Elsey National Park
The park is 8km from Mataranka and home to historical sites and crystal clear thermal pools. Enjoy a swim, scenic walk or fishing.
Staying safe in parks and reserves
The Northern Territory experiences planned and unplanned fires from May to October which can affect air quality and park access, find out more about:
Elsey National Park is located 120km south of Katherine near Mataranka.
The park is best known for its thermal waters at Bitter Springs and Mataranka Thermal Pool that stay a warm 34°C year round.
It's also popular for boating and fishing with 2 boat ramps and several land fishing locations along the Roper River.
Scenic walks including the World War II Aboriginal Army Camp and historical sites such as the Old Mataranka Sheep Dip are just some of the things you can experience.
Campsites are available at Jalmurark Campground, where Campground hosts are present during peak season (May to September).
The campground is located 16km from Mataranka Thermal Pool and 22km from Bitter Springs.
This park requires visitors to the NT to have a parks pass.
Find out how to be a campground host.
Get the Elsey National Park fact sheet and map PDF (1.1 MB).
Check if the park is open
Parks may close unexpectedly due to bushfires, flooding or park maintenance.
Before you go, check if the park is open.
Prepare and stay safe
To enjoy your trip, find out about safety and rules in the park.
Other activities
- Identifying fish of the Roper River PDF (1.5 MB)
- Fishing in Northern Territory parks PDF (1.6 MB)
- Flying your drone - get permit before you arrive.
How to get there
Elsey National Park is at Mataranka, 120km south of Katherine.
From the Stuart Highway take Martin Road to go to Bitter Springs, Homestead Road to visit the Mataranka Thermal Pools or John Hauser Drive, off Homestead Road for all other sites in the park.