Mataranka

Mataranka lies on the Country of the Mangarrayi and Yangman peoples, on the Stuart Highway about 105 km south-east of Katherine. The town is small, but its springs are among the most popular stops in the Top End. Warm, crystal-clear water bubbles up among pandanus and palms, making Mataranka a welcome break on the long drive north or south.

Mataranka Thermal Pool and Bitter Springs

The Mataranka Thermal Pool, near the historic Mataranka Homestead in Elsey National Park, is a natural spring-fed pool surrounded by palms. The water is warm all year, and a short boardwalk leads from the car park.

Bitter Springs, a few kilometres from town, is a spring-fed creek where you can float gently downstream through tropical vegetation, then walk back along the path. Bring a noodle or float, and go early to avoid crowds.

Both sites can close for maintenance, high water or wildlife management. Check Northern Territory Parks updates and obey signs.

Things to do in Mataranka

• Elsey National Park. Walking tracks follow the Roper River, with waterfalls (such as Mataranka Falls), birdlife and fishing spots. The Roper River has crocodiles, so do not swim in the river.
• Never Never Museum. Local history displays, including the railway, the Second World War and pastoral life.
• We of the Never Never. Jeannie Gunn's book about life on Elsey Station in 1902 made the area famous. A replica homestead used in the film stands near the Thermal Pool, and the Elsey Cemetery holds graves from the station era.
• Fishing. Barramundi and other species in the Roper River system. NT fishing rules apply.
• Birdwatching. Rainforest pockets and the river attract many species; see our birdwatching guide.

History in brief

The Stuart Highway route through Mataranka follows the line of the Overland Telegraph and the old North Australia Railway. During the Second World War, military camps lined the highway in this region. The surrounding district has long been cattle country, and Aboriginal stockmen and women played a central role in its pastoral history.

Getting there

Mataranka is on the sealed Stuart Highway, about four hours from Darwin. South of town, the Roper Highway turns east towards Roper Bar and the Gulf section of the Savannah Way, which is largely unsealed. Continue south on the Stuart Highway to Daly Waters and Tennant Creek.

Where to stay

There are caravan parks and cabins in town and near the Thermal Pool, plus camping in Elsey National Park. The dry season is busy.

When to visit

The dry season (about May to September) brings warm days and cool nights. The wet season brings heat, humidity, storms and flooding, which can close park areas and roads.

Suggested itinerary: a day in Mataranka

Morning. Arrive early at Bitter Springs, before tour groups and the heat, for a slow float downstream. Walk back along the path, then have breakfast in town.

Midday. Visit the Never Never Museum for local history and pick up information on the walks in Elsey National Park.

Afternoon. Drive to Mataranka Homestead and soak in the Thermal Pool. Take a short walk along the Roper River afterwards, staying well back from the water's edge.

Evening. Watch the bats and birds at dusk, then stay overnight before continuing south or north on the Stuart Highway.

Tips for visiting

• Go early or late. The pools are busiest in the middle of the day in the dry season.
• Bring a float. Pool noodles make Bitter Springs more relaxing.
• Protect the springs. Avoid sunscreen and insect repellent just before swimming if you can, and use toilets away from the water.
• Watch for flying foxes. Large colonies of fruit bats roost near the springs at some times of year. Do not touch bats, as they can carry disease.
• Plan fuel. Mataranka has fuel, but distances along the Stuart Highway are long. Check our fuel, permits and road conditions page.
• Read up on crocodiles. Saltwater and freshwater crocodiles live in the Top End. Read our crocodile safety guide before swimming anywhere unfamiliar.

Combining Mataranka with Katherine

Mataranka pairs naturally with Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park. Many travellers base themselves in Katherine for a few days to cruise or canoe Nitmiluk Gorge, then spend a night at Mataranka for the springs on the way south.

Fuel, phones and medical help

Mataranka Health Centre, on the corner of Gunn and Elsey streets, is open on weekdays. The nearest hospital is in Katherine, about 108 km north.

Fuel is available in town on the Stuart Highway. The next fuel north is Katherine (about 108 km). Larrimah (76 km south) has no fuel, so the next fuel south is Daly Waters, which Roper Gulf Regional Council puts about 170 km south of Mataranka.

Travelling with kids

Kids usually love a swim in the thermal pools at Bitter Springs or the Mataranka Thermal Pool, where conditions allow.

Bitter Springs or Mataranka Thermal Pool?

Both are natural thermal pools in Elsey National Park, and both are popular. NT Parks says:

• Bitter Springs is one of two natural thermal pools in the park. Spring water rises from underground at about 30.5 million litres a day, and the water is very warm all year.
• A 500 m loop walk (Grade 1, about 20 minutes) circles the palm-lined pool. The path from the car park to the swimming hole is pram and wheelchair accessible, and stairs with handrails lead into the water.
• There's no camping at Bitter Springs. Camp at Jalmurark Campground in Elsey National Park instead.
• Toilet upgrades are scheduled from 1 October 2026, so expect some construction noise and follow signs on site.

Many visitors enjoy floating gently down Bitter Springs' clear, slow-flowing channel. The Mataranka Thermal Pool, near the homestead, is a more developed, palm-shaded pool. If you have time, try both.

Crocodiles. NT Parks advises swimming only where a sign says the swimming area is open, and never where a closure notice is posted. See crocodile safety.

Park pass. Interstate and international visitors need an NT Parks Visitor Pass.

Practical information

• Distance: about 105 km south-east of Katherine.
• Best time: May to September.
• Safety: crocodiles in the Roper River; obey all signs.
• Related: Katherine, Nitmiluk National Park, Daly Waters, Crocodile safety, Great Artesian Spa Tour.

Nearby park guide: Limmen.

Related park guide: Elsey.