Getting there
Driving to the show
How to reach the arena south-east of Katherine by car: the Stuart Highway turn, Byers Road and Collins Road, parking, and the drive from the airport and Darwin.
Book the Katherine show on Viator ↗Quick answer
Drive south-east from Katherine along the Stuart Highway towards Mataranka, turn onto Byers Road, then Collins Road, and follow the signs to the car park. Nobody collects you, so a hire car, your own vehicle or a taxi is needed. The operator puts the venue about six minutes from the town centre, and says it has space for caravans and buses.
The route in plain words
The booking page puts the venue about 6.5 km south-east of Katherine towards Mataranka on the Stuart Highway, reached by Byers Road, sometimes spelt Buyers, and Collins Road. The operator's directions say to drive south-east along the highway for 7 km, turn right onto Byers Road, turn right at the T-junction onto Collins Road and turn right at the third gate. The two sources differ by half a kilometre, so rely on the signs it says stand on the highway and on Collins Road.
Drive times from the operator
The operator's location page gives rough driving times to the venue. From the town centre it says about six minutes, from Katherine Airport about ten, and from the Nitmiluk kiosk at the gorge about 30. It lists Mataranka at about an hour and Darwin at about three hours. Wikipedia independently describes Katherine as about a three-hour drive from Darwin. Treat all of these as the operator's estimates, and allow extra for roadworks, wildlife or a slow vehicle ahead.
- Katherine town centre: about 6 minutes
- Katherine Airport: about 10 minutes
- Nitmiluk kiosk: about 30 minutes
- Mataranka: about 1 hour, Darwin: about 3 hours
The last stretch
After the highway, the road is a short country approach and a driveway into the property. The booking page describes a gravel road to the car park. The operator says the driveway is about 100 metres long and surfaced so that it is accessible all year and in all weather. Both can be true: a gravel country road to the gate, then a surfaced driveway. If you are in a hire car, check your rental agreement for unsealed roads.
Parking and big vehicles
The operator says there is more than enough space for caravans, buses, campers, motor homes and boats, and that there are designated disabled parking bays close to the show entry and a drop-off area. The show ticket does not include any transfer. If you are towing, ask the operator about its layout before you set out, using the site plan on its venue page.
Read next: Dry season: what to bring
No transfer, so plan the ride home
The booking page lists transport and hotel collection as excluded, so the show is a self-drive stop. Arrange your ride before the show, not after, particularly if you plan to be out as the light fades. If you are staying in town, ask your accommodation about taxi availability, and remember that the venue is outside the town on a country road.
Fitting it into a road trip
The show is easy to fit between a morning cruise and a late lunch, or on a transit day between Darwin and Mataranka. Wikipedia says the Stuart Highway runs from Darwin to Port Augusta and is named after the explorer John McDouall Stuart. The operator calls Katherine the pivot point for travellers going north or south. If you are heading south, an afternoon show leaves the evening for dinner in town before the next day's driving.
Read next: Outback show or Nitmiluk?
Frequently asked questions
Is there a shuttle from Katherine?
Not on this ticket. The booking page excludes transfers and hotel collection, so you need your own transport. Ask your accommodation or a local taxi firm before the day.
How far is the show from Katherine town centre?
The booking page says about 6.5 km and the operator says about 7 km. The operator's drive time is about six minutes.
Can I bring a caravan?
The operator says there is space for caravans, buses and campers, with a surfaced driveway of about 100 metres. Check its venue page and site plan first.
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