Northern Territory Attractions

Katherine
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.

Tennant Creek
Tennant Creek in on the Stuart Highway 502 km north of Alice Springs. Halfway between Katherine and Alice Springs, are the remote and tiny settlements of Barkly Tablelands and Tennant Creek representing colorful outback pubs, friendly people and flourishing mining ventures. These huge boulders spread along a broad shallow valley where they rest on top of each other. Towards the west of Tennant Creek are the sister rock formations The Devil's Pebbles.

The Tennant Creek houses some of the very ancient buildings like the Old Tennant Creek Hospital and National Trust Headquarters, and the old Catholic Church. Gold has been discovered in the hills surrounding the town, by the locals, which has been the cause of increase in the population. There are still some smaller mines operating in the area.