Katherine Travel Guide
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.
Katherine Attractions
Katherine Art Gallery- 12 Katherine Terrace. Tel: +61-8-8971-1051. Features artists from the local Jawoyn and Dagoman people, plus Aboriginal art from all over Australia. Didjeridus, artefacts and paintings for sale. Internet access.
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.
Katherine Activities
Katherine Gorge - located in Nitmiluk National Park about 30 minutes northeast of the town. The best (most pleasant) months to visit are from May to September. Take note that 'The Wet' causes flooding of the Katherine River and restrictions on some of the activities otherwise available, sometimes also cutting off the access road. There are cruises down the gorges of varying durations. Book in advance in peak season. Canoes can also be hired, and should also be booked in advance in peak season. You can walk along side of the gorges free of charge.
Edith Falls. Still in the Nitmiluk National Park, but on the northern side is Edith Falls. A pleasant bushwalk when it is it not too hot. The turn off is around 45 minutes to the north of Katherine on the Stuart Highway.
Cutta Cutta Caves National Park 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 - 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.
Katherine Accommodation
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 27 First Street. Tel: +61-8-8971-2288. 14 air conditioned two bedroom self-contained apartments set in landscaped tropical gardens.
Katherine Dining | Nightlife
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.
Katherine Shopping
Jurrasic Cycad Gardens - 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.
Katherine Transportation
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.
Katherine Gateways
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.
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.
By bus
Greyhound bus services Katherine.
By train
The Ghan 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.
By Air
Darwin International Airport is the closest airport to Katherine.
Information on this page has been extracted from http://wikitravel.org/en/Katherine and is based on work by Ian Sergeant, Stacy Hall and Patrick McDonald.
