Camping in Katherine Daly

Katherine sits about 244 km south-east of Darwin, and it is the hub for some of the Top End's best-known gorges, rivers and hot springs. Nitmiluk, or Katherine Gorge, is thirteen connected sandstone gorges carved by the Katherine River, with deep ceremonial meaning for the Jawoyn people, who manage the park with NT Parks.

Where is the best place to camp in Katherine Daly?

Most of the campgrounds sit in town, near the gorge, or down the highway at Mataranka's springs. In Katherine, parks such as Knott's Crossing Resort are close to the river, and Nitmiluk is 23 km out of town. About 107 km south, Mataranka has Bitter Springs Cabins and Camping, with power and pets allowed, and north towards Darwin, Lazy Lizard Caravan Park is in the old gold town of Pine Creek.

What is there to do in Katherine Daly with kids?

At Nitmiluk, you can paddle the gorge by canoe or take a flat-bottomed boat up to the fifth gorge in the dry season, and look out for red-tailed cockatoos and Gouldian finches. In Katherine, the Katherine Museum is close to the Katherine South parks. At Mataranka, the thermal spring sits in Elsey National Park, with a reconstructed homestead nearby from Jeannie Gunn's 1908 book We of the Never Never. In Pine Creek, the railway station is part of the heritage precinct, and further south, the Larrimah Museum is right by the caravan park.

• Pine Creek Railway Station – Museums and history, Pine Creek. Closest campground: Lazy Lizard Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Larrimah Museum – Museums and history, Larrimah. Closest campground: Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Katherine Museum – Museums and history, Katherine. Closest campground: Knott's Crossing Resort, under 1 km
• Old Police Station Borroloola – Museums and history, Borroloola. Closest campground: McArthur River Caravan Park, under 1 km

What are the best walks and hot springs around Katherine?

The Jatbula Trail follows a historic Jawoyn walking route out of Nitmiluk. Mataranka Hot Springs is a natural thermal spring, and south-west of Katherine, the Douglas Daly area has Butterfly Gorge and Douglas Hot Springs. The Daly River is known for barramundi fishing.

• Jatbula Trail – Walk, Nitmiluk National Park. Closest campground: Discovery Parks Katherine, 19 km
• Mataranka Hot Springs – Swimming spot, Elsey National Park. Closest campground: Bitter Springs Cabins and Camping, 6 km
• Policemans Point Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Timber Creek Gunamu Tourist Park, 4 km
• Victoria River Scenic Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Timber Creek Gunamu Tourist Park, 4 km

When is the best time to go camping in Katherine Daly?

The dry season, from April to October, is when most gorges and rivers open for swimming and boating. The wet season, roughly October to April, brings monsoon rain and can cut roads with flooding.

Is it safe to swim in Katherine Daly?

Only in designated swimming areas. The Katherine River's freshwater crocodiles are considered harmless, but saltwater crocodiles can move in during wet-season floods, and the Daly River Nature Park is home to saltwater crocodiles. Swim only where the NT Government lists a designated swimming area, and never where crocodiles may live, even without a sign.

Are there powered sites in Katherine Daly?

Yes. 3 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed: Bitter Springs Cabins and Camping, Lee and Jenny's Bush Camp and Boab Caravan Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Katherine from Darwin?

Katherine is about 244 km south-east of Darwin. Mataranka is about 107 km further south and 420 km from Darwin, and Daly River is about 222 km from Darwin.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Nitmiluk National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Mataranka, Northern Territory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Daly River, Northern Territory" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Pine Creek, Northern Territory" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and NT Government, Be Crocwise: stay safe while swimming.

Map of campgrounds in Katherine Daly

16 campgrounds

• Bitter Springs Cabins and Camping — Mataranka, NT. caravan sites, drinking water, pets allowed, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Manbulloo Homestead — Cossack, NT. camp kitchen, caravan sites, laundry, tent sites
• Lee and Jenny's Bush Camp — Daly River, NT. caravan sites, powered sites, tent sites
• The Plateau — Douglas-daly, NT. campfires allowed, tent sites
• Boab Caravan Park — Katherine South, NT. powered sites
• Discovery Parks Katherine — Lansdowne, NT. wifi
• Upper Butterfly Gorge — Douglas-daly, NT. tent sites
• Caravan Park — Larrimah, NT
• Knott's Crossing Resort — Katherine, NT
• Lazy Lizard Caravan Park — Pine Creek, NT
• McArthur River Caravan Park — Borroloola, NT
• Munbililla (Tomato Island) — Limmen, NT
• Riverview Tourist Village — Katherine South, NT
• Takaru - Northen Territory Katherine Low Level — Cossack, NT
• Territory Manor — Mataranka, NT
• Timber Creek Gunamu Tourist Park — Timber Creek, NT

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.