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Roper Bar

Difficulty: Trek rating 3 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD Bike 
This part of Australia is extremely remote and uninhabited. A 4WD trek through these parts can be an extension of the Gulf Track on your way further up North to Darwin or Arnhem Land.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesKatherine
FinishBorroloola
Distance868.08 kmMinimum Days3
Average Speed73.73 km/hrDriving Time11 hours 46 mins
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 7 Dec 2007
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 Description

If you have a 4WD the opportunities to experience solitude in the Northern Territory wilderness is not far away. This trek from Borroloola - Katherine passes through some of the most remote and unvisited areas of the Top End. From Borroloola we head north through the Nathan River HS towards Port Roper and finally at Roper Bar, once a secret with the locals it is now a popular spot for fisherpeople who want to catch big barramundi.

It is still a very quiet place, more so out of the peak barramundi season. Generally, very early in the dry the barramundi are at their prime. It is pretty much useless to attempt fishing here without a tinnie although fishing tours are available in season.

The approach from Roper Bar into Katherine passes the Elsey National Park and the nearby Mataranka Thermal Springs. After the long dusty route you've just travelled this oasis may be just what you need. The Katherine region is full of fabulous little spots, still remote and relatively untouched but gradually becoming better known with the massive increase in tourism in the Northern Territory as a whole.

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Roper Bar Help

From: Katherine
To: Borroloola

Distance: 868.08 km
Direction: 113 °
Average Speed: 73.73 km/hr
Travel Time: 11 hours 46 mins
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 Permits

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 Things to See & Do

Limmen River Station - NT   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Camp Free Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Camp Fee Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Limmen Bight is a delightful camp, although small. The fishing is good from here, but watch out for crocs. The Towns River is another good spot to fish and camp but you need to be quick - there's only room for 2 or 3 camps. This is a good spot to launch a tinnie as you can head up the river for quite a way.
Katherine - NT   RatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Walk Track Airstrip Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Cemetery,Grave Site Aboriginal Lands,Communities Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Often called the 'Crossroads of the North' because of its location, Katherine is the third largest town in the Northern Territory and is located 312 kilometers south-east of Darwin on the Katherine River.
Borroloola - NT   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Walk Track Airstrip Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Mine Food,Shopping Cemetery,Grave Site Aboriginal Lands,Communities Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Borroloola has 2 fuel outlets, supermarket, post office, Caravan Park, air strip and school and is an excellent place to base yourself for some exploring and fishing, A great place to visit is the old Police Station which is now a museum.
Mataranka - NT   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Cemetery,Grave Site Aboriginal Lands,Communities Police Station Medical Services Point of Interest
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Leila Hill - NT   
Mountain,Peak,Hill 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Excellent barramundi fishing, remote NT outback country, bush camping, thermal springs

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolKatherine, Mataranka, Roper Bar, Limmen River Station, Lorella Springs Station, Cape Crawford, Borroloola Diesel4cyl 121 litres ULP4cyl 140 litres LPG4cyl 174 litres
6cyl 133 litres6cyl 157 litres6cyl 153 litres
8cyl 136 litres8cyl 144 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Closest Climatic Station

Ngukurr
Distance from Trek Mid Point 77.67km NE
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 35.835.134.034.0 31.830.229.631.9 34.837.539.038.0
Mean Min. °C 24.924.723.922.0 19.216.415.116.0 18.722.424.825.4
Mean Rain mm 178.2171.9172.156.3 10.95.51.20.4 1.812.940.6127.7
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Katherine, Mataranka, Mataranka Homestead Resort, Roper Bar, Limmen River Station, Lorella Springs Station, Cape Crawford, Borroloola

