Swimming
Timber Creek & Victoria River
TIMBER CREEK AND THE VICTORIA RIVER
Timber Creek
Timber Creek was named in 1855 when the explorer Augustus Gregory used timber from the banks of the creek to repair his expedition’s boat. The first inhabitants were the Nagaliwurra and Nangali Aboriginal people, decedents of whom still live in Timber Creek. Today, this small town has a range of accommodation, activities and other facilities for the traveller. Walk along the Heritage Trail to see wildlife, historic sites and pioneer graves.
Top Springs
This rugged road junction links the Buntine Highway and Buchanan Highway and houses the Top Springs Hotel / Roadhouse. Nearby springs provider a relaxing swimming spot. Accommodation, meals, fuel and basic groceries are available from the Roadhouse.
Top Springs Hotel
Accommodation types vary from single backpacker rooms through to hotel and motel rooms, with grassed areas also available for camping and caravan sites. Facilities include a laundry and a communal camp kitchen.
You can enjoy a game of pool or darts in the pub. The hotel has dining facilities with an A la Carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a spacious outdoor area for Alfresco dining. Take away food and snacks
are also available. You can also stock up with supplies at the general store or just pull in to refuel. Diesel and Unleaded. NO LPG is available.
Contact details:
Buntine Highway, Top Springs NT 0852
Phone | +61 8 8975 0767
Email | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: http://topspringshotel.com.au/
Victoria River Crossing
The Victoria River Crossing is 194km west of Katherine. The Stunning escarpment country provided the perfect backdrop for fishing and boat cruises, with Red Valley Gorge providing a shady and scenic rest area. The Roadhouse is close to the crossing, with camping and accommodation available. You can even take a helicopter flight over the incredible landscape.
Travelling west from Katherine lays the Victoria River Region. Diverse and awe-inspiring in landforms, history, heritage, abundant wildlife, climate and economic pursuits, the region challenges you to discover its unique attractions.
The Victoria Region covers an expansive area, of which Gregory National Park covers approximately 13,000 sq km. It's affectionately known as “The Vic” and is considered the backbone of the Region. The Vic is a lifeline for pastoral properties; a guardian angel for aboriginal heritage and a tour guide for recreational pursuits. As protective as The Vic can be she can also be unrelenting in her domain. In flood her power is awesome; in arid times she demands survival.
Whether it’s a 4x4 trek in the National Park, desert discovery, nature watching, fishing or cruising the mighty Vic, hiking and bushwalking, scenic flying, magical photography, experiencing the wet season and its thunderstorms or sipping your favourite beverage at sunset, the Region offers an experience for you. The escarpment country is beautiful and in the wet season, waterfalls flow straight off the escarpment. You can take a scenic helicopter flight from the Victoria River Roadhouse over the escarpment and mighty Victoria River.
The Vic is a mecca for fishing and produces some of the Territory’s best and biggest Barramundi. “Barra” can be caught all year round but the best time is on a neap tide, between the months of March to late May-coinciding with the end of the monsoon season called the “Run-off”. It is VERY important to remember that Estuarine Crocodiles (salties) inhabit this area, so please observe all safety precautions/signs around any waterway in this region.
Victoria River Roadhouse Hotel/Motel
Victoria Hwy, Victoria River NT 0852
Telephone: (08) 8975 0744
Facsimile: (08) 8975 0819
Big Horse Creek Campground
7km west of Timber Creek, the Big Horse Creek is a popular base for anglers. The grounds offer toilets, fireplaces, limited drinking water and a cement boat ramp which can be used year-round.
Campgrounds - Lot 89, Victoria Highway,
Timber Creek NT 08512
Phone: 08 8975 0888
The Buntine Highway runs roughly parallel to the Victoria Highway and offers an alternate route into Western Australia. The road links Dunmurra (NT) with Halls Creek (WA) and passes through Top Springs.
Escarpment Lookout Walk
Located just west of the Victoria River Crossing, this short walk is steep in sections and provides panoramic views of the soaring red rocky escarpments of the Victoria River Valley.
