Katherine Gorge boat trip: Nitmiluk walks and tours

A Katherine Gorge boat trip is the easiest way to see Nitmiluk National Park, and the two gorge cruise is the one most visitors choose. It runs about 2 hours, leaves several times a day all year, and was listed by Nitmiluk Tours at A$119 for adults and A$79 for children aged 6 to 15 in mid 2024. The dry months, May to October, add the longer tours.

This guide covers each cruise, the walks, the timing and what to bring.

Sources for this section: Nitmiluk Tours, NitNit Dreaming Two Gorge Tour; NT Government, Nitmiluk National Park.

Where the gorge is

Nitmiluk, also called Katherine Gorge, is a system of 13 gorges cut by the Katherine River. It sits in Nitmiluk National Park, on the land of the Jawoyn people, who live and work in the park and share their culture with visitors. The Gorge entrance is 30 km north-east of Katherine on a sealed road, and the park is about 320 km south of Darwin.

The Nitmiluk Centre at the entrance is where you get information and book boat tours, canoe hire and helicopter flights. Visitors to the Northern Territory need a parks pass to enter the park. The park also has a second section at Leliyn (Edith Falls), about 90 km away by road, which is a swimming hole and campground rather than a boat trip.

Sources for this section: NT Government, Nitmiluk National Park; NT Government, Nitmiluk Gorge.

The cruise options

Nitmiluk Tours runs all the main boat trips. The cruises differ by how many gorges you see, how long you are out and when they run. These details come from the operator's own tour pages in mid 2024.

Children aged 5 and under go free on the two and three gorge tours. Every tour is subject to weather and river conditions, and each needs a minimum number of passengers to run: 6 for the two gorge tour and 12 for the other two.

Sources for this section: Nitmiluk Tours, NitNit Dreaming Two Gorge Tour, Timeless Land Three Gorge Tour and Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Tour.

Two gorges or three

On the two gorge tour you cruise the first gorge beside limestone escarpments. At a transfer point you walk about 400 m, then board a second boat for the second gorge. Cultural guides share plant, animal and dreamtime stories along the way.

The three gorge tour is slower. After the first two gorges there is an 800 m walk to a third boat, and the guides explain the eight to ten thousand year old rock art you pass. In the third gorge you can swim at the Lillypond seasonal waterfalls or in shallow rock pools, so pack a swimsuit.

The sunset dinner tour covers two gorges at dusk. It serves a three course meal cooked on board with a glass of sparkling wine, and the minimum age is 6.

The walks between boats have steps and uneven ground. Nitmiluk Tours says they may not suit people with mobility issues, and on the two gorge and dinner tours you can wait at the transfer point for the group to return.

Sources for this section: Nitmiluk Tours, NitNit Dreaming Two Gorge Tour, Timeless Land Three Gorge Tour and Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Tour.

Walks around the gorge

You can also see Nitmiluk on foot. Nitmiluk Tours lists three main walks.

• Baruwei Walks: a lookout walk and a loop walk at the western end of the gorge system, marked clearly and suited to a moderate level of fitness. NT Parks listed the Baruwei Loop Walk as open in mid 2024.
• Southern Rockhole: a seasonal waterfall near the top of the first gorge. You can walk about 4 km each way, with some rock-hopping, or take the ferry to within 150 m. The ferry runs only in the tropical summer, December to March, at A$23 each way.
• Jatbula Trail: a 62 km one way walk from Nitmiluk Gorge to Leliyn (Edith Falls) over six days. The 2024 walking season ran from 1 June to 30 September, and you book online.

The Jatbula Trail starts with a boat transfer across the gorge, so it begins with a short cruise of its own.

Sources for this section: Nitmiluk Tours, Walk Nitmiluk and Southern Rockhole Ferry; NT Government, Nitmiluk Gorge.

The dry season and swimming

Plan for the dry season. Cruises run on a normal schedule, the three gorge tour and the sunset dinner tour operate, and the Jatbula Trail opens on 1 June. NT Parks closes parts of the park for the wet season. Its page listed a forecast reopening of 1 June 2024 for upper gorge swimming, private canoeing, the gorge campsites and the Northern Rockhole, depending on conditions.

Swimming in the first gorge is permanently closed, so a swim happens further up. NT Parks listed boat tours as open. Check the park status page before you set out, because bushfire, flooding or maintenance can close the park without warning.

If you are planning a longer Top End trip, Kakadu National Park is the other big stop in the region.

Sources for this section: NT Government, Nitmiluk Gorge and Nitmiluk National Park; Nitmiluk Tours, Timeless Land Three Gorge Tour.

What to bring

• A hat, sunscreen and protective clothing.
• Shoes that grip on uneven ground, for the walks between boats.
• Insect repellent.
• A swimsuit on the three gorge tour.

Drinking water and toilets are on board, though the toilets are limited, so Nitmiluk Tours advises using the facilities before you board. Book through Nitmiluk Tours on 08 8971 0064, as prices, times and seasons can change.

Sources for this section: Nitmiluk Tours, NitNit Dreaming Two Gorge Tour and Timeless Land Three Gorge Tour.

Sources

1. Nitmiluk Tours, NitNit Dreaming Two Gorge Tour: nitmiluktours.com.au
2. Nitmiluk Tours, Timeless Land Three Gorge Tour: nitmiluktours.com.au
3. Nitmiluk Tours, Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Dinner Tour: nitmiluktours.com.au
4. Nitmiluk Tours, Southern Rockhole Ferry: nitmiluktours.com.au
5. Nitmiluk Tours, Walk Nitmiluk: nitmiluktours.com.au
6. NT Government, Nitmiluk National Park: nt.gov.au
7. NT Government, Nitmiluk Gorge: nt.gov.au