk from the campsite to the visitor centre, we came across Agile wallabies, Little red flying foxes (you can’t avoid them here!), Bar-shouldered dove, Silver-crowned Friarbird, Great bowerbird, Australasian yellow oriole, Red-winged parrot and Blue-faced honeyeater.
The walk along the gorge turned up more wallabies, as well as a gorgeous Forest kingfisher, Collared lorikeets and an elusive Oriental cuckoo.
3. Fly Over the Gorge
As I mentioned, Nitmiluk (Catherine) Gorge is, in fact, a network of 13 gorges cut into the sandstone plateau. And to get a sense of this dramatic landscape, you need to see it from the birds-eye view. A few minutes in the air completely reshapes your idea of what the landscape looks like.
Nitmiluk Scenic Flights, located just 3 km from Nitmiluk Visitor Centre, offers a few different options to suit most budgets. You can pick from 3 gorge, 8 gorge or 13 gorge flights. The helicopter takes a maximum of three passengers, meaning that everyone gets a window seat. The prices start from $120.
4. Take in the Gorge from a Canoe
From June to October, you can experience the gorge from the low vantage point of a canoe. The self-guided adventure takes you through two gorges (if you are willing to carry a 20-25kg canoe between the gorges) and brings you close to unique Australian animals (like the crocodiles!).
You can opt for a morning paddle from 8 am to 12.30 pm or an afternoon one from 1 pm to 5.50 pm. The canoeing experience includes a boat trip up the river to the first gorge. And the best part is that you can stop on a sandy bank and have a picnic!
5. Visit Edith Falls
Edith Falls, or Leliyn, is an inviting natural swimming hole at the base of a cascading waterfall that lies at the western end of Nitmiluk National Park. The falls are about 50 kilometres away from Katherine, about an hour’s drive.
Before you head to Edith Falls, stop by the Visitor Center to see whether the falls are open for swimming. If so, there are plenty of swimming holes at the base of the falls and along the river.
There are good facilities at Edith Falls, including a café and a campsite. But the falls are very popular so if you are planning a picnic, it might be best to bring your packed lunch.
You can also reach the falls by walking the 62-km Jatbula trail from Katherine Gorge. This hike must be booked well in advance through the National Park website.
6. Experience Nitmiluk by Night
At night, Kathryn Gorge turns into the domain of its animal inhabitants. With day visitors gone, the night is silent at NItmiluk. Until you hear the heart-wrenching wailing sounds coming from the bush. The call of a bush stone curlew is one of the eeriest sounds you will ever hear at night. Which makes the night walk one of the most unusual things to do in Katherine Gorge.
To see the curlews, you’ll have better luck with their beach cousins at Lee Point in Darwin. Beach stone curlew is active during the day.
We camped at Nitmiluk campsite, which has very good facilities, and at night, we went for a short spotlighting walk. We found Rocket frogs, an exquisite Brown tree snake and a few Bush Stone-curlews, which were more often heard than seen – their chilling wailing cry unmistakable in the night. You’ll hear them whether you are sleeping in a tent or in an air-conditioned room.
The morning was announced by the calls of Blue-winged kookaburras and the chirping of Red-winged parrots.
Visiting Nitmiluk Gorge
Nitmiluk Tours offers a range of accommodation options, from luxurious Cicada Lodge to cozy cabins to tents. They also run most of the tours mentioned in this guide.
You could also base yourself in Katherine town, but it is not a particularly attractive or interesting town and accommodation options at Nitmiluk/Katherine Gorge are gorgeous.
Best Time to Visit Nitmiluk Gorge
You can visit Nitmiluk Gorge all year round, but the dry season (May to October) offers more opportunities for exploring the gorge. You can take a cruise, go canoeing, or take long hikes.
The rains arrive in November, bringing with them rising water levels, which makes canoeing impossible. Cruses are operated by jet boats between November and April.
How to get to Nitmiluk Gorge
By car: Nitmiluk Gorge is easily accessible by road from Darwin (x km) and Katherine (30 km) along Stuart Highway. From Katherine to Edith Falls (Leliyn), it’s 60km or around 45 minutes by car.
By air: You can fly to Katherine from Darwin and either hire a car or take a taxi for the 20-minute drive to Nitmiluk Gorge.
By bus: Greyhound runs day buses between Darwin and Katherine. The trip takes around 4 hours. Once in Katherine, you can take a taxi to Nitmiluk Gorge.
More on Northern Territory Wildlife Watching
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- Corroboree Billabong – Mary River Wetlands Cruise
- 9 Best Places to See Wildlife in Darwin
- Best Place to See Little Kingfisher and Chestnut Rail in Darwin
- Exploring West MacDonnell Ranges: Stunning Gorges and Desert Wildlife
- Guide to Spotting Wildlife in Kakadu National Park
- 5 Best Ways to Experience Nitmiluk / Katherine Gorge
- Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
Hi, I live in Mataranka and there is accommodation. There is Territory Manor Mataranka, it has a motel, pool, restaurant and bar. You have to drive past it to get to Bitter Springs on Martin’s Road.
Thank you, for the insight Ann! I have added Territory Manor to the post.