5 Day Jatbula Trail Walk
Departures: On request OR in conjunction with KD5 (departing on Fridays)
Tour Size: Minimum 2, Maximum 8
Cost: AUD$995.00
Tour Code: JT5
After being picked up from your Katherine accommodation, we will take you on a scenic drive to Nitmiluk National Park where we start the famous Jatbula Trail walk. The Jatbula Trail is an ancient Song Line used by the Traditional Aboriginal people of the area to gain access into different parts of the land. It covers lowland river and creek country, hillsides dotted with dry land eucalypts, higher escarpment country overlooking the Seventeen Mile Valley and beyond and pockets of moist paperbark forests where the temperature drops and you find yourself sitting in a cool comfortable environment.
You will hike between 10 to 17 kilometres per day, completely dependant of your campsite destinations, which can be reached between 12 pm and 2 pm each day. On arriving at camp you are free to relax, swim, read and enjoy the beauty of your surrounds. Each campsite has its own water source, from a small babbling spring fed creek to a 30 metre high waterfall. Each afternoon brings about a different pool or spa to sit back and relax in.
Each day will also present to you a new set of challenges, from river crossings to hill climbs (nothing too big mind), there will be flat open country on the top of the escarpment and boggy wet country along the creeks that we follow. Something new around every corner.
We will also be introduced to some of the aboriginal art along the trail. Some of the art is easier to get to than others. We will find small pockets alongside the trail, and other art is found by descending into cool moist canyons where the creek flowing through provides a pleasant break from the heat.!)
Starting our walk at 7am each day allows us to get into camp at 1-2pm, you can then spend the afternoon relaxing by a waterfall, swimming in a crystal clear waterhole or gazing at the beautiful colours of the sheer sandstone cliffs in the afternoon light. At the end of the 5 days we arrive at the oasis known as Edith Falls where our shuttle awaits to take us back to Katherine, where we will drop you at your accommodation so you can become reacquainted with your soft, comfortable bed (you might miss the stars though!).