Nitmiluk National Park is a popular outback destination in the Australian state of Northern Territory. Approximately 240km southeast of Darwin, Nitmiluk is famed for its sandstone escarpment with scenic gorges and waterfalls. Having explored the park during our campervan trip in Jun-2018, we’ve penned our experiences in this Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog. Sharing the must-see places in Nitmiluk and some travel tips we’ve picked up along the way.
So, go ahead and share this Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog with your travel kakis!
See also:
- Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
- Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
- Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
Tip: Need helping planning your itinerary? See our blog “10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory“
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Nitmiluk National Park Travel Blog
Nitmiluk National Park is formerly known as Katherine Gorge National Park. It borders the prominent Kakadu National Park at its northern end. While Katherine River cuts through it in the south. The striving outback town of Katherine is a short distance southwest of the park.
The centerpieces of Nitmiluk are the deep gorges carved into the sandstone escarpment by Katherine River. In addition, the surrounding region had been important ceremonial sites to the native Jawoyn Aboriginal people for thousands of years.
Popular tourist activities in Nitmiluk include hiking, swimming, canoeing, cruising and camping. With most of the actions centering on the gorges along Katherine River and Edith Falls (Leliyn).
As with most national parks in this part of Australia, the best time to visit Nitmiluk is usually during the dry season from May-September.
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Katherine Visitor Information Centre (Katherine Town)
During our visit to Nitmiluk in Jun-2018, we were travelling in a campervan and had not make any reservations for campsites. However, we knew that most of the commercial campgrounds in the area are located in or around Katherine Town. Thus, on our first day, we drove into town and looked for the tourist information centre to try sort out the accommodation.
For those whom are familiar with Australia, you would know that many towns/cities across the country have tourist information centres to help tourist plan their trips and accommodations. This is no different in Katherine.
Katherine Visitor Information Centre is conveniently located at the town center. And along the main highway (M1) into town.
The staffs at Katherine Visitor Information Centre are extremely helpful. They provided us with a complete list of commercial campgrounds in the area and their availability status. Thus, ensuring that we have no problem getting a campsite for the night.
For all visitors to Nitmiluk, we strongly recommend paying a visit to the information centre. To understand more about the activities and accommodations available in the park.
Finally, there is a huge supermarket across the street from the information centre. Allowing us to stock-up on much needed supplies.
Money-Saving Tip
Katherine Town is the fourth largest settlement in Northern Territory. For travellers, it means a good place to restock your supplies/groceries/fuel at reasonable prices. Expect to pay more for these items when you venture into neighboring national parks like Kakadu or Litchfield.
Campervan
Having a campervan is one of the best way to explore Nitmiluk National Park. If you’re new to campervan/motorhome and would like to know more about the experience, refer to our other blog (click here).
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Nitmiluk Visitor Centre
Nitmiluk Visitor Centre is located 28km northeast of Katherine Town and next to Katherine River. It is within short walking distance from Katherine Gorge.
It offers numerous activities like cultural tours, river cruises, scenic flights and canoe rentals. The centre is also the starting point to a number of hiking trails along Katherine River and Katherine Gorge. Camping facilities (including campervan powered sites) are available for a fee.
The centre opens daily 8am to 5pm.
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Must-see attractions in Nitmiluk National Park
There are plenty of activities in Nitmiluk National Park to choose from. The recommended length of visit could range from 1-2days to a full week depending on one’s travel interest.
For our trip, we spent 2days in the park. Which was enough for us to explore the 3-most popular attractions (listed below) in Nitmiluk at a leisurely pace. If you’re tight on time and still want to take in the best of Nitmiluk National Park (plus Katherine Town), then do not miss the following attractions.
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#1: Edith Falls (Leliyn)
Leliyn is the Jawoyn name for the area around Edith Falls. And has long been an important cultural site for the Jawoyn people. Nowadays, Edith Falls is easily the star attraction for most visitors to Nitmiluk National Park.
Edith Falls is made up of a series of waterfalls along Edith River. And visitors are mostly drawn to it by two pools (Upper and Lower Pool) along the river. Both of which are good spots for swimming. Note that the pools might be closed to swimming at times during the wet season (November-April).
Lower Pool, Edith Falls
Lower Pool is larger of the two and is located a stone throw from the parking area. However, most visitors would skip this and instead head to the Upper Pool, which is much more interesting.
Leliyn Trail
From the parking area (and Lower Pool), Leliyn Trail is a circular 2.6km trail that has the Upper Pool at its other end. There are two starting points for Leliyn Trail from the parking area; one heading north and the other south.
Regardless of which direction one choose, the end point will still be at Upper Pool on the other end of the circle. Both direction involves approximately the same distance (1.3km to Upper Pool). And both involves steep climbs (onto the escarpment) at the initial part.
Both the northern and southern trail will pass by a lookout while enroute to Upper Pool. At the northern trail, it’s the Leliyn Lookout. While the southern trail will pass by Bemang Lookout. Both offers a distant view of Upper Pool and its waterfalls. However, based on our experience, Bemang Lookout offers a better perspective.
