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.
How to Use this Trek Note
In this trek note, we provide Place to Place distances (see Directions tab), a downloadable plot file, and POI files to enable you to use this as your driving itinerary, or as a base guide to add other side trips. As with all ExplorOz Trek Notes, you can reverse the order of the direction notes by clicking the arrow alongside the words Start/Finish at the very top of the information on this page.
To see the route, click on the Map tab. Then use the Moving Map Control to take a virtual tour of the route. You can also click on the "What to See & Do" & "Where to Stay" tabs to see more about each Place that the route follows. Click each listed item to open a separate page (and download) for each Place for further information to enrich your understanding of the area.
If you use the Print button at the top of the page the text from all sections will be reformatted into one easy to read document (except for detailed Place information – do these separately). If you are an ExplorOz Member, you'll also be able to download any individually selected
Places (or all in one batch download) as POI/waypoint files to use in your GPS (all popular formats available).
Map
Take a virtual tour of this trek using the interactive map below. You can click any feature on the map, or use the Moving Map controls to watch the trek in auto-play from start to finish. As each feature is selected, it will flash green on the map, and a panel will open above the map with more detailed information for that selection.
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Preparation
Permits
No permits needed.
Fuel Supplies & Usage
Best Time To Visit
Closest Climatic Station
Ngukurr
Distance from Trek Mid Point 77.67km NE
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Mean Max. °C |
35.5 | 34.8 | 34.1 | 33.8 |
31.7 | 29.8 | 29.6 | 31.9 |
35.0 | 37.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| Mean Min. °C |
24.9 | 24.7 | 24.0 | 22.0 |
19.1 | 16.2 | 15.2 | 16.2 |
19.2 | 22.6 | 25.0 | 25.5 |
| Mean Rain mm |
182.8 | 176.5 | 174.8 | 55.9 |
10.2 | 5.1 | 1.1 | 0.7 |
1.8 | 13.5 | 42.4 | 131.6 |
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,
Heartbreak Hotel,
BorroloolaWhat to See
DownloadDownload Trek
Save time and download all digital map data for this trek (all places are included in the trek download).
This list may not be complete for the entire region.
Places listed here are directly located along the plot file associated with this Trek Note. You can locate other nearby
Places by browsing the map or searching
Places.
Excellent
barramundi fishing, remote NT outback country, bush camping, thermal springs
There are a total of 8 place entries
Katherine - NT 
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 ...
Position: -14.46517 132.26347 Altitude: 110m
PlaceID: 26616 Updated: 16 Mar 09 18:28
Mataranka - NT
Position: -14.92127 133.065 Altitude: 138m
PlaceID: 26644 Updated: 20 Dec 08 17:50
Lomarieum Lagoon - NT
Turn at St Vidgeon ruins. Nice camp site without facilities but we were told there may be crocodiles.
Position: -14.77748 134.88171 Altitude: 4m
PlaceID: 68648 Updated: 20 May 12 18:50
Maria (Wamungku) Lagoon - NT
Position: -15.29942 135.44582 Altitude: 11m
PlaceID: 68700 Updated: 06 Dec 07 15:06
Limmen River Station - NT 
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 ...
Position: -15.2655 135.50153 Altitude: 9m
PlaceID: 14479 Updated: 11 Dec 07 11:17
Southern Lost City - NT
Position: -15.80882 135.45577 Altitude: 71m
PlaceID: 14494 Updated: 11 Dec 07 11:23
Leila Hill - NT
Position: -16.61064 135.86135 Altitude: 90m
PlaceID: 27073 Updated: 28 Feb 06 16:52
Borroloola - NT
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,...
Position: -16.07078 136.30722 Altitude: 16m
PlaceID: 27055 Updated: 12 Dec 09 01:33
Where to Stay
DownloadDownload Trek
Save time and download all digital map data for this trek (all places are included in the trek download).
This list may not be complete for the entire region.
Places listed here are directly located along the plot file associated with this Trek Note. You can locate other nearby
Places by browsing the map or searching
Places.
There are a total of 16 place entries
Katherine - NT
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 ...