Gregory National Park
This park covers an area of about 13,000km sq and features spectacular gorge scenery, rare wildlife species, and significant traces of Aboriginal culture, European exploration and pastoral history. It is divided into 2 sections – the Victoria river sector in the east and the Gregory sector in the west. The Victoria river sector is near the Victoria River crossing and winds through 250 meter high tablelands, creating dramatic red cliffs. The large Gregory sector lies just outside Timber Creek.
In the Gregory sector, Limestone Gorge provides superb photographic opportunities. Also of interest is the old cattle property outstation, Bullita Homestead, with its traditional timber stockyards. Facilities at both Bullita and Limestone gorge camping areas include BBQ’s, picnic tables and pit toilets (note: the campground at Limestones Gorge is currently closed). Those with a 4WD will love exploring the network or 4x4 tracks.
For more information, contact the Parks and Wildlife office at Timber Creek on (08) 8975 0888. No pets allowed in the park.
Gregory's Tree
Gregory’s tree is located 15km northwest of Timber Creek. This large boab tree stands at the campsite of the early explorer Augustus Charles Gregory’s north Australian expedition which was undertaken between October 1855 and July 1856. Inscribed in the tree by Gregory are the expedition dates. The Tree also has special significance to the local Ngaringman Aboriginal people and is registered as a sacred site.
Heritage Trail
The Heritage trail begins behind the council building and follows a series of historic sites and pioneer graves. This also provides a great spot for viewing wildlife.
Joe Creek Walk
A 90-minute walk of moderate grade, ascending to the base of the escarpment and to a breathtaking view. Aboriginal artwork can be viewed at a site along the walk, and a barbecue, picnic tables and toilet are provided. Day use only.
Keep River National Park
Entry to this park is 3km east of the Northern Territory and Western Australian border. The park is known for its striking landforms, similar in structure to the Bungle Bungles. There are some excellent bushwalking tracks that explore the rugged terrain of sandstone formations, including the Keep River Gorge and some Aboriginal art sites. Short-eared rock wallabies, white-quilled rock pigeons and sandstone shrike thrush are some of the interesting animals that inhabit this area. Two camping areas are provided within the park, with BBQ’s, tables, pit toilets and walking tracks. Gurrandalng campground is located 15km from the Victoria Highway, with Jarnem campground further along the track, located 28km from the highway. Drinking water is available at Jarnem campground and 2kms from the Ranger Station. No Pets Allowed.
Kuwang Lookout
47km east of Timber Creek, the Kuwang lookout offers views towards the Stokes Range and houses an interpretive display featuring creation stories of the local Aboriginal people.
Policeman's Point Lookout
A short drive west of Timber Creek, this lookout offers views of the Victoria River winding through rugged hills and ranges. Policemen’s Point offers a good spot to fish from the bank or take in the majesty of the Victoria River.
Police Station Museum
The museum offers an insight into the history of the area and provides artefacts and photographs on the area. The original ‘lock-up’ is also present and helps highlight the hardships faced during the settlement of Outback Australia.
Pine Creek & Hayes Creek
PINE CREEK and SOUTHERN KAKADU
The town of Pine Creek is located 90km north of Katherine at the junction of the Stuart and Kakadu Hwys. Local Aboriginal peoples of the area are the Wagiman, Mayall, Arigoolia and Jawoyn.
Overland Telegraph line construction worker Sidney Herbert named Pine Creek in 1870. Herbert noted, “This creek was by no means large, but was remarkable for the pines growing there.”
During construction of the Overland Telegraph Line, posthole diggers discovered traces of gold and this led to the gold rush of 1871. Pine creek became a busy little mining town and around the year 1885 there were about 200 Europeans and 4000 Chinese working the goldfields
Today, Pine Creek is a small friendly town that has food, fuel, accommodation and health services to cater to visitor’s needs. Local attractions include the collections of historic buildings and sites from the mining days, gorges and swimming holes.
Pine Creek holds the Gold Rush Festival annually in June, featuring the local gold-panning championships. The Pine Creek Races are held annually in May at Pussy Cat Flats Racecourse.
Pine Creek is an ideal spot for bird watching, with the largest number of bird species in the Northern Territory – including the elusive Hooded Parrot.
