TRAVEL TUESDAY 550 - KATHERINE GORGE, NT, AUSTRALIA

“We from the south are becoming more and more conscious of the Northern Territory, and are realising what a remarkable future the Territory has... the people of the out-back work under difficult conditions, and their efforts; skill and cheerfulness will make the Territory a great producing area. You are not forgotten.” - Robert Menzies

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Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is a stunning 13-gorge system carved by the Katherine River through ancient sandstone in Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory. Located 30 km northeast of the town of Katherine, it is celebrated for its towering cliffs, Aboriginal rock art, and diverse outback wildlife.

The best way to experience the area includes: River Cruises, that range from casual sightseeing, sunset dinner and to cultural cruises. Renting a canoe gives you the freedom to paddle through the serene gorges and swim in hidden spots. Helicopter scenic flights provide a spectacular aerial view of the entire gorge system. The park also features a variety of trails, including the multi-day Jatbula Trail and shorter walks to Sweetwater Pool.

The gorge is a 3.5-hour drive south from Darwin along the Stuart Highway. The best time to visit is during the Dry Season (April to October), which is ideal for swimming and canoeing, as the waters are placid and accessible. The Traditional Owners of the land are the Jawoyn people, with Nitmiluk translating to "cicada place" in their traditional language.

Katherine is the town in the Northern Territory closest to the Gorge. It is situated on the Katherine River, after which it is named, 320 kilometres southeast of Darwin. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory, it is known as the place where "The outback meets the tropics". Katherine had an urban population of 9,643 at the 2021 Australia Census.

Katherine is also the closest major town to RAAF Base Tindal, located 17 km southeast, and provides education, health, local government services and employment opportunities for the families of Defence personnel stationed there. In the 2016 census, the base had a residential population of 857, with only around 20% of the workforce engaged in employment outside of defence, the majority commuting to work in Katherine. Katherine is also the central hub of the great "Savannah Way" which stretches from Cairns in north Queensland to Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 426 - NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK, AUSTRALIA

“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home.”

– Australian Aboriginal Proverb

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and share it with the rest of us.

Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only. Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Previously named Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park. The gorges and the surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people, who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park. In Jawoyn, Nitmiluk means "place of the cicada dreaming".

Katherine Gorge, a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River, is the central attraction of the park. Katherine Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges, with rapids and falls, and follows the Katherine River, which begins in Kakadu. During the Dry Season, roughly from April to October, the Katherine Gorge waters are placid in most spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing. There may be freshwater crocodiles in most parts of the river, as they nest along the banks, but they are harmless to humans.

Saltwater crocodiles regularly enter the river during the wet season, when the water levels are very high, and are subsequently removed and returned to the lower levels at the onset of the dry season. Thus, swimming in the Wet Season is prohibited, as crocodiles don't respond to swimmers' questioning them if they are fresh or saltwater ones. Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge.

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