Flora River Nature Park
Overview
Flora River Nature Park is located 122 km south-west of Katherine. The park protects 25 km of the Flora River and an adjacent area of floodplain and savannah woodland.
The principal attraction of the Park is the River with its springs, interesting tufa dams and associated riverine vegetation.
How to Get There
To access the Park, follow the Victoria Highway west from Katherine for 86km and then follow the access road (suitable for 2WD vehicles during the Dry Season of April to October) for another 36km to the Park entrance.
When to Visit
The Park may become inaccessible at times after heavy rain. The most comfortable time of year to visit the Park is in the drier and slightly cooler months from May to October.
What to See and Do
Recreational opportunities along the River, such as fishing, canoeing and boating are possible.
Visitor Facilties
Facilities at the Djarrung campground include a camping area with toilets, showers, drinking water and wood barbecues. Tables and barbecues are provided in the nearby picnic area. Camping fees apply and should be paid in the campground honesty boxes or to the ranger.
Please Remember
- Pets are not permitted in this Park.
- Nets, traps and firearms are also not allowed here.
- Swimming is not recommended, observe warning signs.
- Generators are not permitted in this Park.
Fact Sheet
- Download fact sheet (pdf 557Kb)
Recreational Activities
Swimming is not recommended. Warning signs should be observed.
Other recreational activities and facilities include:
- 4 x 4 Driving
- Boat Ramp
River access for small boats is provided at a canoe and small boat launching facility, 4.3km from the Djarrung Campground. - Camping Permitted
- Canoeing
There is a canoe and small boat launching facility, 4.3km from the Djarrung Campground. Canoe portages are provided over the tufa dams to protect these fragile structures. - Caravan Permitted
- Fishing
- Picnic Tables
- Walking Tracks
Scenic and Cultural Features
The Wardaman people have a rich cultural history. Stories, ceremonies and songs linking the ten clans are performed along a singing trail which traverses the Park. Senior custodians conduct ceremonies in and around the Park's sacred sites.
Plants and Animals
Flora River Nature Park protects two major vegetation communities: open woodland, which consists of widely spaced trees with a grassy understory, and the riverine forest lining the river banks and islands.
Extensive stands of the palm, Livistonia rigida, a plant with limited distribution, are found in the riverine forest along with river pandanus and melaleucas.
The pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta, which was once thought to occur only in Papua New Guinea, has been recorded within the Park. It is only found in a few localities in the Northern Territory. The Park also protects a variety of fish including barramundi, bream, catfish and grunters. Both freshwater, Crocodylus johnstonii, and estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus, are known to inhabit the river.