MINE LOOKOUT
Access to the lookout is via a steep bitumen road close to the centre of Pine Creek Township (no caravans). This lookout gives a panoramic view of the Enterprise Pit which is an open cut mine, now full of water to the depth of 135 meters. It began as the Enterprise Shaft in1906 and was worked intermittently until 1985 when Pine Creek Goldfields developed the open-cut mine. During the 10-year life span of the goldfields mine 764,000 ounces of gold were extracted. Old Chinese mine shafts can also be viewed at the top of the lookout. Sunset views are spectacular from this vantage point.
MINERS PARK
This park is located next to the Railway Station and the old Station Master’s residence. It houses historic mining machinery from old mines in the Pine Creek area. Interpretive signs and displays give a comprehensive picture of life on the goldfields and the history of mining in the region. It is the venue for the Australia day festivities and local gold panning championships held each year.
NATIONAL TRUST MUSEUM
Pine Creek is the only original mining town remaining in the Top End from the gold rush. Two National Trust properties remain as reminders of this fascinating era. The Pine Creek Museum building, originally the home of the mining warden in Burrundie, was moved to Pine Creek in 1913. Over the decades it has been used as a doctor’s residence, clinic, dispensary, military hospital, post office and exchange, and now houses a local history exhibit. Public internet access is available on site at the library.
The Pine Creek Railway Station is a relic of the former North Australia Railway, which was extended to Pine Creek in 1889 during the gold rush. During World War II Pine Creek played an important role, as it was one of the four dispersal bases on the North Australian Railway with up to 147 services a week. Today visitors can see the railway building waiting rooms, a goods shed, the house of the railway employee and the original Beyer Peacock locomotives and TA class diesel-electric shunting engine.
Entry by gold coin donation. Please contact 0475848459 for entry.
OLD BAKERY
This interesting corrugated iron building was originally built at Mt Diamond around 1908 by Jimmy Ah Toy’s father, who used it as a butcher shop. It was dismantled and re-erected on its present site in 1915. The ant bed oven dates from 1922. It operated as a bakery until WW2.
RAILWAY STATION MUSEUM AND STEAM LOCOMOTIVE
The Pine Creek Railway Station is a relic of the former North Australia Railway, which was extended to Pine Creek in 1889 during the gold rush. During World War II Pine Creek played an important role, as it was one of the four dispersal bases on the North Australian Railway with up to 147 services a week. Today visitors can see the railway building waiting rooms, a goods shed, the house of the railway employee and the original Beyer Peacock locomotives and TA class diesel-electric shunting engine.
Entry by gold coin donation. Please contact 0475848459 for entry.
UMBRAWARRA GORGE
This gorge is located 22km south-west of Pine Creek, further along from Lake Copperfield. It features swimming holes with sandy beaches sheltered by the steep red gorge walls. The first group of deep swimming pools is about 15-minute walk from the car park. Magnificent cliff-top views and secluded waterholes will reward the adventurous, with the local bushland abounding with wildlife. Camping and toilet facilities are available, road access during the wet season may be restricted. For more information on Umbrawarra Gorge click here to go to the National Parks Website.
WALKTHROUGH TIME FOOTPATH
Heading south from the railway station and locomotive is the historic “Walk through Time” footpath, which is made up of nine bays of tiles painted by local artists. The tiles from a timeline along the footpath, commemorating people who have made a contribution to Pine Creek, from the Aboriginal people to the miners and pastoralists of the 1960s. More tile bays will be added in the future.
WATER GARDENS
When the railway lines closed in1976, the disused cutting became the Water Gardens, this tropical garden is situated in the centre of town and has shaded picnic tables overlooking lily covered ponds.
Pine Creek Railway Resort
17 stylishly furnished cabins ranging from single, queen, self-contained and family cabins. The resort has been in operation since 2009 and is rated 4.5 stars. Facilities include air-conditioned cabins with comfy beds, Foxtel, a lagoon-style shaded swimming pool and a restaurant built in the shape of two trains parked at a Railway Station.
