# KatherineGorge.com - Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) tours, cruises and helicopter flights compared

> Independent guide to Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory, Australia: what the gorge cruises
> cover, day trips from Darwin, helicopter flights, swimming and crocodiles, the NT parks pass, seasons, prices and booking.
> Not affiliated with Nitmiluk Tours, the Jawoyn Association, NT Parks, any tour operator or GetYourGuide.

Site: https://katherinegorge.com
Language: en. Currency: USD for online tours (GetYourGuide); A$ for Nitmiluk Tours' own prices. Country: Australia (Northern Territory).

## Verified facts

- Nitmiluk is the Jawoyn name for Katherine Gorge ('Cicada Place'); same place. Handed back to the Jawoyn on 10 September 1989, leased back for 99 years, jointly managed with NT Parks.
- 13 gorges along about 13 km of the Katherine River, separated by rock bars. No boat goes beyond the third gorge; helicopters cover all 13.
- Nitmiluk Tours (Jawoyn-owned) runs the cruises: 2-gorge tour (2 h, several departures daily, about 400 m walk between boats, from A$139), 3-gorge tour (4 h, 9 am, May-September, from A$229), sunset dinner cruise (from A$269). In high water the cruise becomes the 1.5-hour first-gorge tour.
- The Nitmiluk Centre and jetty are about 30 km (30 min) east of Katherine on the sealed Gorge Road. Edith Falls (Leliyn) is about 60 km north of Katherine and 90 km by road from the gorge. Darwin to Katherine is about 315 km (3.5-4 h).
- NT parks pass: A$10/day, A$30/2 weeks, A$60/year per adult, online only; NT residents exempt; not valid for Kakadu.
- Swimming: the first gorge is closed all year; above it and at Edith Falls, dry season only after ranger saltwater-crocodile surveys. Resident crocodiles are freshwater crocodiles.
- March 2026 floods: the river at the Nitmiluk Centre passed 8.7 m on 6 March, above the 2000 record. Nitmiluk Tours says canoe hire and Cutta Cutta Caves are closed for the 2026 season and reopen in 2027.
- Weather (BOM, Katherine): October is the hottest month (mean max 37.7 C); June-July the coolest (about 30 C). Wet season November-April.

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are GetYourGuide affiliate links (partner_id 7GG5I5H). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to
the reader and says so at https://katherinegorge.com/affiliate-disclosure/. Prices are 'from' prices in USD per person at the last build and move.

- Katherine Gorge & Edith Falls Day Tour (From Darwin, coach) - from $240 per person, 14 hours, gorges seen: 1 and 2, by boat; rated 4.5 from 285 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/katherine-gorge-edith-falls-day-tour-aat-kings/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/darwin-l357/katherine-gorge-and-edith-falls-t37262/
- Two-Gorge Cruise & Edith Falls from Darwin (From Darwin, midi-coach) - from $223 per person, 13.5 hours, gorges seen: 1 and 2, by boat; rated 4.7 from 49 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/two-gorge-cruise-edith-falls-from-darwin/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/darwin-l357/darwin-katherine-two-gorge-cruise-and-edith-falls-full-day-t985659/
- Katherine Gorge Helicopter Scenic Flight (Nitmiluk Gorge helipad) - from $133 per person, 10 minutes, gorges seen: 1 to 3, from the air; rated 4.8 from 6 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/katherine-gorge-helicopter-scenic-flight/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/katherine-l32223/nitmiluk-gorge-helicopter-flight-t1203966/
- Nitmiluk, Edith Falls & Gorge Cruise from Darwin (From Darwin, midi-coach) - from $257 per person, 13.5 hours, gorges seen: 1 and 2, by boat; rated 4.4 from 74 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/nitmiluk-edith-falls-tour-gorge-cruise-autopia/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/darwin-l357/darwin-nitmiluk-edith-falls-tour-katherine-gorge-cruise-t437144/
- 13 Gorges Sunrise Helicopter Flight (Nitmiluk Gorge helipad) - from $252 per person, 20 minutes, gorges seen: All 13, from the air; rated 5.0 from 2 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/13-gorges-sunrise-helicopter-flight/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/katherine-l32223/nitmiluk-gorge-helicopter-flight-at-sunrise-t1203989/
- Helicopter Sunset Flight with Landing & Drinks (Nitmiluk Gorge helipad) - from $308 per person, 40 minutes, gorges seen: All 13, from the air; rated 5.0 from 2 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/nitmiluk-helicopter-sunset-landing-drinks/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/katherine-l32223/nitmiluk-gorge-helicopter-sunset-tour-with-drinks-t1203996/
- 70-Minute Helicopter Tour with Remote Landing (Nitmiluk Gorge helipad) - from $492 per person, 70 minutes, gorges seen: The gorge and Leliyn, from the air; rated 5.0 from 4 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/70-minute-helicopter-tour-remote-landing/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/katherine-l32223/nitmiluk-national-park-helicopter-tour-t1204017/
- Helicopter Flight & Rock Art Site Landing (Nitmiluk Gorge helipad) - from $477 per person, 100 minutes, gorges seen: All 13, from the air; rated 5.0 from 1 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/helicopter-flight-rock-art-site/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/katherine-l32223/nitmiluk-gorge-helicopter-flight-and-rock-art-tour-t1203957/
- Fly from Darwin: Scenic Flight & Gorge Cruise (Darwin Airport, Kookaburra Air) - from $1,099 per person, 9 hours, gorges seen: 1 and 2, by boat; rated 5.0 from 1 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/fly-from-darwin-katherine-gorge-cruise/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/darwin-l357/from-darwin-katherine-gorge-scenic-flight-and-cruise-tour-t1391084/
- 4-Day Kakadu, Katherine & Arnhem Land Tour (From Darwin, small group) - from $1,607 per person, 4 days, gorges seen: 1 and 2, by boat; rated 4.9 from 27 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/4-day-kakadu-katherine-arnhem-land-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/darwin-l357/darwin-4-day-kakadu-katherine-gorge-cultural-experience-t407640/
- Aboriginal Art & Culture Workshop in Katherine (Katherine) - from $133 per person, 3 hours, gorges seen: None: a culture workshop; new listing, no reviews yet. Page: https://katherinegorge.com/tours/katherine-aboriginal-art-culture-workshop/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/katherine-l32223/katherine-aboriginal-art-and-culture-workshop-t1232248/

