Katherine Gorge Cruise & Edith Falls Day Trip from Darwin
Badge of Excellence
Darwin, Australia
- 13 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Nitmiluk National Park (formerly Katherine Gorge National Park) is one of the Top End’s most dazzling destinations—but at a 7-hour round trip from Darwin, it’s a challenging drive. Leave navigation to your accredited Outback driver/guide on this low-stress package, which includes a cruise between the glowing sandstone walls of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge and a guided bush walk (fitness permitting) to the tumbling Edith Falls cascades.
- Spend the day exploring Nitmiluk National Park with a driver/guide
- Cruise between 230-foot (70-meter) sandstone cliffs in Nitmiluk Gorge
- Take a leisurely walk to Edith Falls, where there’s also swimming in season
- Hear tales of the Jawoyn people, traditional owners of this majestic land
What's Included
- A boat cruise through Katherine Gorge
- Guided bush walks (1-2km, subject to fitness level)
- Hosted by an accredited outback driver guide
- Comprehensive local tour commentary
- Air-conditioned comfortable mid-sized coach travel
- Meals not included. Guests will have an opportunity to support locals and buy lunch along the way.
- Hotel transfers pre/post tour itinerary to a nominated pickup point.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- The Leea Darwin64 Cavenagh St, Darwin City NT 0800, Australia
Our main meeting point for this tour will be outside the entrance to the Travelodge Darwin, 64 Cavenagh Street at 6.30am. Please wait out the front gates and not in the hotel foyer, to avoid missing the bus.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.6:30 am
Itinerary
1
Darwin
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Adelaide River
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Nitmiluk National Park
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
4
Nitmiluk Gorge
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
5
Edith Falls
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
6
Pine Creek
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Darwin
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- A minimum moderate level of fitness is required to complete the walks.
- Child policy 6 years old and over, not suitable for children 5 years old and under.
- This itinerary may vary to adapt to seasonal changes and occasionally spots in the parks close or do not allow swimming. As safety is our top priority we plan accordingly to ensure our guests have the most fun and best experience possible while on tour.
- Please ensure you have checked the average temperatures for the time of year you are travelling and have packed adequate clothing.
- Prior to booking, we strongly recommend guests purchase travel insurance.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jaewyn_M
This was a great day but quite long.
Beautiful scenery cruising the gorge. The swim at Edith Falls was a welcome relief on a hot day.
The coach on this tour was not as comfortable as the other tour we did 2 days later but both were the same type of coach so not sure why.
Tour guide (young Spanish man, I have forgotten his name)did a great job especially with one traveller that had a medical episode, very compassionate ensuring he was comfortable and ok. A credit to him.
Reviews
4.5
based on 187 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Sonia_V, Jul 2026
Leigh was a wonderful guide and human, could not fault this experience, simply spectacular, everyone must see!
Liz_R, Jul 2026
Boogie was a great guide. Comfortable bus, many rest stops. Lots of great information about Katherine and Darwin.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We're happy to hear that Boogie provided a comfortable and informative experience, with plenty of rest stops and great insights about Katherine and Darwin. 😊 We look forward to helping you with more adventures in the future!
Brian_E, Jul 2026
It’s a very long day, but well worth the effort. Very good driver/guide gave us constant information and updates on what’s around us. I would certainly bring lunch and not depend on Adelaide Creek stop as food options very limited.
Great days tour, led by and excellent guide
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks so much for the great review! We’re glad you enjoyed the Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls adventure. It’s fantastic to hear your guide’s knowledge and commentary made the long day worthwhile. Thanks for the tip about lunch option, we appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Vicki_H, Jun 2026
Awesome. Great guides, amazing experience. Full 23 hour day. Plenty of stops so not always in the bus.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had an amazing experience and enjoyed the variety of stops throughout the day. It's great to know our guides helped make the journey so memorable. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Jacques_D, Jun 2026
Challenging work required but experience worth the effort, Edith falls is awesome and had a great swim to cool off
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks for the great review! 😊 We're so glad you felt the effort was worth it and got to enjoy a refreshing swim at Edith Falls. It really is a special spot! Thanks for joining us, and we hope to see you again on another adventure.
Jennifer_S, May 2026
Dylan our guide was great. He was very informative, helpful and friendly.
Would recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're so pleased to hear that Dylan, your guide, made your tour experience enjoyable with his informativeness, helpfulness, and friendliness. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you on another tour in the future!