Contact:
Address: 1 Railway Tce, Pine Creek NT 0847
Postal: PO Box 182, Pine Creek NT 0847
Phone. 08 8976 1001
Mobile. 0428 100 964
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Web: http://www.pinecreekrailwayresort.com.au/
Lazy Lizard
The Lazy Lizard is in the heart of the historic Pine Creek in Australia's Outback Northern Territory. Perfect base for Bird Watchers. It is also at the gateway to World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. Come and experience the rustic charm, warm welcome and great food at the Lazy Lizard. The Lazy Lizard Tavern is a unique outback tavern, constructed from termite mound-mud brick, and local ironwood featuring beautifully carved images of the local wildlife. A Must See - the Lazy Lizard is also pet friendly as long as kept on a leash. It also has a saltwater swimming pool.
A range of accommodation is available:
Unpowered & powered sites for camping and caravans
Backpackers - single beds, twin share and dorm rooms.
Single Rooms - king single bed with linen supplied, air-con, coffee & tea making facilities, fridge, ensuite
Self-contained cabins - queen bed with linen supplied, air-con, kitchenette with crockery & cutlery, dining area, coffee & tea making facilities, fridge, satellite TV/DVD and verandah with outdoor setting.
The restaurant & bar is open from 10 am to late every day. Eat-in or take away fresh cooked meals.
Kitchen Opening Hours: Lunch: 12 pm to 3 pm, Dinner: 6 pm to 8 pm (Fresh homemade Pizzas will be served all day long)
Bottlemart Express with over 70 regular items, with prices on special being the same as Darwin Bottlemart outlets.
Contact:
299 Millar Terrace, Pine Creek NT 0847
Phone: 08 8976 1019 * Fax: 08 8976 1066
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Web: http://lazylizardpinecreek.com.au
facebook - lazylizardpinecreek
Mataranka & Roper River
About Mataranka & The Roper River
Mataranka is known as the ‘Capital or the Never Never’. This area was home to Aeneas and Jeanie Gunn; Jeanie wrote the famous book about Elsey Stations titled ‘We of the Never Never’ which is now part of Australia’s folklore. A visit to the station cemetery and the homestead replica helps capture the sense of isolation and hardship confronting these early settlers. It is claimed that once you visit Mataranka you’ll Never Never leave! Today, Mataranka is a modern town with all the services a visitor expects. A full range of accommodation, facilities, experiences and attractions suggests a three or four day stay is needed.
Elsey National Park
is a 13,800-hectare park, made famous in Jeannie Gunn's popular novel 'We of the Never Never'. There are peaceful swimming spots, Aboriginal and World War II history,
fishing and boating. You could easily stay a few days and find it hard to leave the natural beauty of Bitter Springs, which is in the northern end of the park.
A 500m waterway is fed by an underground spring that gently flows down a watercourse lined with cabbage palms. At Elsey National Park, you can swim, camp, boat, bushwalk, fish and view historical sites. For more info, visit the national park website here.
Mataranka Thermal Pool is another favourite and known for its warm springs, which are around 30°C and pump out 30.5 megalitres of water each day.
Mataranka Thermal Pool
A short walk from Mataranka Homestead brings you to this sandy-bottomed pool surrounded by palms. A constant 34°C, it flows from Rainbow Springs at an amazing 30.5 million litres each day.
The area around the pool is a natural breeding ground for the Little Red Flying Fox. Usually, breeding season is during the tropical summer, however, can extend beyond this.
The chattering of these flying fox colonies along the banks of the Roper River adds tropical charm to the palm-fringed crystal clear pools. The turn off is 1.5km south of Mataranka.
Bitter Springs
This tropical spring-fed and the mineral-rich thermal pool are only 2km from Mataranka. A short walk from the car park amongst palm sand tropical woodlands will lead you to the main swimming area. A short walk takes you around the whole pool and informative signage explains about its formation and the vegetation of the local area. Toilet facilities, picnic benches and barbecues are available.
Elsey Cemetery
Located 21km south of Mataranka, gravestones mark the resting place of many of the characters written about in Jeannie Gunn’s book ‘We of the Never Never’. Follow the signs from the Stuart Highway.
The Never Never Museum
Located behind the Council Chambers in the centre of town, this museum displays information on Aboriginal history, the North Australian Railway,
Overland Telegraph Line construction and World War II. The keys are available from the Rural Transaction Centre Monday to Friday.
