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Jatbula Trail

Tourist attractions

Starts at the Nitmiluk Centre, Katherine NT 0850, Katherine, NT 850
(08) 8973 8821

Description

The Jatbula Trail is a 62-kilometre one-way walking trail in the Northern Territory of Australia.

It offers an unforgettable experience away from the city's hustle and bustle, starting at Nitmiluk Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park and finishing at Edith Falls, also known as Leliyn in the Aboriginal Jawoyn language.

The trail is not only a stunning tourist attraction but also a historical representation of the custodial relationship and responsibility of Australia's indigenous people towards the surrounding landscape. It follows the route that generations of Jawoyn people travelled between the Gorge and Edith Falls. The trail is named after Peter Jatbula, a Jawoyn man who helped secure land rights for his people. Peter Jatbula and his family walked this trail, and members of his family still live in the area today, helping to look after "Country."

The Jatbula Trail offers a diverse range of terrains, including sandstone plateau scrub, woodlands, monsoon forests, and riverine landscapes alongside the Western Arnhem Land escarpment. It is marked by blue triangles located approximately every 20 to 50 metres. There are five overnight campsites along the trail - Biddlecombe Cascades, Crystal Falls, 17 Mile Falls, Sandy Camp, and Sweetwater Pool - all located near a spring or cascade.

To preserve the trail and ensure a safe and comfortable experience for hikers, bookings are essential, and the number of walkers on each section of the track is restricted. Overnight stays are mandatory at all campsites except Sweetwater Pool, making the entire trek either five or six days (four or five nights).

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Details

Trails & sites: Hiking tracks

Location

Starts at the Nitmiluk Centre, Katherine NT 0850, Katherine, NT 850

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