Katherine Region Will Captivate

Newcastle Herald

Friday April 7, 2000

LONG renowned as the gem of the Northern Territory, Katherine never ceases to amaze the many travellers who visit the region every year.

The Katherine region is the southern part of the great top end of the Northern Territory and is the ideal place to get away from it all.

The region covers 408,000 square kilometres, and the town of Katherine, located 310km out of Darwin on the Stuart Highway, represents the hub or the crossroads of the outback.

The town offers visitors excellent facilities, accommodation and caravan parks, as well as stacks of things to see and do.

The spectacular Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park has always been a popular attraction.

The region is often described as the place where the outback meets the tropics, with each area boasting its own natural attractions and experiences.

The newly opened Flora River Nature Park will captivate visitors with its springs, and tropical riverine forest.

For those wanting to explore a little farther, Pine Creek, located 90 minutes drive north of Katherine, is worth a look.

Rich in history, travellers will get a chance to pan for gold and learn about the mining history of the area.

The Daly River, 200km north of Katherine, has some of the most beautiful untouched areas of the region.

It is home to about 700 people and is a popular spot for fishing and a place to find total serenity.

Katherine boasts some of the finest reserves and parks in the territory.

Elsey National Park, 90 kilometres south of Katherine, is full of walking trails, beautiful waterholes, and palm forests.

The Caranbirni Conservation Reserve in the Bukalara ranges features weathered sandstone formations and lily-covered lagoons that support a wide variety of birdlife. For those seeking peace and quiet, the isolated settlement of Timber Creek is the place to go.

But the town is easy to get to, as it lies between Katherine and Kununurra.

The creek is home to freshwater crocodiles and turtles, and Barramundi can be caught during summer.

Charter flights can be arranged from the Timber Creek airstrip for those wanting to explore the area from the sky.

© 2000 Newcastle Herald

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