Backpacking Katherine, backpacker hostels, accommodation and budget travel information

If you are planning to backpack Katherine, then this page provides information on what backpacker hostels are available here. The page also provides a description of Katherine, information on how to get here and contact details of the local visitor information centre.

The town of Katherine is the largest town between Darwin and Alice Springs. The town’s population of around 10,000 has grown rapidly since the establishment of the Tindal Air Force base just to the south. Katherine subsists primarily on agriculture, cattle husbandry and mining. The town has some historic buildings and the School Of The Air shows how many outback children are taught.

Canoeing the Katherine Gorge
Courtesy Tourism NT

Mataranka Thermal Pool
Courtesy Tourism NT

The main tourist attraction of Katherine, however, is the (Nitmiluk) Katherine Gorge National Park, which contains the magnificent 25 million year old Katherine Gorge. The Gorge is located 30 kilometres to the north-east of Katherine and is actually a series of thirteen gorges on the Katherine River, broken by small cascades. Visitors can hike through the gorge or canoe along it, although, access is limited in the wet season.

Other places worth visiting while you are in Katherine include the Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, which is about 24 kilometres south-east of the town. Here you can do a guided tour through the limestone caves. Further away (103 Kilometres south-east of Katherine) is the Mataranka Thermal Pool. Here you will find a beautiful crystal clear thermal pool surrounded by a pocket of rainforest.

Cutta Cutta Caves
Courtesy Tourism NT

Kookaburra Lodge Cnr Lindsay & Third Katherine, NT 850 Phone (08) 8971 0257	Palm Court Backpackers Cnr Third & Giles St Katherine, NT 850 Phone 1800 626 722
Coco's House 21 First St Katherine, NT 850 Phone (08) 8971 2889	Victoria Lodge 21 Victoria Hwy Katherine, NT 850 Phone (08) 8972 3464