Katherine Gorge & Baruwei Lookout

Starting from the southern car park at the end of Katherine Gorge Road, this circuit walk explores the escarpment alongside Katherine River via the Baruwei Loop Walk track, visiting Baruwei Lookout along the way. The lookout atop the escarpment provides you great views over the Katherine River and the western end of the same-titled gorge. If you’re staying or living nearby, try to get up early and experience an amazing sunrise here. There are canoe and boat trips if you’d like to explore the river itself. Keep in mind that the track is quite exposed, wear a hat and bring plenty of water to better enjoy the hike. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-14.3168275,132.420816)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Stuart Highway, 1 Turn on to Giles Street then drive for 160 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Giles Street and drive for another 165 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Giles Street and drive for another 29.1 km Keep left and drive for another 30 m Turn right and drive for another 85 m Turn left and drive for another 25 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the southern car park at the end of Katherine Gorge Road (near the Cicada Lodge), head along the walking track that starts towards Cicada Lodge, then veers left shortly after. Follow the said track as it heads southwest between the car park(to the left) and the caravan park(to the right). Stay on the track as it crosses the road near an intersection and heads parallel to it afterwards to continue along Katherine & Baruwei Lookout Track(counterclockwise).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the Katherine Gorge at the start.
	After another 440 m continue straight. After another 490 m continue straight.
	After another 760 m continue straight. After another 1.5 km pass the water tap (8 m on your right).
	After another 420 m turn left, to head along Baruwei Loop Walk. After another 10 m come to the "Baruwei Lookout" (20 m on your right). After another 30 m come to the viewpoint (on your right).
	The starting point of an alternate route. An alternate route taking you closer to the river. There's a jetty where you can book canoe & boat trips as mentioned in the description. To take the alternate route turn right here. Details below. After another 50 m continue straight, to head along Baruwei Loop Walk. After another 410 m pass the car park (45 m on your left).
	The alternate route finishes here. Continue straight to rejoin the main route at the 4.1 km waypoint. Details below. Turn left. After another 440 m find the "Nitmiluk Visitor Centre" (15 m on your right). Nitmiluk Visitor Centre
	After another 55 m veer right.
	After another 55 m turn right.
	After another 30 m come to the end.

An alternate route taking you closer to the river. There's a jetty where you can book canoe & boat trips as mentioned in the description.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Baruwei Loop Walk.
	After another 335 m turn left. After another 60 m pass the toilet (20 m on your left).
	After another 5 m come to the end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Katherine Gorge & Baruwei Lookout

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	4.7 km
Time	1 h 30 min to 2 h 15 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 3.7 km (plus an extra 400 m along side route) from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	3.7 km + 400 m	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Walpole Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Thursday 31 October
  
  23°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Cloud clearing. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeast to southwesterly in the late afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures 25 to 31.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:10am to 3:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 [Very High]
  
  Friday 1 November
  
  14°C → 23°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the southwest in the evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Light winds becoming westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching 23 to 30.
  
  Saturday 2 November
  
  13°C → 18°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h tending southwesterly during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to around 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 21.
  
  Sunday 3 November
  
  12°C → 19°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching around 20.
  
  Monday 4 November
  
  11°C → 21°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Tuesday 5 November
  
  12°C → 19°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Wednesday 6 November
  
  12°C → 18°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 7mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- NT Parks alerts
  When planning and before starting your trip please check the NT parks alerts pages for anything that may impact on your plans.
  Regions
  Darwin
  Katherine
  Tennant Creek and Barkly
  Alice Springs

Weather Forecast

Alerts