Sarah_H, Dec 2025
A long day trip from Darwin, but our guide, Pascal, managed to show us so much in one day and gave us lots of interesting information along the way. The boat cruise along Katherine Gorge was amazing, such beautiful scenery, and I saw ancient aboriginal rock art, which was amazing. We even saw the water buffalo from Crocodile Dundee on our travels. 😄I really enjoyed the day.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
We truly appreciate your thoughtful feedback. It’s wonderful to hear Pascal’s knowledge and the scenery made the trip memorable.
PaulAndrew_E, Oct 2025
A long day, but time passed quickly, great to see places as interesting and as beautiful as Edith falls and Katherine Gorge. Really enjoyed the day
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We're glad to hear you had a memorable day exploring such stunning places like Edith Falls and Katherine Gorge! It's wonderful that the day went by quickly and that you enjoyed the experience. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback-hope you have many more adventures ahead!
Michael_P, Sep 2025
Review by Lesley Pring - Terrible experience travelling 10 driving hours on a mini bus where my knees touched the back of the seat in front - and I am short. My husband had to try to twist sideways to fit in. In addition, there was nowhere to store bags. These had to be placed on the floor at our feet, making it almost impossible to place our feet. People complain about cramped seats in economy on planes but this was so much worse than any plane I have ever been on. I ended up with shooting pains in my knees and legs.
Edith Falls and Katherine Gorge were scenic and enjoyable but I would not advise anyone to take the trip on this sort of transport. We left our hotel at 6:30 am and were dropped back at 8:45 - a very long, uncomfortable day.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback, Lesley. I'm sorry to hear that your experience on the mini bus was uncomfortable and did not meet your expectations. Long hours in cramped seating can be very challenging, especially without sufficient space or storage options. We appreciate your insights about the discomfort and will pass your comments along to help improve future travel arrangements. Despite the scenic highlights of Edith Falls and Katherine Gorge, we understand how the transport experience impacted your overall trip. Your feedback is valuable in helping us enhance comfort and convenience for our travelers. Vs
Jane_L, Sep 2025
This trip was a very long day but with our driver, Bogdan, the time passed quickly. He was a great guide, teaching us about the flora and fauna, while being an excellent driver. The boat trip through the gorge was fascinating. The walk between boats would have been challenging for me, but the pathway was well designed with plenty of handrails and non-slip mats and I was able to keep up. The design fitted in well with the natural surroundings, which were pristine. The various stops along our drive were well organised and we enjoyed ourselves, learning so much .
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the thoughtful review! We're so glad Bogdan helped make the long day enjoyable and that you felt supported throughout the journey. The gorge and pristine surroundings truly are something special! 🚤🌿
Paul_J, Sep 2025
It was a very long day, 14 hours. But the boat trip through the gorge was very special. Staff during the day were very knowledgeable and provided a lot of relevant information.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks for sharing your experience! We're glad the cruise through Katherine Gorge made the long day worthwhile, it’s truly a special place. And it’s great to hear the team kept things informative and engaging throughout.
Greg_F, Sep 2025
A full day mini bus trip from Darwin to Katherine gorge and back was very enjoyable. Bus was full but still comfortable enough for all and Alex our driver was very informative whilst driving. We were given sufficient time at various stops to do our own thing. Katherine Gorge boat cruise was great our boat captain Holly ensured we knew as much as about the gorge as possible.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad you enjoyed the journey and felt well taken care of by Alex and Holly. Sounds like a beautiful day exploring Katherine Gorge!
Michelle_M, Sep 2025
Fantastic Day, once in a lifetime experience. Great atmosphere and very knowledgeable tour guides.A+
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your enthusiastic feedback! It’s fantastic to hear that you had a once-in-a-lifetime experience and enjoyed the great atmosphere. Knowing that the tour guides were very knowledgeable and contributed to making your day special means a lot. We truly appreciate your A+ rating and hope to create more memorable adventures for you in the future! Vs.
Rosy_H, Aug 2025
Tour guide was great - Boogie was friendly , very knowledgeable and provided good commentary during the trip. Katherine Gorge excursion was very well organised and cruise was an amazing way of exploring the Gorge . Would have been better if we were given the opportunity to swim at the Gorge lower pools.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks for the thoughtful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the cruise and Boogie's friendly, informative guidance. Noted on the swimming, your feedback helps us improve future experiences.
