Elsey National Park

Elsey National Park protects a stretch of the emerald-green Roper River near the town of Mataranka, about 100 km south of Katherine. The park’s star attractions are its thermal springs: Mataranka Thermal Pool and Bitter Springs. Fed by underground aquifers, these springs gush out millions of liters of clear warm (around 34 °C) water each day, creating dreamy, palm-fringed pools ideal for a relaxing swim. The main Mataranka pool is semi-developed with steps and a concrete edging for easy access, set amidst a shady grove of cabbage palms. Bitter Springs, slightly further from town, offers a more natural experience – visitors can float down a stream through pandanus and native greenery. Beyond the springs, Elsey’s Roper River flows through paperbark and fig tree-lined banks. There are opportunities for canoeing, fishing for barramundi, and wildlife watching (freshwater crocodiles, harmless to humans, are common; saltwater crocs are excluded by ranger management). Several walking tracks invite exploration: the Botanic Walk near the thermal pool highlights local plants, and longer trails like the 8-km Mataranka Falls walk follow the river to a small set of tufa falls. The park also has historical significance: it’s the setting of the classic Australian novel "We of the Never Never" – the Elsey Homestead site (replica homestead located in town) commemorates the pioneering story of Jeannie Gunn in the early 1900s:contentReference[oaicite:88]{index=88}:contentReference[oaicite:89]{index=89}. Campgrounds at Jalmurark (12-Mile Yards) provide bush camping with toilets and showers. With its inviting hot springs and rich mix of nature and history, Elsey National Park offers a refreshing oasis for travelers in the outback.