showcases the unusual Boab trees, most notably Gregory’s Tree. The Gregory and Keep River National Parks highlight the area’s diverse landscape, and the fascinating cultural and pastoral history make a visit to this area a breathtaking adventure.
Gulf Region
Why not take a drive out to the Gulf of Carpentaria, separating Australia from its neighbour Pupua New Guinea, and explore the home of the Yanuwa, Mara, Kurdanj and Karawa people. Known for its enormous cattle stations, the Gulf region also features the McArthur River, excellent for fishing, and Cape Crawford, where you can expect to stumble upon waterholes and rocky escarpments. For lovers of fauna, the beaches on Barranyi (North Island) National Park, are nesting sites for turtles and a stop over point for migrating birds.
Mataranka
Situated on the banks of the Roper River, Mataranka is famous for its hot springs and sandy bottomed lagoons surrounded by old shady palm trees. Along the Explorer’s Way tourism drive connecting Darwin and Adelaide, was made famous by Jeannie Gunn’s 1908 novel ‘We of the Never Never’, a story about the nearby Elsey Station. Many tourists visit the area to see the Old Elsey Cemetery where many
of the books characters have been laid to rest. Elsey National Park is an excellent place for families and couples alike to visit as they witness the power of the Roper River slicing though the area creating large watering holes and cascading into dams. A 4 km walk from 12 Mile Hole campgrounds you will discover Mataranka Falls. The local caravan park is an excellent place to take the kids. Here you will see some barramundi feeding where these giant fish are pulled out of the water with bare hands! Make sure you have your camera ready to get a picture.
stream in peace and quiet. It’s difficult to try and encapsulate the beauty, diversity and appreciation of nature, history and culture the Katherine region has to offer. When I think typical Australia, I think of rugged escarpments, earthy colours, cascading waterfalls, long bush walks to little slices of heaven and of course our Aboriginal Dreamtime. The Katherine region has all of this to offer and more. All I can say is it’s simply a case of you have to see it to believe it! Thank you to Tourism NT, Travel NT & Visit Katherine for the information and photos featured in this article.
Think turquoise waters framed by towering palms trees and you’re at Mataranka Thermal Springs! While these are fantastic to visit, every other tourist has the same idea. These springs are often over-crowded, so why not venture out to Bitter Thermal Springs, where you can drift down the
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