It took us around 50-minutes to hike from the carpark to Upper Pool via the southern trail, with a 10-minutes stop at Bemang Lookout.
Upper Pool, Edith Falls
Once we reach Upper Pool, it was immediately clear to us why the pool was preferred by visitors over Lower Pool. The edges of Upper Pool are much more accessible and mostly clear of any vegetation. In addition, it was easy to swim up to the base of the waterfall. Unlike at Lower Pool where the waterfall is much further away.
We had a cracking time there and it is surely one of the best rock pools we’ve visited!
Notes on safety:
– The water can be rather deep at parts. Thus, do exercise caution as with all other swimming activities.
– Algae are found on many of the submerged rock surfaces, making them extremely slippery. Be careful while you’re stepping on the rocks. Especially so for children.
Click here for high resolution photos
Facilities at Leliyn
Camping facilities are available beside the parking area. Fees apply and sites are unpowered. Toilet with showers are available. There are also gas BBQ and tables.
Driving instructions
Edith Falls is a 62km drive north of Katherine Town along Stuart Highway (#1). And its turnoff from Stuart Highway is prominently marked.
Leliyn/Edith Falls (Lower Pool)(360 photo)
Leliyn/Edith Falls (Upper Pool)(360 photo)
Upper Pool as viewed from Bemang Lookout (360 photo)
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#2: Katherine Gorge
No visit to Nitmiluk National Park is ever complete without exploring Katherine Gorge and Katherine River. Katherine Gorge actually refers to a set of thirteen gorges set along Katherine River.
From Nitmiluk Visitor Centre, there are a number of walks along Katherine River. These walks will bring hikers to various lookout points for eight of the gorges. And can range from 1 hour (return) to 2-3 days.
The shortest of them is Baruwei Walk. Which can be completed in as quickly as 1 hour. Baruwei Walk starts from Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. And involves hiking 900m to the top of the sandstone escarpment for a stop at Baruwei Lookout. Where hikers could have a good view of the first gorge.
From Baruwei Lookout, hikers can backtrack the 900m to Nitmiluk Visitor Centre. Or continue on Baruwei Walk to make a further 3.9km loop back to the centre (making a total 4.8km 2hours return).
During our visit, we only made the relatively easy 900m hike to Baruwei Lookout before turning back. As we saw from the map that a hike to the next lookout (with rockhole) would mean a 10km return journey. Which lazy city-dwellers like us are reluctant to make.
Click here for high resolution photos
Baruwei Lookout, Katherine Gorge (360 photo)
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#3: Katherine Hot Springs
Located next to Katherine River, Katherine Hot Springs is at the southwestern edge of Katherine Town.
If you’re expecting Katherine Hot Springs to be the kind of exotic thermal pools you’ll find in Iceland or Japan, then get ready to be disappointed. In fact, the term “hot spring” is a slight overstatement; the water is only “warm” at best. To top things off, the hot springs’ surrounding is also rather unappealing.
However, that is not to say that Katherine Hot Springs is without merits.
Great place to relax
The Australia outback isn’t usually the place where one would expect to find a thermal pool. Thus, it comes as a pleasant surprise when one could jump into a hot spring, right in town, after an exhausting day of exploration. Though only mildly warm, the water is nevertheless hot enough to provide relaxation to the body.
Katherine Hot Springs is made up of a series of small pools linked by a little stream. Visitors could choose to relax at any of the pools. And the stream is shallow enough for visitors to walk and traverse between the pools.
And did we also mention it’s free? Yes, free!
Definitely a great place to relax and wind down after a tiring day. Kids will especially enjoy it.
Click here for high resolution photos
Driving instructions
Drive along Victoria Highway (#1) from town centre heading southwest. Pull right into Riverbank Drive at the edge of town. Katherine Hot Springs is just along this road and free parking is available.
Top tip for Katherine Hot Springs
Riverview Tourist Village is the nearest holiday park (caravan park with cabins and motel rooms) to Katherine Hot Springs. The holiday park has a rear gate that allows their guest easy access to the hot spring. This gate is open 7am-7pm daily. And Katherine Hot Springs is a mere 2 minutes’ walk from the gate.
Due to its proximity to Katherine Hot Springs, the holiday park can get booked out earlier than others in the area. Do plan ahead or simply arrive earlier in the day.
Katherine Hot Springs (360 photo)
Related posts:
- 10-Days Itinerary for Darwin and Northern Territory
- Things to do in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
- Kakadu National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
- Litchfield National Park Travel Blog (Northern Territory, Australia)
- Litchfield National Park to Darwin Self-Drive Time-Lapse
- Darwin to Kakadu National Park Self-Drive Time-Lapse
- Top 9 Places to visit in Gold Coast for families with kids
- 11 Great Places to visit in Sydney
- Exploring Western Australia (Best of Perth & Fremantle)
- Exploring Western Australia (Highlights beyond Perth)
- Motorhome & Car Rental (Western Australia)
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