The Jatbula Trail is a one-way walking trail in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

of Australia. It starts at Nitmiluk Gorge in

Nitmiluk National Park Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, and 23 km northeast of the town of Katherine, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Previously named Katherine G ...

and finishes at

Edith Falls The Edith Falls ( Aboriginal Jawoyn language: ''Leliyn'') is a series of cascading waterfalls and pools on the Edith River in the Nitmiluk National Park, located approximately north of Katherine, in the Northern Territory of Australia. The fa ...

( Aboriginal

Jawoyn language Jawoyn (Jawonj, Jawany, Djauan, Jawan, Jawony; Adowen, Gun-djawan), also known as Kumertuo, is an endangered Gunwinyguan language spoken by elders in Arnhem Land Arnhem Land is a historical region of the Northern Territory of Australia, wit ...

: ''Leliyn''). The Trail follows the route travelled by generations of

Jawoyn The Jawoyn, also written Djauan, are an Australian Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Bagala clan are of the Jawoyn people. Language Jawoyn, known as Kumertuo, is a non- Pama–Nyungan language that belongs t ...

people between the Gorge and Edith Falls. It is named after Peter Jatbula, a Jawoyn man who was instrumental in securing land rights for his people and who walked this route with his family. Members of Peter Jatbula’s family still live in the area today and continue to help look after "Country". From the standpoint of Australia's indigenous people, the word "Country" speaks to the custodial relationship and responsibility that they have towards the landscape around them. It is a rich heritage in which "culture, nature and land are all linked".

Path

The trail terrain consists of sandstone plateau scrub, woodlands, monsoon forests and riverine landscapes along the Western Arnhem Land escarpment. The Trail is marked by blue triangles, usually located every 20 to 50 metres. There are overnight camp sites at Biddlecombe Cascades, Crystal Falls, 17 Mile Falls, Sandy Camp and Sweetwater Pool. Each is near a spring or cascade.

Management

Bookings are essential and the number of walkers on each section of the track is restricted. With the exception of SweetwaterPool, the last campsite, overnight stays at the campsites are mandatory, making the entire trek either five or six days (four or five nights).

Reviews

According to visitors, the trail passes through spectacular landscapes and there is swimming available at each campsite. Sights include rivers lined by paperbark trees, spinifex grasslands and monsoon forests featuring palm trees and ferns.

References

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External links

Jatbula Trail
Hiking and bushwalking tracks in Northern Territory Katherine, Northern Territory