6. Go underground at the Cutta Cutta Caves
Take the winding boardwalk down through the Cutta Cutta Caves, one of Australia's only tropical limestone cave systems, a short drive south of Katherine. See fascinating stalactites of all shapes and sizes sprouting from the ceiling and crystals that look like spun sugar adorning the walls. The caves shelter the rare ghost bat and horseshoe bat. Guided one-hour tours run daily.
7. Relax in the Katherine Hot Springs
After a busy day exploring, relax your muscles in the clear water of Katherine Hot Springs on the banks of the Katherine River, just outside the Katherine township. Take the raised walking path to a viewing platform where you can see the source of the spring water, which is a constant average of 32 degrees—perfect for swimming in all year round.
8. Discover old treasures
Housed in an original World War II air terminal, the charming Katherine Museum preserves a wide and eclectic collection of Aboriginal artefacts, photographs, furniture, maps, tools and pioneer memorabilia. See the Overland Telegraph display of objects dating back to 1872, the planetarium made by a Russian peanut farmer and the first flying doctor, Dr Clyde Fenton's De Havilland Gypsy Moth plane he flew in the 1930s.
9. Find the perfect souvenir at Mimi Aboriginal Arts and Crafts
Buy Aboriginal art ethically at Katherine’s Mimi Aboriginal Art and Craft, an Aboriginal-owned, not-for-profit art centre. Paintings star in this excellent gallery, which represents artists in the vast Katherine region of 380 000 square kilometres. There’s a range of locally designed luggage items as well as didgeridoos, wooden plates, boomerangs, fabric pieces and postcards. The gallery is named after the Mimi Spirits, an important part of Aboriginal beliefs.
10. Take your seat under the stars for a real Aussie dinner
Dine under the stars on a true Aussie bush tucker dinner at Marksie’s Stockman’s Camp, in the grounds of the Katherine Art Gallery. Meet ‘Marksie’, a true Territory character whose stories will have you in stitches. Enjoy a traditional camp oven meal by the camp fire and be entertained by great Aussie humour, a campfire sing-along, a ‘damper on a stick’ (the bush version of an ice-cream) and a billy spinning competition.