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Length: 62km
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Duration: 5 days
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Grade: 3-4
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Style: One Way
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Start: Nitmiluk Visitor Centre
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End: Leilyn (Edith Falls)
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Location: Nitmiluk National Park
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Closest Town: Katherine
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Distance from CBD: 345km
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State: NT
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Latitude: -14.315494
Longitude: 132.420788
Keep the Trail Access info current...
2WD Access
Bitumen Road
Entry Fee
Large Car Park
Public Toilets
Drinking Water
Picnic Shelter
Picnic Table
BBQ Facilities
Camping Area
Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.
2WD Access
4WD Access
Public Transport
Bitumen Road
Gravel Road
Steep Road
Winding Road
Speed Bumps
Vehicle Ford
Entry Fee
Large Car Park
Small Car Park
Accessible Parking
Accessible Toilet
Public Toilets
Drinking Water
Untreated Water
Picnic Shelter
Picnic Table
BBQ Facilities
Campfire Pit
Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...
Gravel Path
Sandy Trail
Rough Trail
Undefined Trail
Waterfalls & Lakes
Aboriginal Art
Rock Scrambling
River Crossings
Scenic Viewpoints
Untreated Water
Swimming Spots
Overnight Campsites
Nitmiluk National Park...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.
Concrete Path
Timber Boardwalk
Gravel Path
Sandy Trail
Rough Trail
Undefined Trail
Prams & Strollers
Manual Wheelchair
Motorised Wheelchair
Bicycle Trail
Mountain Bike Trail
Historic Rail Trail
Dog Friendly
Urban Walk
Coast & Beach
Historic Lighthouse
Waterfalls & Lakes
Rainforest Walk
Goldfields & Mining
Heritage Walk
Aboriginal Art
Alpine Region
Alpine Huts
Exposed Ledges
Rock Scrambling
Steep Terrain
Bush Bashing
River Crossings
Scenic Viewpoints
Well Marked
Drinking Water
Untreated Water
Fishing Spots
Swimming Spots
Overnight Campsites
Trail Running
Horse Riding
Hike Summary
Embark on the arduous five-day Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park for off-the-beaten-track scenery, waterfalls and Jawoyn Aboriginal rock art.
The Jatbula Trail is a 62 km one way walk, departing from Nitmiluk Gorge, traversing through the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment over sandstone plateau scrub, woodlands, monsoon forests and riverine landscapes finishing at Leilyn (Edith Falls) You will walk in the footsteps of generations of Jawoyn who traditionally travelled through parts of the trail.
The trail can be completed in 5 days/4 nights or 6 days/5 nights with each night spent at a stunning campsite close to a babbling spring, cascade or a plunging waterfall.
Jatbula Trail overview
Day 1 - Nitmiluk to Biddlecombe Cascades - 8.3 km
Day 2 - Biddlecombe to Crystal Falls - 11 km
Day 3 - Crystal Falls to 17 Mile Falls - 10 km
Day 4 - 17 Mile Falls to Sandy Camp - 16.8 km
Day 5 - Sandy Camp to Sweetwater Pool 11.1 km or via Leliyn 15.6 km
Day 6 - Sweetwater (overnight) to Leliyn - 4.5 km
The Jatbula Trail is graded as medium to hard. You need to be reasonably fit with some bushwalking experience as it involves carrying heavy loads over rough ground. Read more about the walking track grading system.
The walk can be completed in five or six days. Camping is only allowed for one night at each site along the trail.
Leliyn is not a campsite on the trail and separate fees will apply if you wish to camp there.
Book your walk
The trail has a limit of 15 walkers leaving each day so you will need to book.
Bookings open on 1 November for the following year.
A camping fee needs to be paid with your booking. The fees are:
$3.30 per adult/night
$1.65 per child/night
When to walk
The best time of year to walk the Jatbula Trail is from 1 June to 30 September.
During the cooler months, from June to August, the temperatures range from 30 degrees Celsius during the day dropping to 10 degrees Celsius at night.
Conditions on the trail start to heat up in mid-August with temperatures rising to over 40 degrees Celsius from October to late November.
From December to April the trail is difficult due to high temperatures and humidity, monsoonal rain and the risk of flooding. Increased vegetation growth in the wet season can also hide trail markers, adding to the difficulty.
