Shady Lane Tourist Park in Katherine, NT, is a Top Tourist Park that lives up to its name. It has the ambience of a botanical garden, with long rows of different varieties of palms between sites and other large tropical trees. When we called in, the grass was lush and green, and most sites had concrete pads, but you can choose to have grassed site if you prefer. This park is purely for tourists, with no permanents, and has every appearance of being well cared for by its owners. It seems to attract patrons who enjoy the quiet tropical surroundings and birdlife.
The tourist park is located five minutes from town on the Katherine Gorge Road and the Katherine River is a short walk from the rear of the park. I was told the fishing for barra and large bream is good here.
All Travellers welcome
Shady Lane has powered and un-powered sites, a large camping area and can handle most big rigs. For those without camping gear, a number of air-conditioned ensuite cabins are available.
There are two amenities blocks, but only one was open when we called in. Soap and hot-air hand dryers are provided, though the toilet paper is only one ply. The showers have plenty of hot water, and the ladies’ showers have three hooks and a shelf, while the men’s have three hooks and no shelf. Both have shower curtains, but the whole area is very clean. A good modern laundry is adjacent. Disabled amenities are provided, as is a sewer dump point.
There is a well-appointed barbecue area and a shade sail-covered 12m pool in a tropical setting. The camp kitchen includes a fridge, free gas barbecues, hot water and washing up facilities.
The kiosk supplies gas, ice, basic groceries and has EFTPOS facilities. A public phone and internet are available, as well as all tour bookings. Pets are not allowed at the park.
We had good reception on our 3G phone as well as wireless broadband and TV reception was acceptable on all channels, but better on digital on the ABC and SBS.
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Denyse and I found the park to be very quiet, attracting many birds. On our last visit two years ago, the paddock opposite contained two camels. They were still there, and seemed to be very tame. They ambled over to the fence to welcome us, and while I stroked one under the chin, the other reached over and tried to eat my hat! Beware. Shady Lane Tourist Park can be quite busy during the tourist season, May until August, so it would pay to book a day or two ahead. |
Katherine Gorge
The main attraction in this area is the well-known Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park. Shady Lane Tourist Park is on the way to the gorge from town, and all boat trips can be booked through the park. We recommend the Timeless Land 3 gorge tour by Nitmiluk Tours, which includes a short walk to a pool with a long waterfall that you can swim to and climb behind. This is magic, but it only flows early in the tourist season, so check first.
Denyse and I have taken the boat trips several times, so decided to walk along the top of the gorge instead. There are some spectacular views from here, but other easier walks are available, as well as canoeing and scenic flights. In various places you can see the eroded edges with many different layers of conglomerate rock.
We saw a variety of wild flowers, particularly the pink flowering Turkey bush, which is abundant in the cooler months of the year.
There is a convenient boat ramp for launching your tinnie or canoe (permit required), and lure fishing is allowed in the gorge. The chattering you will hear is from the flying foxes in the trees. Look up to see them resting and squabbling during the day, or see them fly off in a dense cloud at sunset to feed on any fruits and flowers that are available.
A quiet, shady picnic area contains seats and tables and we saw many bower birds and blue-faced honey-eaters while enjoying our lunch.
Hot Springs
Katherine has many other attractions, and we enjoyed visiting the natural hot springs just a short distance from the town centre. The water flows through a series of small clear pools and over a waterfall. Ladders provide easy access to the water, which is at a constant 32ºC. We could find no changing shed or toilets, so be warned. |
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Katherine School of the Air is always worth a visit, as is the Katherine Art Gallery which boasts a fine collection of Aboriginal art and craft in the area.
Nearer to the park is the turn off to Knotts Crossing, beside the hospital on the way into town. This is a top fishing spot. I have caught large bream here and seen locals pull in good-sized barra.
If you’re lucky, you may have this spot to yourself. Try putting in a pot for local yabbies. Swimming is allowed but take care as crocs have been seen in this area after floods.
Knotts Crossing was the main river crossing before the Low Level Bridge was built, and was the original site of old Katherine. Low Level Reserve is a popular swimming and picnic area, and my caravan park neighbour caught a barra here. There are flying fox colonies in this area also.
The Katherine Museum is not far from Shady Lane on the way into town, and is worth a visit for those interested in local history.
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park is located 27km south-east of Katherine and contains the Northern Territory’s only accessible tropical limestone cave. Tours run on the hour from 9am to 3pm.
Edith Falls (Leliyn), 42km north of Katherine, should not be missed, but we always stay at the national park camping ground there as it takes more than a day to see it properly. Our neighbours drove up from Katherine and did the main walks in one day, though. It is well worth making the effort to climb to the third pool – magnificent views and great for a swim.
Shopping
Katherine has a population of about 11,000 and has a good shopping centre and other shops. The caravan repair shop is near Shady Lane Tourist Park, but you may find it hard to find the owner – he likes his fishing!
Takeaway alcohol may only be purchased after 2pm. Sale quantities are restricted by law too, and only one 2L cask of wine is allowed per person per day.
When in town your first stop should be the excellent information centre, where you can obtain a copy of the Katherine Region Visitor Guide and other literature.
Shady Lane Tourist Park fast facts
Shady Lane Tourist Park is a Top Tourist Park rated at 3.5 stars. It’s located at 1828 Gorge Road, Katherine, NT. For more information, phone (08) 8971 0491, fax (08) 8972 3259, or visit www.shadylanetouristpark.com.au For bookings call 1800 043 043. Contact the Katherine Visitor Information Centre on (08) 8972 2650 for more information on the wider area.