Justin_D, Aug 2025
The trip felt rushed, literaly arrived and walked straight onto the boat. No time to check anything out at Katerine George. It was the same when we got back, ushered straight onto the bus and gone.
Seats on the bus are tight without much leg room, nowhere to place your bag/backpack. Water supplied is tap water with a distinct chemical smell and tase to it.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We appreciate your feedback and are sorry to hear that your trip felt rushed and that you didn’t have enough time to explore Katherine Gorge properly. We also apologize for the discomfort with the bus seats and the water quality. Your comments are valuable and will help us improve our service. Thank you for sharing your experience. Cheers!
marco_b, Aug 2025
It's a long day but the scenery is fantastic. Stop at the cultural art centre was fantastic too. Swim in the morning at cool shady falls.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! It sounds like you had a wonderful day, with stunning scenery and a great stop at the cultural art centre. Swimming in the cool, shady falls must have been refreshing after a long day. We’re glad you enjoyed the trip and hope to see you again for more adventures! Vs.
Paula_T, Aug 2025
We had a wonderful day with Boggie, he had all the history and indigenous knowledge of the Northern Territory, a fun filled day with such amazing scenery, highly recommend this trip. Thanks for a great day Boggie!
Paula & Jim
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience, Paula and Jim! It sounds like you had an incredible day with Boggie, full of fascinating history, indigenous knowledge, and stunning scenery. It’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed the trip and how highly you recommend it. Boggie sounds like a fantastic guide! Vs.
Jennine_O, Aug 2025
It was a long day approximately 15 hrs but it was definitely worth it.
We had an excellent tour guide , Aaron, whom was extremely knowledgeable , friendly and helpful. Katherine Gorge was just such a wonderful place and I am so glad that I went. Edith Falls was beautiful but I only went to the smaller pools as I knew I wouldn’t be able to walk up the steep path to get to the main pools.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for sharing your detailed experience! It’s wonderful to hear that despite the long day, it was totally worth it. Aaron sounds like an exceptional tour guide-knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful-making the trip even more memorable. Katherine Gorge clearly left a lasting impression, and it’s great that you got to enjoy its beauty. Edith Falls also sounds stunning, and it’s smart to choose the smaller pools if you knew the main pools might be too challenging to access. Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Adrian_C, Aug 2025
A long day (6am start, returning at 8.45pm) but worth it. There are stops along the way for comfort breaks, food and drink purchase and to stretch your legs. The bus is a bit cramped for those over 6ft. Scenery is amazing on the drive and you get to see both the sunrise and sunset over the outback. The Gorge cruise (2hrs) is stunning as are the pools at Edith Falls - beware the 1km to get there is quite a trek.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your review! We're so pleased the natural beauty and cruise made for a memorable day, your tips will be helpful for future guests.
Oliver_R, Jul 2025
Charlotte and Boggie were excellent drivers and guides! The long drive was broken up by well placed refreshment stops. Viator tours just take care of everything and are run by people who know what they are doing and genuinely want you to have a great experience. The country was amazing, Katherine Gorge was breathtaking and the swim at Edith Falls exhilarating!
It was a very long and very memorable day for all the right reasons. From our experience I’d highly recommend doing this tour!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled Charlotte and Boggie helped make your day unforgettable, and that Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls left such a lasting impression. Your recommendation means a lot to us! 🌿🚐💛
Ina_K, Jul 2025
Perfekt day experiencing the Nitmiluk National Park. Our guide Aaron was awesome. Friendly and helpful. Highly recommend. It"s well worth the long drive.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for the lovely review! We're so glad Aaron made your day in Nitmiluk National Park unforgettable. It’s great to hear the long drive was worth it, hope to see you again on another adventure soon!
Rhelma_E, Jul 2025
Long but exciting day with a great tour guide.Leigh was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and entertaining. Scenery was spectacular and the Katherine Gorge cruise -breathtaking.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you had an exciting day and that Leigh made it even more memorable. The scenery truly is something special!
Jaewyn_M, Jul 2025
This was a great day but quite long.
Beautiful scenery cruising the gorge. The swim at Edith Falls was a welcome relief on a hot day.
The coach on this tour was not as comfortable as the other tour we did 2 days later but both were the same type of coach so not sure why.