It is possible to walk the Jatbula Trail between 1 October and 31 May but you must be experienced, well prepared and you will need special permission from parks.
You must apply in writing for special permission to [email protected]
Getting from the trail
The trail finishes at Leliyn and you can be transferred to either Katherine or to the Nitmiluk visitor centre.
Leliyn to Katherine is 63km or approximately 45 minutes drive
Leliyn to Nitmiluk Gorge is 90km or approximately 1 hour drive.
How to book your transport
The following companies provide ground transfers:
Gecko Canoeing and Trekking
Phone: (08) 8972 2224
[email protected]
Travel North
Phone: (08) 8971 9999
[email protected]
Remember to tell someone outside of your group of your travel plans in case of an emergency.
Cars and public parking
Public parking is available at both ends of the trail, but be sure to tell the parks desk or Leliyn kiosk your name, car details and return date.
There are a number of bus and airlines services that provide regular return travel between Darwin and Katherine.
About the region
Nitmiluk National Park
You'll be drawn to the majestic beauty and sheer size of the spectacular Nitmiluk Gorge.
Located on the lands of the Jawoyn people, rock art sites dot the park and dreaming stories bring the silent gorge walls to life. You can learn about the Jawoyn people's association with the land at the Nitmiluk Centre or by taking a boat cruise of the first few gorges. Take sunrise or sunset cruises and see the gorge turn all shades of mauve and red.
There are canoes for hire or you can get a permit to use your own canoe from the Nitmiluk National Park Visitor Centre. You can canoe to the fourth, sixth and ninth gorges and camp overnight, but make sure you book ahead of time by calling Nitmiluk Tours on (08) 8972 1253 or 1300 146 743.
You can use fishing lures in areas of the Katherine River, but fishing is not permitted in Edith Falls. Walkers have plenty of trails to choose from and waterfalls to see, but the ultimate trek is the 62km Jatbula Trail. To fully experience Nitmiluk Gorge, take a helicopter ride and get set down for a swim in one of the harder to reach gorges.
Getting there
- Starts at the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre, Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), Katherine, Northern Territory
- The walk is one way only and starts at Nitmiluk Gorge.
- You can be picked up from the town of Katherine which is 27km from Nitmiluk Gorge.
- You will then need to take a ferry from Nitmiluk Gorge to the start of the trail near 17 Mile Creek.
- The ferry costs $8.50 per person.
- Ferries depart daily at 7am, 9am and 11am.
- To book call the Nitmiluk visitor centre on 1800146 743.
GPX File
Max elevation: 314 m
Min elevation: 119 m
Total climbing: 807 m
Total descent: -798 m
For more information on these trails please visit the Do the NT.
Hikes Nearby
23 thoughts on “Jatbula Trail (62km)”
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Awesome hike would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed hiking cradle mountain in Tassie same scenery but a tropical version
Met a group last week at Leliyn top pools who’d just finished this awesome walk. They all said they’d do it again the next day.
Book in on the 1st November ! Most places go to tour companies – or book with one of them. Would love to do it! Love this NP
Did this hike in June, was just beautiful, and hot. Being able to swim at every camp was fantastic. Only allowing 15 hikers through a day adds to its appeal.
This is for you Jatbula Hiker Opal!!! ?
Hahaha you cheeky miss!
This is my favourite hike in Australia. I would also hire a kayak and camp overnight in the upper parts of Katherine Gorge before starting the hike proper.
Yes! Can’t wait to do this next year ???
This is an excellent walk. You get to camp beside permanent water every day and there is plenty of Aboriginal art along the way. It’s one of our favourite walks in the Northern Territory.
Dani Campbell this is top of my list, I really really really want to do this one
Lyn Harms
Just completed this with my family. An excellent adventure
I’ve sent you a pm ☺️
Beautiful walk if haven’t been add it your list
what about this one. Peter McNamara Ben Wyatt only 5 days away.
Looks great! Poida?
Yep yep yep
Me too next year fir me! It’s been in my list fir years now I have to next year I’m more than ready now!!?
Diane Ferreira like this page and we will find a hike to do
Sounds fab Robs
Anyone have a gpx of this trail?
Hi Alexandra, I have just uploaded mine to the site