Katherine Gorge, Edith Falls Premium Coach Day Trip

Travel south through tropical country, passing former WWII airstrips. We make a short stop at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, a site dedicated to those killed in the air raids in Darwin in the 1940's.

Continue to Edith Falls, where there is time for a refreshing swim in the waterhole beneath the falls (conditions permitting). Enjoy lunch and a 2 hour scenic cruise through Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park.

 Enjoy a brief tour of Katherine, the hub of the region's cattle and farming industries. An evening stop is made at Adelaide River where you may purchase dinner (own expense). You may like to sample the famous 'Barra and Chips', before returning to Darwin.

Meals: L

Edith Falls / Leyiyn Falls

Leliyn / Edith Falls is located on the western side of Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), 42 kilometres north of Katherine along the Stuart Highway.

You can enjoy swimming in the paperbark and pandanus fringed natural pool at the base of the falls most of the year, although it may be closed to swimming at times between November and April.

A comment from a previous visitor:-  Edith River forms a large pool, clear and fresh, perfect for a swim in the hot afternoon.  This experience, like many in Australia, is like going back in time a generation.  In east Tennessee where I grew up, there were few chlorinated municipal pools, just pools like this along the rivers where everyone went for a refreshing dip, free of charge. 

The area is great for bushwalking with the 2.6 kilometre Leliyn Trail offering a challenging walk along a steep, rocky loop. There is a chance for a refreshing swim in the upper pool of Leliyn / Edith Falls half way around the trail. You can also enjoy the longer 8.6 kilometre return walk to Sweetwater Pool, a tranquil swimming hole. Leliyn / Edith Falls is the finishing point of the 58 kilometre Jatbula Trail walking track, which begins at Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) headquarters.

Climate

Darwin has an average temperature of 32°C all year, with varying humidity. The tropical summer, from December to March, is considered by many to be the region's most beautiful time of year.

The summer rains bring the natural landscape to life and deliver the picturesque storms and sunsets the Northern Territory is renowned for. The dry season, from May to October, has warm, sunny days and cool nights. At the end of the year, the build up, or pre-monsoon season, begins and humidity levels start their rise.

The following chart outlines Darwin's monthly climate averages as an indicator for the whole northern region.