Top Things to do in Top End
What to do and see in Top End, Northern Territory: The Best Hiking Trails
Discover the best top things to do in Top End, Australia including Barrk Sandstone Walk, Badbong Wodjmeng Sandstone River Walk, Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, Jatbula Trail, Bardedjilidji Walk, Yurmikmik Walks, Gubara, Gungarre Walk, Mataranka Thermal Pool and Rainbow Springs.
Restaurants in Top End
1. Barrk Sandstone Walk
2. Badbong Wodjmeng Sandstone River Walk
3. Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,534 reviews
Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River. Situated within the Jawoyn-owned Nitmiluk National Park, characterised by its sandstone country features above the gorge, lush rainforest gullies in the gorge walls, and broad valleys meandering through both the high and the low country. Enjoy a boat tour, helicopter flight, various walks, camping and canoeing.
Reviewed By Fionaon23
Loved this place.. we were lucky enough to be here in the quiet wet season.. take a tour up the river to experience the sheer beauty .. lovely centre and cafe for a coffee and snack.
4. Jatbula Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By SallyP99 - Adelaide, Australia
This five day hike is a must do. It’s a moderately challenging hike with a full pack, doable by any able adult but best enjoyed if you have a good level of fitness, even better if you’ve practiced carrying a full pack. The terrain is varied, beautiful and wild. The campsites each have a good composting toilet and an emergency call box, other than that you are completely in nature. Each campsite is pretty, with a permanent waterhole suitable for swimming and fresh water. We chose to do the guided walk with Gecko tours, mainly because we couldn’t get one of the rare tickets to walk independently. Nevertheless, it was well worth it! Our guide Travis was absolutely awesome. His knowledge and passion about geology, the vegetation, fauna, art sites, stars and especially spiders added another level of enjoyment to the walk. He was good company and very calm, and cheerfully carried all of the cooking gear and most of the food for the group! Gecko provide whatever sleeping equipment you need, and the catering is very good for such a hike, even including fresh salad veg every day! Their advice about what to bring (and what not to bring) was spot on too. Although this walk would be amazing whichever way you do it, Gecko tours took it to next level. I would go again in a heart beat.
5. Bardedjilidji Walk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
6. Yurmikmik Walks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By HanneS687 - Roan Municipality, Norway
We did both the short Boulder Creek walk and the longer Motor Car Falls walk and enjoyed both. Boulder Creek was a very pleasant surprise as we went in the wet season and had it all to ourselves.
7. Gubara
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Cally87 - Perth, Australia
We had a few hours before a fishing trip at Yellow Water so nipped up the road to do this walk. It was very scenic with the towering rock walls lit up in the morning sun, little creeks to cross then into a monsoonal rainforest, you could possibly take a quick dip in the running creek before the main pools as they were very clear and flowing. I just splashed myself my the cool water but didn’t venture in. We did the walk in 40 mins in then 40 mins out but I would allow longer so you could sit and relax by the water before heading back.
8. Gungarre Walk
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2 reviews
9. Mataranka Thermal Pool and Rainbow Springs
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 220 reviews
Mataranka Thermal Pool can be reach by a 500 m loop walk, 20 minutes, easy walking. Meanders among towering Livistonas to the Thermal Pool providing swimming access.
Reviewed By mpecak - Brisbane, Australia
Mataranka is always our favorite destination when we travel with our 4WD to Northern Territory. Together with me wife and daughter we simply love the lazy atmosphere in Mataranka Homestead. You can feel a real outback when you stay there longer especially at evenings when you enjoy a meal at Maluka Bar. The caravan park is mostly dirt so if someone does not like it, they can stay in Bitter Springs Caravan Park as they have hot springs too. The good thing about Mataranka Homestead is that it is only 100 m walk to the thermal pools, and the water is crystal clear, transparent, smells nice and is 33 degrees. It is paradise. Most of the evenings birds, peacocks and wallabies approach campers as they are very friendly. It is perfect for kids to have nature encounters. When we were there we always had a campfire on, and my wife cooked something for dinner. Indeed, sometimes, especially closer to wet season bats arrive and they do smell and poop everywhere. However the path and pool area is being cleaned regularly by the homestead staff. Honestly if you like nature and want to go in the ‘zone’ and fully relax, Mataranka is the place to be.
