The Jatbula Trail is a medium to hard walk for reasonably fit and active people with some bushwalking experience – (Capable of walking over rough ground with up to 15kg backpack). We are the first ever Larapinta walking operator to provide a self guided option on the Larapinta Trail. I remember walking through the streets of London and being dumbstruck by the sense of history of the place. You need to book a ferry to take you across the gorge to the beginning of the hike. Suitable For: Fit and active people with some bushwalking experience – (Capable of walking over rough ground with upto 15kg backpack) “The Jatbula Trail was wonderful – scenery was stunning, every day we camped by fabulous waterfalls and waterholes which seemed to be more beautiful than the last! The Jatbula Trail is a once-in-a-lifetime experience full of majestic beauty in the heartland of the generations of the Jawoyn people.The Jatbula Trail runs along the western edge of the Northern Territory’s Arnhem Escarpment with the adventure taking you along a 62km graded trail beginning on the edge of the stunning Nitmiluk Gorge, continuing through the Nitmiluk National Park and ending at the … Since then the trail has grown rapidly in popularity. It’s my first real multi-day hike. Walking the trail in 6 days splits up as follows: Day 1: 8.3km Day 2: 11km Day 3: 10km Day 4: 16.8km Day 5: 11km Day 6: 4.5km. We’re hiking light this trip, our two packs carry a respectable 10kg each. As per the below map from the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife website on the Jatbula Trail. With a limited amount of hikers allowed at once, you get to deeply immerse yourself in the Australian outback and ancient landscapes as you walk this traditional Indigenous songline. Operated by Darwin Horse and Carriage. The Jatbula Trail is a full pack bushwalking adventure, taking us far away from city life and immersing us into this ancient wonderland. Experience the wilderness of Australia, enjoying spectacular trekking on the Larapinta Trail in the West MacDonnell National Park and the Jatbula Trail in the Nitmiluk National Park. Biddlecomb itself offers a number of beautiful swimming holes, rock climbs, and stunning views out across the valley below. But this trail is ancient, and it constantly reminds you of this as you pass by unprotected rock art, rarely signposted but reaching out to you with the full weight of the history that it represents. Sweetwater is a popular day-hike from Leliyn (Edith) Falls, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. The hiking itself seems almost incidental. - See 64 traveller reviews, 96 candid photos, and great deals for Katherine, Australia, at Tripadvisor. Jatbula Trail is a 37.4 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail located near Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Length 37.4 mi Elevation gain 3,090 ft Route type Point to Point The trail moves from Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) to Edith Falls/ Leliyn. This gives the walk an interesting community feel, where you spend all day walking alone only to find the same familiar faces at the campsite each night – each of whom we will enjoy getting to know progressively over the week. Nonetheless, we arrive in at Leliyn Falls at the peak of the heat (courtesy of our extra-long stay at Sweetwater), and that burger never tasted so good. This trail follows the traditional route (used by the Jawoyn) along the western edge of the Arnhem Land Escarpment. The campsites are ideally spread about 10 kilometres apart, each beside a picturesque waterfall, creek or rockhole. Crystal Creek above Crystal Falls is wide and deep. The biggest day is 17km which can be finished in 4 to 6 walking hours. Tours Attractions, accommodation options and more…, © NT Immersions & Monsoon Studio. Tours East Point Horse Drawn Tour. Day 1 –  8.3km – Cross the Katherine River to the mouth of 17 Mile Creek via small boat and then walk to Northern Rockhole – towards the end of the season the water might not be so great to swim in. Operated by Sacred Earth Safaris - Tours from Darwin. Adventure Photography – a load of Redbull! To me, this is heaven – the trail feels like just another walk-in campsite. The Jatbula Trail is a 5-day hike through everchanging ecosystems in Nitmiluk National Park. It follows the escarpment across the park to Leliyn (Edith Falls). Perhaps a little over-keen to arrive, we were in camp before 10am, hardly a day’s hike! The Jatbula Trail - Katherine Gorge. It’s not the same as driving up to a protected patch of historical landmarks. These beautiful birds, whose lazy flight can be identified a long way off, to me are the calling card of Central Australia. Of course, to me, getting in early is no problem at all – arriving at each campsite is like unwrapping a patiently anticipated present. Day 2 – 11km – Crossing the cascades in the morning, passing some rock art continue on to Crystal Falls. ⁠ These Blokes Rode The Simpson Desert Unsupported - On Fat Bikes! Stepping out of the air-conditioning to walk the 4kms to Sweetwater doesn’t do the place justice. I was keen to experience the Jatbula Trail before it became too well known; too well trodden. A massive bommie out in Swains Reef National Park, When you agree to go snorkelling after consuming y, Feral horses are out of control in NSW’s largest, Peekaboo, Wombat found you.