Limmen National Park is a favourite among self-reliant anglers and four-wheel drivers. There’s a community of travellers who come here annually, especially to catch barramundi. It’s perfect for visitors looking for a remote experience in an amazing landscape. This park has many land and water attractions and is located in the Gulf region of the Northern Territory (NT). The Gulf region is known for its rivers and this is reflected in the drive through Limmen National Park, which crosses four major rivers and follows a fifth, the Roper River, for a while. It is a paradise for anglers and birdwatchers, and is always popular among anglers. A diversity of landscapes makes the drive through the Park varied and interesting. Along the main road you will experience woodlands, rivers, floodplains and billabongs, while short detours reward visitors with more. Butterfly Springs, the only place in the park you can safely swim, is just five kilometres off the Nathan River Road and has a campground set among shady trees. Southern Lost City can be experienced via a two kilometre loop walk among its spectacular leaning sandstone spires and is only four kilometres off the main road. The Western Lost City is reached via a 28 kilometre four-wheel drive track, you will need a key from the Nathan River Ranger Station to get through the gate. Make sure you have plenty of fuel as there is no fuel stop between Roper Bar and Cape Crawford (a distance of 338 kilometres).

How to access to Limmen National Park

The Park is situated in the Gulf region, about 275 km south-east of Katherine and 65 km from Borroloola. It can be accessed from the Stuart Highway via the Roper Highway (turnoff 10 km south of Mataranka), or via the Carpentaria Highway that runs through the Gulf region from the Highway Inn (near Daly Waters) into Queensland. 

Please drive carefully. All roads within the Park are unsealed and can be closed due to seasonal flooding from November to May. Roads leading to the Park may also be affected by flooding at this time. Check Park road conditions by phoning 1800 246 199, or checking the road conditions website: www.roadreport.nt.gov.au 

Park maps with marked points of interest and destinations

Click Here for more information

When is the best time to visit Limmen National Park?

The best time to visit Limmen National Park is when the temperatures are most comfortable between April and August (dry season). Heavier rain generally falls between December and April (wet season) which can cause flooding and road closures in the region. Contact the Park Office before visiting. Phone: 08 8975 9940

What to see and do in Limmen National Park?

You can do all of the following activities in the park:

• swimming
• boating
• bushwalking
• fishing
• camping
• four-wheel driving
• wildlife spotting
• visit Aboriginal sites.

What facilities Limmen National Park offers?

Limmen National Park has all of the following facilities:

• information signs and display
• ranger station
• four-wheel drive track
• fire pit
• drinking water
• public toilets
• picnic area
• shelter
• walking tracks.

Camping information

You can camp at Munbililla (Tomato Island), Limmen Bight River, Towns River, Southern Lost City, Butterfly Falls, Didi Baba, Yurrlmundji or Mountain Creek. There is no pre-booking. Camping fees apply and are payable on-site.

What should you prepare before visiting the Park?

• You should have enough fuel and food for your journey. There are limited services between Roper Bar Park and Store and Cape Crawford a distance of 338km. There are very limited supplies at Limmen Bight Fishing Camp and Lorella Springs Wilderness Park.
• Get the code to visit the Western Lost City from Nathan River Ranger Station.
• You should bring change for payment of camping fees.
• You should bring your walking boots to see the striking sandstone formations of the Southern Lost City and Western Lost City. Click Here to check out more information about Western Lost City.

When you are at Limmen National Park, you can experience the following:

• Camping – Short-term campsites with facilities are provided at Towns River, Butterfly Falls, Limmen River, Southern Lost City, Yurrlmundji, Mountain Creek, Didi Baba and Munbililla (Tomato Island). Camp fees are payable on site. Limmen Bight Fishing Camp and Lorella Springs Wilderness Park (commercial, out of the Park) are also popular.
• Fishing – With the Roper, Towns and Limmen Bight Rivers flowing into the Gulf of Carpentaria to the east, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy fishing. Boat ramps are provided at Towns River, Munbililla and the commercial Limmen Bight Fishing Camp.
• Sightseeing – The many lagoons close to the main road are a bird watcher’s delight and the intriguing pillars of the lost city formations host some of the Park’s more notable wildlife.
• Visiting the Southern Lost City it is 35 km south of the Nathan River Ranger Station. At the end of the 4 km track you can enjoy a 2.5 km walk among the rock formations.
• Access to the Western Lost City is by high clearance 4WD vehicle only. This 28 km track starts just north-west of the Ranger Station. You will need a code (changed weekly), which is provided on the white board at the Ranger Station, to unlock the access gate. Please ensure you sign in and out of the log book by the gate. Trailers are not recommended and can be left in the Ranger Station parking area.
• Swimming – The rivers and creeks within Limmen National Park are inhabited by Saltwater Crocodiles. Do not swim in any of the rivers or creeks in the Park. Butterfly Falls is the only place in the Park considered safe for swimming, although not suitable towards the end of the Dry as the pool becomes stagnant.

From tropical savannahs to monsoonal spring-fed forests, the diverse landscapes of this region make it one of Australia’s top birding destinations. Home to around 240 bird species, the greater Katherine region will give you an insight into a world of flight and colour and inspire you to start your own list of rare birds.

Out west: West of Katherine in the grassy plains of Timber Creek you’ll find Black Kites and Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos. Travel southeast and wander through the thermal springs of Mataranka amongst nests of rare Red Goshawks and the Sacred Kingfisher.

Gould rush: The historic gold rush town of Pine Creek is fast becoming a birding paradise, boasting the largest number of species in the Northern Territory. Many tours pass through this area in search of the vulnerable Gouldian Finch, Black-Tailed Treecreeper and the Blue-Winged Kookaburra.

Bustards: The floodplains of Borroloola, near the Gulf of Carpentaria, offer remote and exciting bird-watching opportunities. The area attracts a diverse population including the Australian Bustard, Masked Owl, and the rare and endangered northern (crested) Shrike-Tit.

Robins: Just 27 kilometres from Katherine, the Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park is home to over 170 species of birds, including the vulnerable hooded parrot. The best time for bird-watching is in the early morning and late afternoon. If the lure of flying mammals interests you, the park features tropical limestone caves housing five species of bats. These include the rare orange horseshoe-bat and the ghost bat.

When visiting the park, remember all of the following:

• a permit is required for drone use – conditions apply and it must be obtained prior to your arrival in the park
• camping fees apply – cash only – no change available onsite
• put your rubbish in the bin or take it with you
• cultural items and wildlife are protected
• pets are not permitted
• nets, traps and firearms are not permitted
• don’t use soaps and detergents near waterways
• be careful with fire and light fires only in fireplaces provided
• camp only in marked camping areas
• collect fallen timber for firewood on the way to your picnic or campsite
• chainsaws are not permitted in the park
• follow fishing laws
• quad and trail bikes are not permitted off-road in the park
• only use generators between 7.30am to 8.30pm.
• Read about possession limits for fish in the NT.