Paddling in Judbarra / Gregory National Park

The Northern Territory's second-largest park sits in the transition zone between the tropical Top End and the semi-arid interior, a landscape of gorges, escarpments, and sandstone country west of Katherine.

Water here moves through limestone and dolomite terrain, draining a vast and rugged catchment. The paddling is remote, seasonal, and shaped entirely by the wet-dry cycle that governs everything in this part of Australia.

The Victoria River runs through the park and is the dominant waterway in the region, giving the surrounding district its name. The Wickham River and Big Horse Creek are among the waters within the park's boundaries.

Access to the park comes via the Victoria Highway or the unsealed Buntine and Buchanan Highways, and the remoteness of the country means self-sufficiency is not optional — it is the baseline.

This is crocodile country, access tracks are four-wheel-drive only, and the wet season that fills these rivers also closes or severely limits road access. Timing and local knowledge matter enormously. Check directly with NT Parks before any trip.

Permit requirements, access conditions, and any restrictions on overnight river travel are best confirmed with the park, where current rules are held.