Tour guide (young Spanish man, I have forgotten his name)did a great job especially with one traveller that had a medical episode, very compassionate ensuring he was comfortable and ok. A credit to him.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for sharing your detailed experience! It sounds like you had a memorable day exploring the gorge and enjoying the refreshing swim at Edith Falls, perfect for a hot day. While the coach wasn't as comfortable as your later tour, it's great to hear that the tour guide-your young Spanish guide-did an excellent job, especially in handling the medical situation with compassion and professionalism. His dedication truly made a positive impact on your day. I hope you continue to have many more wonderful adventures! Cheers!
Philip_D, Jul 2025
Stunning day trip and amazing cruise through Katherine Gorge which is an ancient wonderland.
You can feel the age of the place- the guide was very informative about how the landscape was formed and the indigenous history of the area. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for the beautiful feedback! We’re thrilled you felt the magic of Katherine Gorge, it really is a breathtaking slice of ancient wonder. So glad the guide helped bring its stories to life! 🌄
Michael_V, Jul 2025
This is a very long day tour. 12 hours on the road with a two hour scenic boat cruise through the gorge is a very long day. Chris our driver was very professional in his interactions with his 12 tour members, but being mindful of his long, planned out day, it all went very well. Time is allowed for your brought along lunch at a shady spot by a gallery. Stopping at Edith Falls with an optional swim/bush walk and calling in at the Adelaide River pub all made for a memorable if tiring day.
The MINI-BUS.
Needs more comfy seats. The non-reclining seats are hard to endure over a long distance, however the USB ports were welcome. Chris had a good supply of drinking water to cater for all weathers.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear Chris took great care of everyone during such a long day. It sounds like quite the adventure with the scenic cruise, Edith Falls stop, and the Adelaide River pub visit!
We appreciate your honest comments about the mini-bus seats and will definitely take that on board as we look for ways to improve comfort on long tours. Good to know the USB ports and water supply helped make things a bit easier.
Thanks again for sharing your experience, and we hope to welcome you on another trip soon. Vs
Cathie_W, Jun 2025
Long day but well worth it. Our tour guide Chris is very knowledgeable on the local area and more than accommodating with any questions and tries to fit in any local attractions if there's extra time
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks for the great feedback! We’re so glad you had a rewarding day exploring Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls, and that Chris helped make it even more enjoyable with his knowledge and flexibility. Sounds like a fantastic experience all around!
Vicki_B, Jun 2025
A very long day travel wise, but well worth the long trip. Edith falls was beautiful and the cruise on Katherine Gorge was magnificent with spectacular scenery and some fresh water crocodiles to top it off. Our guide Adrian was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks so much for the lovely review! We’re glad the long journey paid off and that you enjoyed the beauty of Edith Falls and the stunning cruise through Katherine Gorge. Adrian will be thrilled to hear your kind words. Hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Catherine_G, Mar 2025
Definitely a very long day, and a lot of time on the bus. As it is wet season less stuff is open, but our driver managed to make our breaks down to Katherine interesting and educational. Once AT Katherine, the gorge(s) are of course GORGEous. Truly a beautiful part of Australia, and I would love to come back in the dry season and experience more of it, including water sports in the later gorges, and view rock art in the area. Also say the water buffalo of Crocodile Dundee fans, and learned that it was loosely based on a real person!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thanks heaps for the top-notch review!
We’re stoked you had a great time on the tour. It was a blast having you along, and we’d love to see you on another one of our adventures soon!
Catch you later, mate!
Cheers,
Cody
FrancisR_A, Oct 2024
Edith Fall was great and we had lots of time to swim. Then the Gorges. Always beautiful. The weather was too hot for more. The smaller 4WD bus was good but it was hard on the back at highway speed for a group of advanced seniors. A beautiful
Response from Host, Oct 2024
G'day!
Thanks for taking the time to write this review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the Edith Falls and the stunning Gorges. It's always a pleasure to show our guests the beauty of the Northern Territory, especially Katherine Gorge.
We appreciate your feedback regarding the comfort of our buses. However, we are sorry to hear that the seats were hard on your back since this is a big part of your journey.
We hope to see you on more adventures in the future!
Kind regards,
Autopia Tours
ShelleyMills_M, Oct 2024
Fabulous tour guide! Naomi was well informed, friendly and had great stories to tell. We did a bonus detour to Katherine Springs.
A great day !
Response from Host, Nov 2024
G'day,
Thank you for you review! We're thrilled to hear that you've had a great time on tour with Naomi. Even doing a little detour which must have been very nice!
Hopefully we get to see you on tour in the future!
Kind regards,
Autopia Tours
From $259.61
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