Katherine Tourist Information
Katherine Tourist Information
Welcome to the town of Katherine, Northern Territory
Katherine boasts a population of 10,500 and is The Top End's second biggest town. It is also the fastest growing city in the Northern Territory with an ever increasing number of tourists favouring Katherine as their winter retreat. It is extremely rare to encounter any rain whatsoever during the winter months. Katherine is a hub offering excellent facilities to travellers who select Katherine as their base to make day trips to Litchfield Park, Mataranka, Edith Falls and scenic flights to Kakadu and the Bungle Bungles, in addition to the numerous local attractions.
Katherine's River, the first perennial running water along the route north from Alice Springs, was originally dubbed The Catherine by John McDouall Stuart in 1862 after his patron's daughter, but the spelling changed and the town of Katherine was eventually settled to service the Overland Telegraph Line.
The township has since grown rapidly, partcularly in recent years due, in part, to the development of the Tindall RAAF base in 1987. Today, tourism is a major industry along with beef, mining and horticulture production. Katherine also features one of the largest mango plantations in Australia. The Region, it is said, even boasts more visitors to Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) each year than to Uluru/Ayers Rock. Many travellers are now realizing that The Top End is no longer unwelcoming in The Wet as there is so much to enjoy. The temperature is no warmer than many southern cities but The Top End transforms into a beautiful, lush region teeming with wildlife and boasting magnificent falls.
For the first two weeks of September, Katherine presents the best it has to offer with its annual Flying Fox Festival. Such an important centre, there's always lots going on and in June there is a welter of sporting events based around the Gorge, plus the Katherine Show.