⁠ Intimidated by the distance and worried about the sun, we rose extra early and were on the trail well before sunrise. Shot by @1andre, Millaa Millaa Falls is an 18 metre high heritage-l, Hiking attire has changed a lot over the last cent, How Feral Horses Damage Australia’s Precious Alpine Environments, El Questro is an Outback Oasis Along The Gibb River Run, Bikepacking The Central West Cycling Trail in 6 Days, Nitmiluk Gorge Southern Walks – Secluded 4 Day Solo Hike, Conquer The Canberra Centenary Trail as 12 Day Hikes, Capturing The Landscapes Of The Larapinta. Each campsite is uniquely beautiful, with gorgeous views, waterfalls, and crystal-clear swimming holes to wait out the heat of the day. The Jatbula Trail takes you from Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) Visitor Centre to Edith Falls, a 65km track that is marked for self-guided walking during the dry season. The Jatbula Trail winds along the edge of the escarpment from Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) to Edith Falls (Leliyn), where you will be totally immersed in this stunning wilderness. Overlooking the Seventeen Mile Valley and beyond, the trail features magnificent waterfalls tumbling from the high sandstone escarpment, these then feed into creeks surrounded by shady monsoon forests and the rock outcrops of the escarpment provide great opportunities to view stunning ancient rock art, and cool off with great swimming spots. Under a chorus of fruit bats, the boat ferries our small group of strangers across the river to a hidden patch of sand. The Jatbula Trail in the Nitmiluk National Park features magnificent waterfalls tumbling from high quartzite cliffs where shady monsoon forests line the creeks and stunning Jawoyn Aboriginal rock art adorns the caves and overhangs. Guided trips give you a wonderful opportunity to create lasting friendships with other travellers on the trip, where you often find a great combination of active people with similar interests in travel, fitness and experiences. The trail was named after Peter Jatbula a traditional owner of the land and a member of the Jawoyn people. Not to mention the walk falls within the world-renowned Margaret River premium wine growing region. Self Guided Tour. The biggest challenge of the Jatbula trail is that it is a full … The Jatbula Trail starts from the Katherine River in the Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park, 30 kilometres east of Katherine, in the Northern Territory. In the Top End, the Jatbula Trail is a wilderness camping, full-pack carrying trek along the Jatbula Trail on the Arnhem Land escarpment. Day three also dropped us into the amphitheatre, a little desert oasis with beautiful geology and ancient rock art – it’s one of the only locations on the that’s trail signposted and teaches walkers about the sacredness of the site and its importance on this songline. But here I am, with my partner (far more experienced in hiking that I am) gearing up and heading off into the tall grass and rocky climbs that will define the next week for us. Since we pioneered the first commercial trek on the Larapinta in 1995 we have always prided ourselves on our ability to lead the way in creating unique trekking and walking opportunities for our travellers. As you get closer to the end, the trail begins to fill up with day hikers, who somehow seem to miss the grandeur of the land that they’re walking across. The hike follows the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment over sandstone plateau and through woodlands, open forest, monsoon forest and riverine landscapes. Rock art at various sites along the trail bears testimony to long heritage of this walking trail. The Jatbula Trail is a 62km one way walk departing from Nitmiluk Gorge and finishing at Leliyn, also known as Edith Falls. Jatbula Trail: Jatbula Hammock Hiking!! ... Jatbula Trail. It’s a great place to swim and explore upstream. For a basic overview of the trail and logistics. The bulk of our weight is made up of water, of which we’re carrying 6L each, and we’ll need every drop. Continue on to 17 Mile Falls for the night. The Jatbula Trail is classified as moderate. Continue on to Biddlecombe Cascades to camp for the evening. ... this is a great Northern Australian walk and anyone seriously interested in self guided, multi day walking in Australia should get their name on the waiting list to get a permit to do this walk. An appreciation of the life of this land before foreigners arrived and claimed it as our own. You should have a reasonable level of fitness for this hike. The trail has some challenging ascents and descents but in general, it is all quite manageable. 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 Leliyn (Edith Falls) You will walk in the footsteps of generations of Jawoyn who traditionally travelled this land. With the red-tail black cockatoos continuously passing overhead, there’s a sort of sadness at the idea of leaving the trail so soon. We spent time with our newly found friends, swapping stories and delaying the inevitable end. The Arnhem Land escarpment was formed over 140 million years ago, as the cliffs of a shallow inland sea, and the sediment consolidated here (literally) one billion years ago. The final day takes you out of the dense tropical forest and into open grasslands, across dry mud plains (which must be hell to hike at the beginning of the season), and along river banks to Sweetwater. The camping…. 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