Katherine is the largest town next to Darwin at the Top End of the Northern territory. All the major highways converge here. This area is indeed stunning as the locals claim that the tourists visiting this place never want to leave it. One of the major attractions in the region is the Nitmiluk National Park, which is the most beautiful of all, probably because of the delicate rainforest which grows in the gorges. The Katherine Canyon houses a tunnel-like cathedral that leads to Butterfly Gorge. The Hanging gardens plays abode to various rock springs, delicate ferns and swallows'caves where tiny martins line the roof with mud nests. It also hosts a large variety of fish, crocodiles, parrots, finches and lorikeets.
Mataranka is another ideal spot in the area that has a crystal clear thermal pool fringed with palms. To the south of Katherine are the Cutta Caves displaying an underground system of caverns stretching for 700 meters. The Victoria River features the impressive sandstone Stokes Ranges, housing enchanting rock formations and superb fishing. The area hosts the Burunga Sport and Cultural festival each year in June whereas the Mataranka Bushman's Carnival is in August. The region was earlier, famous for its cattle industry but now is gaining more popularity because of its flourishing tourism industry.
