Katherine Rail Trail (6km)

Summary

Interpretive signs along the path highlight the history of the railway and the old Emungalan Cemetery. Before the Katherine River railway bridge was built, the town of Emungalan (north of Katherine) was the railway terminus.

A high standard rail trail with the centrepiece being the high bridge acrossthe Katherine River.
Follow the route of the historic former North Australian Railway, where considerable effort has gone into preserving remaining infrastructure
Links with the seven kilometre Katherine River cycle path, the 12 kilometre path to the RAAF Base Tindal, and those around the town.

Two shelters on the path will house information panels about the railway and the limestone topography over which it passes.

The first section of the narrow gauge North Australia Railway from Darwin to Pine Creek opened in 1888.  It was extended south to Katherine in 1926 and finally Larrimah in 1929, which was as far south as it got, never linking up to the Adelaide to Alice Springs railway.  Nevertheless it played a vital role in the development of the Northern Territory and Australia during the second world war.  However once the war was over improving roads and its isolation resulted in the railway being closed in 1976.

Notes

• Katherine Station to Morey Rd
• Katherine, 320km from Darwin
• Surface – Sealed
• Terrain – Flat

For more information and a location map please visit RailTrails Australia.