Elsey Homestead Replica
Located at the Mataranka Homestead Resort, this is an authentic copy of the original hand hewn cypress pine homestead. It was constructed for the film ‘We of the Never Never’ and now displays historic information and artefacts. The film is shown daily at the resort for visitors to enjoy.
Roper Bar
The Roper Bar is 180km along the Roper Highway and well known as a great place to catch Barramundi. It is where Leichhardt’s expedition of 1845 crossed the Roper River which was named for John Roper, a member of this party. The bar was built in the early 1900s as part of the supply route for the Overland Telegraph line. Accommodation, camping, fuel and a store are available. Turn east from the Stuart Highway, 7km south of Mataranka.
Roper River
This is one of the world’s truly great rivers. The headwaters at Mataranka have crystal clear springs flowing into it all year and are the starting point for a 250km journey east to the sea.
The river travels through the largest stand of Livistona rigida palms and its beautiful emerald green waters are home to the famous Barramundi. The river flows through Elsey National Park – launch your own boat at the 4 miles or 12-mile yards (max. 15hp outboard, small boats not recommended) and catch Barramundi. Saltwater Crocodiles inhabit the Roper River and visitors are advised to Be Crocwise. There are some great bushwalks in the National Park – to the Mataranka Falls and Tufa Dam, a 1.5km Botanic Walk along the John Hauser Drive, take a picnic basket and enjoy the solitude of Stevie’s Hole, just a short walk from the Mataranka Homestead.
Mataranka is the traditional country of the Mangaraya and Yangman Aboriginal people. Some of their artwork can be seen in the Stockyard Gallery in the township. While in town, visit the historic Mataranka Hotel, the museum and the giant Talking Termite Mound at Stan Martin Park – where many of the characters from the book and film ‘We of the Never Never’ can be seen.
The Termite Mound
In the centre of town is the world’s largest man-made termite mound.
Rural Transaction Centre
The Mataranka Rural Transaction Centre in the main street provides various services including a full postal service, an internet centre, video hire, Medicare and Centrelink access points and a library.
Ngukurr
About Ngukurr
Getting to Ngukurr
Population
973 People reside in Ngukurr with a median age of 23 years old.
Outstations
Boomerang Lagoon, Badawarka, Costello, Lake Katherine, Manbu Manbu, Ngaliwan, Namaliwirri, Ruined City, Turkey Lagoon, Wanmurri and Urapunga.
Languages
The people of Ngukurr speak Kriol, Ngalakan, Alawa and English.
Contacts
Paul Amarant – Ngukurr Council Service Manager (CSM)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: (08) 8975 4656
Nathan Rosas – Government Engagement Coordinator (GEC)
Phone: (08) 8975 4387
Access
Ngukurr is accessible by road, air and water. The gravel, Roper Highway is well maintained and can be used by conventional cars during the dry season and 4WD during the wet season. Travel time by road is approximately 3.5 hours from Katherine. Air travel chartered from Darwin is two hours or one hour from Katherine. The airstrip is an all-weather strip and sealed. There is also a landing at Ngukurr for Barge travel. Only during severe flooding at the Roper and Wilton Rivers which occurs only sporadically does the road become inaccessible.
Please be advised that Ngukurr is a closed community; a Northern Land Council (NLC) permit is required to visit this community.
Attractions
Ngukurr Services
Roper Gulf Regional Council provides a range of Local Government services in Ngukurr including road maintenance and repair, airstrip maintenance and repair traffic management, rubbish collection, upkeep of parks, gardens and weed maintenance, community safety through Night Patrol, companion animal welfare and control, assets and fleet management, sport and recreation, governance support as well as providing access to Centrelink, community care programs for the elderly and the children on behalf of other government agencies. Roper Gulf Regional Council also operates the Remote Jobs and Communities Program (RJCP) in the community of Ngukurr.
Also located in Ngukurr are a Health Clinic, School, Store with fuel available, Arts Centre, motel, Airstrip, Boat Jetty, Government Office and Police Station.
