Katherine
Where the Outback Meets the Tropics
On the lands of the Jawoyn and Dagoman people.
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
The fourth largest town in the Northern Territory and the only place where three major highways (Stuart, Victoria and Barkly) come together. Katherine is the gateway to Nitmiluk Gorge, one of the most spectacular river systems in northern Australia, and to the Katherine Hot Springs in the centre of town.
Katherine was founded as a telegraph station on the Overland Telegraph Line in 1872 on Jawoyn and Dagoman country. It sits on the southern edge of the Top End where the tropical savanna starts to give way to the red dirt of the outback. The Katherine River flows right through the middle of town and the free-entry Katherine Hot Springs, a series of thermal pools shaded by paperbarks, are a two minute walk from the main street.
The town is the gateway to Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), 30 kilometres north-east. The Jawoyn people regained title to the park in the 1990s and jointly manage it with the NT government. Visitors can take flat-water cruises through the 13 gorges, hire a kayak to paddle upstream, or fly over on a scenic helicopter flight.
Katherine is also the starting point for the Savannah Way (the 3,700 kilometre east-to-west route across the top of Australia), and for drives to the Victoria River district, Gregory National Park and the WA border.
Tourist locations
Places to visit in Katherine.
6 locations to explore
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park
Australia's only open tropical caves
$23 adult, $11 child (guided tour)
Full guide arrow_forwardKatherine Hot Springs
Free thermal pools in town
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardLeliyn (Edith Falls)
Cascading pools in tropical bushland
NT Parks Visitor Pass required
Full guide arrow_forwardMataranka Thermal Pools
Crystal warm springs, palm forest
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardNitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge
Thirteen gorges, ancient sandstone
NT Parks Visitor Pass required; boat cruise from $129 adult
Full guide arrow_forwardTop Didj Cultural Experience and Art Gallery
Living Jawoyn and Dalabon culture
Gallery free; cultural experience fee applies (contact operator)
Full guide arrow_forwardWhere to stay
Holiday parks near Katherine.
1 option via our booking partner
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On the itinerary
Trip plans that include Katherine.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Katherine.
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Attribution
Sources & credits
Content (1)
Images (2)
- Bush Fire in Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia.jpg · Lance Vanlewen · CC BY-SA 4.0
- River in Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia.jpg · Lance Vanlewen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under licenses that permit commercial use. If you are the rights holder and believe an attribution is incorrect, please contact us.