Katherine
Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk National Park, NT. Photo credit: Tourism NT
Katherine
Some places are ripe for exploring. Katherine, sadly, seems made for passing through.
Named after the river, Katherine is the first place north of Alice Springs (1200km away) with permanent running water.
It’s the Northern Territory’s third largest town, not that that means a great deal. The local community is made of Jawoyn and Dagoman aborigines and personnel from the nearby Tindal Air Force Base. In winter, the population is swelled by the ‘grey nomads’, elderly seasonal migrants who leave the cooler south in their caravans and head north in search of heat.
Katherine is close to Nitmiluk National Park, home to Katherine Gorge. Both park and gorge are worth exploring rather more than Katherine itself. The town is where many choose to spend a couple of days regrouping before they continue their outback journey. Which is most likely what you’ll do too.
Find places to stay in Katherine
Find more things to do in the Northern Territory
Say It Like A Local
How many ways are there to pronounce the name ‘Katherine’?
Ask a local, and they’ll tell you it should rhyme with ‘wine.’ So there.
Grow The Grapevine
Join our guest blogging community
You May Also Be Interested In…
Australia Is Big
Travel, explore and discover the world's largest island
Stay Safe Overseas
Sound advice from the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
What You Need To Know
It's all about the three ex’s: experience, expectations and execution
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Get the latest travel tips and info straight to your inbox.