There are currently two public telephones in Ngukurr and also Telstra 3G Telephone and Internet coverage. Digital television is connected to all homes and local radio is provided through Roper Gulf Regional Council’s Remote Indigenous Broadcast Services (RIBS). If you would like a message to be broadcasted in Ngukurr, please complete this form.
Local Government and Local Authority Meetings (Governance)
The Roper Gulf Regional Council provides local government in Ngukurr, which sits in the Yugal Mangi Ward.
The Council’s Headquarters is located in Katherine, NT with a Service Delivery Centre located in Ngukurr.
Manyallaluk (Eva Valley)
About Manyallaluk
History
From 1920 to 1960 the area around Maranboy was mined for tungsten, tin and copper. In 1940 a cattle station was established in Manyallaluk and employed local people to catch wild buffalo. Four mud-brick buildings from this era, consisting of a homestead, stable, meat house and admin office, have survived.
Population
105 People reside in Manyallaluk with a medium age of 20 years old.
Languages
The people of Manyallaluk speak Alawa, Kriol, Maiyali and English.
Contacts
Anne Maree Low – Manyallaluk Council Service Manager (CSM)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: (08) 8975 4055
Access
From Katherine to Manyallaluk takes just over an hour. Heading south turn onto the Central Arnhem Highway (signposted as Barunga/Beswick/Ngulunbuy) and drive to the Manyallaluk turnoff. Travel for 37km on a dirt road to Manyallaluk community. During the wet season, the dirt road can be closed for a few days due to flooding.
Manyallaluk may also be accessed via chartered small aircraft.
Please be advised that Manyallaluk is a closed community; a Northern Land Council (NLC) permit is required to visit this community.
Manyallaluk Services
Roper Gulf Regional Council provides a range of Local Government services in Manyallaluk including road maintenance and repair, traffic management, rubbish collection, airstrip maintenance and repair, upkeep of parks, gardens and weed maintenance, community safety through Night Patrol, companion animal welfare and control, assets and fleet management, sport and recreation, governance support as well as providing access to Centrelink, community care programs for the elderly and children on behalf of other government agencies. Roper Gulf Regional Council also operates the Remote Jobs and Communities Program (RJCP) in Manyallaluk.
Other services include Health Clinic, Primary School and Airstrip.
Local Police are located at Maranboy half an hour back along the Central Arnhem Highway towards Barunga.
There is currently one public telephone in Manyallaluk. There is no Fuel at Manyallaluk.
Local Government and Local Authority Meetings (Governance)
The Roper Gulf Regional Council provides local government in Manyallaluk, which sits in the Nyirranggulung Ward. The Council’s Headquarters is located in Katherine, NT with a Service Delivery Centre located in Manyallaluk.
An integral part of the community consultation process in the community of Manyallaluk occurs through Manyallaluk Local Authority Meetings. The Local Authority is made up of the Elected Member/s whom sit on Council for the Nyirranggulung Ward and nominated representatives from the community. All other stakeholders in Manyallaluk are also invited to attend the Local Authority Meetings. The resolutions made at these meetings form the basis of all planning made by Roper Gulf Regional Council.
Cultural Centres
Manyallaluk
Manyallaluk Aborinal Cultural Tours
Manyallaluk Tours, for example, at Eva Valley, is one of the Territory’s longest-running tourist operations and has been in place since 1991.
The Manyallaluk Art and Craft Centre is a community-owned organisation that features the work of local Aboriginal artists.
Artists paint on canvas and stringybark, using handmade ochre pigment or acrylic paint in traditional colours. Painted didgeridoos, small sculptural pieces, firesticks and clapsticks are also available. Paintings abound with images of animal life, bush tucker and stories of cultural significance.
Colourful baskets, mats and dilly bags are crafted by the women using natural fibres and dyes found in the area. They also produce jewellery from seeds and gum nuts.
Location and Access
Manyallaluk is located 100km drive from Katherine. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes by car. The last 35km of the road is unsealed and may only be accessed by 4WD in the wet season.
Our operating months are April through November with optimal weather conditions being from May to early September. We welcome any visitors who would like to visit the Art and Craft Centre or stay in our camping ground and caravan park which are open year-round.