 Camp Sites & Accommodation

Limmen River Station - NT   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Camp Free Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Camp Fee Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Limmen Bight is a delightful camp, although small. The fishing is good from here, but watch out for crocs. The Towns River is another good spot to fish and camp but you need to be quick - there's only room for 2 or 3 camps. This is a good spot to launch a tinnie as you can head up the river for quite a way.
Mataranka Homestead Resort - NT   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Caravan Park Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Camp Fee Resort,Motel
Mataranka Homestead is a great place to rest and unwind. The Mataranka Hot Spring just a short walk from the camp grounds, and the homestead offers everything you may need. The most popular attraction is the crystal clear thermal swimming hole at Mataranka.
Katherine - NT   RatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Walk Track Airstrip Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Cemetery,Grave Site Aboriginal Lands,Communities Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Often called the 'Crossroads of the North' because of its location, Katherine is the third largest town in the Northern Territory and is located 312 kilometers south-east of Darwin on the Katherine River.
Leichhardts Caravan Park - NT   RatingRatingRating
Caravan Park 
Telephone Number: (08) 8975 4636
Lorella Springs Station - NT   
Populated Place Camp Free Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Camp Fee
Located 265km south east of Roper Bar or 165km northwest or Borroloola. Turn east off Savanah Way 236km south east of Roper Bar or 136km north west of Borroloola for 35km. Telephone Number: (08) 8983 3728
Roper Bar - NT   
Populated Place Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Camp Fee Resort,Motel
Roper Bar Store - Phone: (08) 8975 4636 Vehicular access to the coast at Port Roper is not possible - the closest you'll get to the mouth of the river is about 8km away. Recreational fishing is allowed here at No. 1 and No. 2 Landings without a licence. This is a serious fishing location as you'll see from the scattered equipment and professionals lining the banks.
King Rest Area - NT   
Camp Free 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Towns River - NT   
Camp Free 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Borroloola - NT   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Walk Track Airstrip Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Mine Food,Shopping Cemetery,Grave Site Aboriginal Lands,Communities Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Borroloola has 2 fuel outlets, supermarket, post office, Caravan Park, air strip and school and is an excellent place to base yourself for some exploring and fishing, A great place to visit is the old Police Station which is now a museum.
Mataranka - NT   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Cemetery,Grave Site Aboriginal Lands,Communities Police Station Medical Services Point of Interest
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Heartbreak Hotel Campground - NT   
Camp Fee 
Telephone Number: (08) 8975 9928
Cox River - NT   
Camp Free 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Batten Creek - NT   
Camp Free 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Cape Crawford - NT   
Populated Place Caravan Park Camp Free Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Camp Fee Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.

 Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Katherine to King Rest Area 47.98 km SE 117° 31 min
King Rest Area to Mataranka Station 43.79 km SE 121° 25 min
Mataranka Station to Stirling Mill Rest Area 0.46 km E 109°
Stirling Mill Rest Area to Mataranka 14.6 km SE 133° 9 min
Mataranka to Mataranka Homestead Resort 8.71 km E 90° 7 min
Mataranka Homestead Resort to Mt Price Rest Area 146.18 km E 81° 1 hr 33 min
Mt Price Rest Area to Roper Bar 38.42 km E 83° 29 min
Roper Bar to Leichhardts Caravan Park 0.84 km NE 63°
Leichhardts Caravan Park to Roper Bar 0.84 km SW 243°
Roper Bar to Queensland Crossing 21.13 km SE 156° 16 min
Queensland Crossing to Lomarieum Lagoon 46.54 km E 72° 37 min
Lomarieum Lagoon to St Vidgeon Ruins 0.54 km SE 132°
St Vidgeon Ruins to Towns River 48.66 km SE 130° 36 min
Towns River to Cox River 37.52 km SE 155° 29 min
Cox River to Maria (Wamungku) Lagoon 12.72 km E 77° 13 min
Maria (Wamungku) Lagoon to Limmen River Station 7.43 km NE 58° 11 min
Limmen River Station to Maria (Wamungku) Lagoon 7.43 km SW 238° 11 min
Maria (Wamungku) Lagoon to Cox River 12.72 km W 257° 13 min
Cox River to Burketown Crossing 21.26 km S 161° 18 min
Burketown Crossing to Southern Lost City 51.93 km S 171° 46 min
Southern Lost City to Lorella Springs Station 47.19 km NE 64° 52 min
Lorella Springs Station to Batten Creek 82.73 km S 174° 1 hr 23 min
Batten Creek to Leila 1st Crossing 35.69 km S 185° 31 min
Leila 1st Crossing to Cape Crawford 15.16 km S 161° 13 min
Cape Crawford to Heartbreak Hotel Campground 0.29 km SE 122°
Heartbreak Hotel Campground to Leila Crossing (Carpentaria Hwy) 15.82 km NE 59° 10 min
Leila Crossing (Carpentaria Hwy) to Leila Hill 1.82 km E 71° 1 min
Leila Hill to Borroloola 99.73 km NE 38° 1 hr 6 min
Katherine to Borroloola 868.08 km     11 hr 46 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

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What Others have Said

Latest 3 of 3

Warstar : 21 Dec 08 13:00
Hi all, just planning next winters run. When we go around we normal...
Member - John D M (NSW) : 12 Jan 08 20:32
I now own a mobile home we've been to places like Birdsville drive...
Member - Derek D (QLD) : 12 Jan 08 17:15
We are thinking of going to Roper Bar this year and will be towing a...

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