Check if a park is open: Katherine region

Heat warning

Temperatures across the Northern Territory can be very hot between October and April, it can exceed 40°C.

Check for active heatwave warnings before you visit, go to the Bureau of Meteorology website.

Central Australia has dry heat, and the Top End is humid. Both can cause exhaustion and dehydration.

Find out how to prepare and stay safe in the heat.

Conditions and access to parks in the Northern Territory (NT) can change at short notice.

When you plan your trip and before you leave home, you should check:

this page if the park is open
the road conditions on the Road Report website
for active weather warnings on the Bureau of Meteorology website.

For more information and condition updates, each area has a phone number you can contact below.

Barranyi (North Island) National Park

Phone: 08 8973 8888

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Barranyi (North Island) National Park	Open	Paradice Bay campground and loop walk closed permanently.	-
Mud Bay Campground	Open

Caranbirini Conservation Reserve

Phone: 08 8973 8888

Park sites	Status	Forecast opening
Caranbirini Conservation Reserve	Open	-
Jagududgu Loop Walk	Open	-
Barrawulla Loop Walk	Open	-

Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park

Nitmiluk Tours phone: 1300 146 743

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park	Closed	Park and caves closed for 2026 season to enable updgrade to cave lighting.	1 April 2027

Elsey National Park

There are 3 ways to access Elsey National Park.

Read more about what you can see and do in the park.

Before you leave home, check road conditions on the NT Government's Road Report website.

Road access	Status	Forecast opening
Martin Road	Open	-
Homestead Road	Open	-
John Hauser Drive	Open	-

To contact the Ranger Station, phone 08 8973 8888.

You should also check the status for each attraction and site below.

Bitter Springs (via Martins Road)

Activity / Site	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Swimming	Open	The toilet facilities are to be upgraded from 1 October 2026. Visitors must follow signage on site. Some construction noise will occur.	-
Loop walk	Open		-

Mataranka Thermal Pool (via Homestead Road)

Activity / Site	Status	Forecast opening
Swimming	Open	-
Riverside walk - Thermal Pool to Stevie's Hole	Open	-
Riverside walk - Stevie's Hole to Botanic Walk	Open	-

Other locations

Stevie's Hole (via Thermal Pool)		Forecast opening
Walking tracks	Open	-
Botanic Walk (via John Hauser Drive)		Forecast opening
Loop walk	Open	-
Riverside walk - Botanic walk to 4 Mile	Open	-
Riverside walk - Botanic walk to Stevie's Hole/Mataranka Thermal Pool	Open	-
4 Mile (via John Hauser Drive)		Forecast opening
Day use area	Open	-
Boat ramp	Open	-
Riverside walk - 4 Mile to Wabalarr	Open	-
Wabalarr (via John Hauser Drive)		Forecast opening
Day use area	Open	-
Riverside walk - Wabalarr to Mulurark	Open	-
Mulurark (via John Hauser Drive)		Forecast opening
Day use area	Open	-
Riverside walk - Mulurark to Jalmurark/12 Mile	Open	-
Jalmurark (via John Hauser Drive)/12 Mile		Forecast opening
Campground	Open	-
Boat ramp	Open	-
Riverside walk - Jalmurark/12 Mile to Korowan (Mataranka) Falls	Open	-
Korowan–Mataranka Falls (via John Hauser Drive)		Forecast opening
Korowan (Mataranka) Falls	Open	-

Giwining Nature Park

Phone: 08 8973 8888

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Giwining Nature Park	Open
Lorrngorl Campground	Open
Kathleen Falls walk	Open
Djarrung Falls walk	Open

Judbarra / Gregory National Park

Phone: 08 8973 8888

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Judbarra / Gregory National Park	Open		-
Sullivan Campground on Victoria Highway	Open		-
Victoria Gorge Access	Open		-
Escarpment Walk	Closed	Seasonal closure due to extreme heat conditions.	June 2027
Old Victoria Road Crossing	Open		-
Victoria River Boat Ramp	Open		-
Joe Creek and Ngawilbinbin Walk	Closed	Seasonal closure due to extreme heat conditions.	June 2027
Big Horse Campground	Open		-
Big Horse Boat Ramp	Open		-
Gregory's Tree	Open		-
Limestone Gorge Campground	Closed	Closed for the foreseeable future due to impassable access.	-
Limestone Gorge - Calcite Flow Walk	Open		-
Lupayi Campground - Jasper Gorge	Open		-
Gumil Campground and Lookout	Open		-
4WD tracks
Tuwakam Track	Open		-
Wickham Track	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Bullita Access Road	Open		-
Bullita Stock Route Track
Bullita Stock Route Track	Open		-
Bullita Homestead and campground	Open		-
Spring Creek Yard Campground	Open		-
East Baines Crossing Campground	Open		-
Drover’s Rest Campground	Open		-
Gibbie Track
Gibbie Creek Track	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Paperbark Yard Campground	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Humbert Track
Humbert Track	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Top Humbert Campground	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Fig Tree Yard Campground	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Broad Arrow Track
Broad Arrow Track	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Camel Point Campground	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
East Baines Campground	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Escarpment Lookout Campground	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Wilingarri Campground	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027
Depot Creek Campground	Closed	Seasonal closure.	1 June 2027

