Katherine, only 310km from Darwin is the gateway to Nitmiluk National Park. The town grew up around an Overland Telegraph station and was named after the river. Today it is a centre for beef-cattle properties, the Mount Todd goldmine and the Tindal RAAF airbase. Aboriginal culture plays an important role in Katherine’s tourism and The Jarraluk Dancers share their culture and stories through dance and corroboree performance. The Katherine Museum (easily found on the road to Katherine Gorge) has a fascinating display of artifacts, photographs, memorabilia as well as a Gypsy Moth plane and is definitely well worth a visit. Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Parkis only 29km east of Katherine and can be viewed by canoe, tour boat, scenic flights or bushwalking. Other attractions in the park are Jatbula Trail, Leliyn (EdithFalls), and the Katherine River.
Day trips from Katherine can be taken north to Pine Creek or south to Mataranka. Pine Creek has a strong gold mining heritage, with original buildings dating back to the 1800s, while Mataranka is famous for its tropical thermal pool and nearby Elsey National Park.
Further north, the Daly River region is another spot popular for fishing and camping travellers with hot springs, gorges and rivers.
Be sure to visit Katherine, where the Outback meets the Tropics!