Jatbula Trail
A 62 km walk along the edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment in Nitmiluk National Park, from Nitmiluk Gorge to Leliyn (Edith Falls).
At a glance
- Starts in
- Nitmiluk Gorge
- Ends in
- Leliyn (Edith Falls)
- Length
- 62 km
- On foot
- 5–6 days
- Countries
Australia- Best months
- June–September
About the trail
Nitmiluk National Park, near Katherine in the Northern Territory, is Jawoyn country, and the Jatbula Trail follows routes that Jawoyn people traditionally travelled along the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment. It is named after Peter Jatbula, a Jawoyn Traditional Owner who was instrumental in securing land rights for his people.
From Nitmiluk Gorge the trail crosses sandstone plateau, woodland, monsoon forest and river country, and every camp lies beside a spring or cascade, among them Biddlecombe Cascades, Crystal Falls, 17 Mile Falls, Sandy Camp and Sweetwater Pool, before it ends at Leliyn, or Edith Falls.
Northern Territory parks give 62 km one way over five or six days, with a ferry across the gorge to the start. The trail opens to walkers from June to September, sometimes also in April and May, permits are booked through the parks booking system from early February, and none are issued from October to March.