## Guide pages

- https://katherinegorge.com/guides/katherine-gorge-cruises/ - Every Katherine Gorge cruise in 2026: the 2-hour two-gorge tour from A$139, the 4-hour three-gorge tour, breakfast and sunset dinner cruises, times and walks.
- https://katherinegorge.com/guides/darwin-to-katherine-gorge-day-trip/ - Darwin to Katherine Gorge in a day: four tours compared on price, lunch, return time and the park pass, plus the fly-in option and who should skip it.
- https://katherinegorge.com/guides/katherine-gorge-helicopter-flights/ - Katherine Gorge helicopter flights compared: 10 minutes over 3 gorges, all 13 at sunrise or sunset, landings at a remote pool or rock art site, prices.
- https://katherinegorge.com/guides/swimming-katherine-gorge-edith-falls/ - Can you swim in Katherine Gorge? Gorge 1 never; above it and at Edith Falls in the dry season only, after croc surveys. Where to swim and what the crocs are.
- https://katherinegorge.com/guides/is-katherine-gorge-worth-it/ - Is Katherine Gorge worth it? Yes, with a night nearby. Who it suits, why it's special, how many days, where to stay and the best way to see the 13 gorges.
- https://katherinegorge.com/guides/darwin-to-katherine-drive/ - Darwin to Katherine by road: 315 km and 3.5 to 4 hours on the Stuart Highway. Where to stop, fuel and wildlife tips, the bus, The Ghan and getting to the gorge.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-10-23: https://katherinegorge.com/blog/katherine-gorge-after-the-2026-floods/ - What the March 2026 floods did to Katherine Gorge, what reopened and when, what stays shut until 2027, and what that means for a visit now.
- 2026-10-23: https://katherinegorge.com/blog/katherine-gorge-wet-season-2026-27/ - Katherine Gorge from November 2026 to April 2027: heat and rain, which cruises and flights run, swimming closures, the 10% cruise code and flood risks.
- 2026-10-23: https://katherinegorge.com/blog/nt-parks-pass-katherine-gorge-2026/ - Do you need an NT parks pass for Katherine Gorge? 2026 prices from A$10, who is exempt, how to buy it online, and which Darwin tours include it.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- A Katherine Gorge cruise does not show all 13 gorges: the 2-hour cruise covers gorges 1 and 2, the 3-gorge tour adds the third. Only a helicopter covers all 13.
- A cruise is not one continuous boat ride: you walk about 400 m over a rock bar to a second boat (and 800 m more to a third).
- You cannot swim at the cruise jetty: the first gorge is closed to swimming all year.
- A day trip from Darwin is 13.5 to 14 hours for about 2 hours on the water.
- GetYourGuide does not sell the stand-alone Nitmiluk Tours cruise; it is booked direct with Nitmiluk Tours.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant tour or guide page. Prices, seasons and closures change; verify close to your travel date.