Position: -14.46517 132.26347 Altitude: 110m
PlaceID: 26616 Updated: 16 Mar 09 18:28
King Rest Area - NT
Position: -14.64411 132.63271 Altitude: 194m
PlaceID: 76658 Updated: 17 Dec 08 17:19
Stirling Mill Rest Area - NT
Position: -14.83907 132.97287 Altitude: 152m
PlaceID: 76657 Updated: 18 Dec 08 11:41
Mataranka - NT
Position: -14.92127 133.065 Altitude: 138m
PlaceID: 26644 Updated: 20 Dec 08 17:50
Mataranka Homestead Resort - NT
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....
Position: -14.92144 133.13074 Altitude: 127m
PlaceID: 26643 Updated: 12 Oct 09 21:18
Mt Price Rest Area - NT
Position: -14.76148 134.18916 Altitude: 49m
PlaceID: 76646 Updated: 17 Nov 10 14:56
Roper Bar - NT
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....
Position: -14.72693 134.49847 Altitude: 18m
PlaceID: 7892 Updated: 03 Oct 10 05:55
Leichhardts Caravan Park - NT 
Position: -14.72242 134.50624 Altitude: 18m
PlaceID: 76648 Updated: 17 Nov 10 14:58
St Vidgeon Ruins - NT 
Position: -14.78046 134.88519 Altitude: 9m
PlaceID: 76649 Updated: 02 Oct 10 19:56
Towns River - NT
Position: -15.04184 135.2117 Altitude: 7m
PlaceID: 76650 Updated: 18 Dec 08 11:48
Cox River - NT
Position: -15.32233 135.34511 Altitude: 10m
PlaceID: 76651 Updated: 18 Dec 08 11:49
Limmen River Station - NT
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 ...
Position: -15.2655 135.50153 Altitude: 9m
PlaceID: 14479 Updated: 11 Dec 07 11:17
Lorella Springs Station - NT
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....
Position: -15.72222 135.64084 Altitude: 85m
PlaceID: 76653 Updated: 28 Dec 11 01:09
Batten Creek - NT
Position: -16.30202 135.7074 Altitude: 99m
PlaceID: 76654 Updated: 18 Dec 08 11:54
Heartbreak Hotel - NT
This is the main establishment of Cape Crawford and consists of a roadhouse/hotel with cabins and camping. Restaurant/pub open 6.30 till late. Fuel, air,...
Position: -16.68432 135.72598 Altitude: 82m
PlaceID: 76596 Updated: 03 Sep 13 18:37
Borroloola - NT
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,...
Position: -16.07078 136.30722 Altitude: 16m
PlaceID: 27055 Updated: 12 Dec 09 01:33
Directions
| Locations | Distance | Direction | Time |
|---|
| 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 |
0.62 km |
SE |
125° |
|
| Heartbreak Hotel 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 |
868.42 km |
|
|
11 hr 48 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.
Related
Nearby ExplorOz Treks
Travel Journals
The following are links to Members' Blogs that contain the words Roper Bar. Creating Blogs is restricted to Members only. Not a Member? Join here.
There are a total of 31 matching blog entries. Results based on search "Roper Bar"
Beatit on the road - Days 25 to 28 at Roper Bar
30/8/12, 31/8/12, 1/9/12 and 2/9/12
We arrive at Roper bar after about 180K drive from Mataranka. The road is largely sealed except for the last 40K or so....
Created: 05 Sep 2012 21:08
BlogID: 4285
Comments: 2
Views: 2563
Day 37 Mataranka to St Vidgeon’s Ruins (326km/6865km)
A good start to the day with Max having a chance to hand feed the monster barramundi in the Territory Manor’s dam.
And then the real adventure began again....
Created: 02 Aug 2013 00:00
BlogID: 5236
Comments: 0
Views: 154
Darwin Via the Gulf June/July 2013 "Day 12"
Darwin Via the Gulf June/July 2013 Day 1227/06/13
Headed off this morning after a good night sleep at Butterfly Springs, its pretty quiet there and very dark,...
Created: 26 Jun 2013 21:58
BlogID: 5006
Comments: 0
Views: 516
Day 38 St Vidgeon’s Ruins to Butterfly Springs (143km/7008km)
We were up early today and were rewarded with the sun rising over the billabong (it has a name – just can’t remember it)....
Created: 03 Aug 2013 00:00
BlogID: 5237
Comments: 0
Views: 163
Beatit on the road - Day 19
24/8/12
A plan nothing day whoo hoo! A great day to get those little things done – you know the sort that are left for a rainy day. Starting with a new water hose,...
Created: 24 Aug 2012 22:42
BlogID: 4270
Comments: 0
Views: 1933
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