Keep River National Park

Phone: 08 8973 8888

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Keep River National Park	Open	Accessible to high clearance 4WD vehicles only due to water on access roads.	-
Information Centre	Open		-
Woorrilbem/Cockatoo Lagoon	Open		-
Ginger's Hill Walk	Open		-
Jenemoom Walk	Closed	Seasonal closure due to extreme heat conditions.	June 2027
Goorrandalng Loop Walk	Open		-
Goorrandalng Campground	Open		-
Jarnem Campground	Open		-
Jarnem Walk Nigli Gap	Closed	Seasonal closure due to extreme heat conditions.	June 2027
Jarnem Walk Lookout	Closed	Seasonal closure due to extreme heat conditions.	June 2027
Jarnem Loop Walk	Closed	Seasonal closure due to extreme heat conditions.	June 2027

Limmen Bight Marine Park

Phone: 08 8973 8888

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Limmen Bight Marine Park	Open		-

Limmen National Park

Phone: 08 8973 8888

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Limmen National Park	Open	For any updates on road closures and road conditions, refer to the Road Report NT website.
Butterfly Falls and camping ground	Open
Southern Lost City Day use area	Open	No toilet facilities available.
Southern Lost City campground	Closed	No overnight camping permitted until toilet facilities are reinstalled.
Western Lost City	Closed	Due to fires.	27 October 2026
Munbililla - Tomato Island	Open
Towns River Public Boat Ramp, corner of The Savannah Way	Open
Towns River campground	Open
Limmen River campground	Open
Didi Baba campground	Open
Mountain Creek campground	Open
Yurrlmunji campground	Open

Nitmiluk National Park

Find out more about Nitmiluk National Park.

Check road conditions at the NT Government's Road Report website before you leave home.

To contact the Ranger Station, phone 08 8973 8888.

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Nitmiluk National Park access	Open	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	-

Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Swimming in Katherine River - gorge 1	Closed	Permanently closed to swimming and canoeing.	-
Swimming in Katherine River - gorges 2 and 3	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Swimming in Katherine River - gorges 4 upwards	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Private canoeing (day) - gorges 2 and upriver	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Overnight canoeing	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Fourth Gorge campsite	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Sixth Gorge campsite	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Ninth Gorge campsite	Closed	Please note there are no suitable camping spots in the ninth gorge following the floods. All the sand has been washed away leaving the exposed rock surface.	1 July 2027
Jatbula Trail	Closed		1 June 2027
Northern Rockhole - swimming	Closed		1 June 2027
Baruwei Loop Walk	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Boat tours	Open	For more information contact Nitmiluk Tours on 1300 146 743 or go to the Nitmiluk Katherine website	-

Southern walks and trails

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Windolf Walk	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Southern Rockhole - walk and swimming	Open	Walk open. Swimming not advised due to stagnant water conditions. No swimming in the river. Katherine River - gorge 1 permanently closed to swimming.	-
Butterfly Gorge Walk	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Butterfly Gorge – swimming at river	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Lily Ponds Walk	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Lily Ponds - swimming at river	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Lily Ponds Waterfall - swimming	Closed	Swimming not advised due to stagnant water conditions.	June 2027
Dunlop Swamp - campsite	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Eighth Gorge campsite	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Smitt Rock campsite	Closed	Seasonal river system closure to swimming and canoeing.	June 2027
Smitt Rock Walk (via Yambi Trail)	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Jawoyn Valley Walk	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Eighth Gorge Walk	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Yambi Trail (Windolf Walk junction to Butterfly Gorge Walk junction)	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Yambi Trail (Butterfly Gorge Walk junction to Lily Ponds junction)	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Yambi Trail (Lily Ponds junction to Eighth Gorge junction)	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Waleka Walk (Pats Lookout to Butterfly Gorge junction)	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Waleka Walk (Butterfly Gorge junction to Eighth Gorge)	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-

Mountain bike trails

Park sites	Status	Forecast opening
Jalkwarak Trail	Open	-
Jatete Trail	Open	-
Gurumal Trail	Open	-
Windolf Trail	Open	-
Yambi Trail	Open	-
Waleka Trail	Open	-
Bamjon Trail	Closed	-

Leliyn (Edith Falls)

Park sites	Status	Comments	Forecast opening
Edith Falls (day-use area)	Open		-
Campground	Open		-
Swimming in Edith Falls plunge pool	Open		-
Swimming in upper pool	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Sweetwater Campground	Open	Access is from Leliyn.	-
Swimming in Sweetwater pool	Open		-
Leliyn Loop Walk	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-
Sweetwater and Longhole Walk	Open	Follow the Beat the Heat guide PDF (282.5 KB) for all walks.	-

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