Nitmiluk National Park
Encyclopedia
Nitmiluk National Park which is in the Northern Territory
of Australia
, 244 km southeast of Darwin
, has been established 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
.
These 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
.
The gorges can be explored by canoe and flat bottomed boat. In the dry season the gorges become separated as the level of the river falls. They are interconnected in the wet.
There is a visitor centre located at the Katherine Gorge, about 30 km east of the town of Katherine
. Information displays are set up that explain the geology, landscape and aboriginal history of the National Park. Tours can be booked at the centre or at the visitor centre in the town.
During the Dry, roughly from April to October, the Katherine Gorge waters are placid in most spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing. There may be freshwater crocodile
s in most parts of the river, as they nest along the banks, but they are harmless to humans. Saltwater crocodile
s 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 when the Dry season begins. Thus, swimming in Wet season is prohibited. Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge.
s are widely distributed along the river year-round and, ONLY during the wet season, Saltwater Crocodile
s occasionally enter the gorge due to the rise in water levels (after which they are caught and relocated to lower levels when the dry season begins.) Bird species that can be seen include Osprey, Red Tailed Black-Cockatoo, Great Bowerbird, White Gaped Honeyeater and Red Winged Parrot.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 244 km southeast of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, has been established around a series of gorges on the Katherine River
Katherine River
Katherine River is located in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its headwaters are in Nitmiluk National Park, it flows through the town of Katherine, and is a major tributary of the Daly River....
and Edith Falls
Edith Falls
Edith Falls is a series of waterfalls and pools in Nitmiluk National Park, located about 60 km north of Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia. The falls are part of Edith River. There are trails to the top of the escarpment, allowing visitors to view the waterfalls. Edith Falls is...
. Previously named Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171 km southeast of Darwin.Kakadu National Park is located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It covers an area of , extending nearly 200 kilometres from north to south and over 100 kilometres...
.
These gorges and the surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn
Jawoyn
The Jawoyn people are a group of Indigenous Australians living in the Northern Territory of Australia.Their country is around the Katherine Gorge area, which they have always called Nitmiluk, which means place of cicada dreaming....
people, who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park.
In Jawoyn, Nitmiluk means place of the cicada
Cicada
A cicada is an insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha , in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. There are about 2,500 species of cicada around the world, and many of them remain unclassified...
dreaming
Dreaming (spirituality)
The Dreaming is a common term within the animist creation narrative of indigenous Australians for a personal, or group, creation and for what may be understood as the "timeless time" of formative creation and perpetual creating....
.
The gorges can be explored by canoe and flat bottomed boat. In the dry season the gorges become separated as the level of the river falls. They are interconnected in the wet.
There is a visitor centre located at the Katherine Gorge, about 30 km east of the town of Katherine
Katherine, Northern Territory
Katherine is a town situated southeast of Darwin in the "Top End" of Australia in the Northern Territory. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory after the capital Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs...
. Information displays are set up that explain the geology, landscape and aboriginal history of the National Park. Tours can be booked at the centre or at the visitor centre in the town.
Katherine Gorge
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 follow the Katherine River, which begins in Kakadu.During the Dry, roughly from April to October, the Katherine Gorge waters are placid in most spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing. There may be freshwater crocodile
Freshwater Crocodile
The freshwater crocodile , also known as the Australian freshwater crocodile, Johnston's crocodile or colloquially as freshie, is a species of reptile endemic to the northern regions of Australia...
s in most parts of the river, as they nest along the banks, but they are harmless to humans. Saltwater crocodile
Saltwater Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile, also known as estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile, is the largest of all living reptiles...
s 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 when the Dry season begins. Thus, swimming in Wet season is prohibited. Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge.
Wildlife
Freshwater CrocodileFreshwater Crocodile
The freshwater crocodile , also known as the Australian freshwater crocodile, Johnston's crocodile or colloquially as freshie, is a species of reptile endemic to the northern regions of Australia...
s are widely distributed along the river year-round and, ONLY during the wet season, Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile, also known as estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile, is the largest of all living reptiles...
s occasionally enter the gorge due to the rise in water levels (after which they are caught and relocated to lower levels when the dry season begins.) Bird species that can be seen include Osprey, Red Tailed Black-Cockatoo, Great Bowerbird, White Gaped Honeyeater and Red Winged Parrot.