Katherine Bird Festival

Dates: Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th September (starts 3 days after the end of our Wild Top End wildlife tour)

Register your interest NOW!

Although the festival is going ahead the program is always finalised late to take into account recent weather conditions and bird numbers. As an indicator see this program for 2019 (there was no program in 2020) https://www.nitmilukfestival.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Katherine_Bird_Festival.pdf (note gaps during the day – that’s to avoid the heat during the middle of the day)

The event is subsidised to keep costs down. The main costs in 2019 were the registration fee of $20 and the Gorge

TRANSPORT ONLY – from Darwin, then during the Festival and return to Darwin

Echidna Walkabout aims to support this fantastic festival. We provide transport for participants from Darwin, then to the Festival events and return to Darwin at the end of the Festival. 

Included will be our own birding skills and knowledge of the area both with birds and with people. 

It is important that participants in the Katherine section of the trip understand that we are not guiding this part of the trip. We are simply facilitating people’s enjoyment of this incredible region by offering our time and a vehicle.

We DO NOT provide:

• Accommodation
• Registration for the Festival or its activities
• Meals

We ONLY provide transport

Thursday 9th
Pick up participants in Darwin and drive them to Katherine (possibly via Litchfield National Park if we can get away early enough)

Drop participants at their accommodation then pick them up to take them to the opening event then back to accommodation

Friday 10th & Saturday 11th
Arrange for participants to get to and from events.

Sunday 12th
Leave Katherine about 2pm to drive back the Darwin and drop people at their accommodation or at airport (this is about 3.5 hours drive)

from $600 per person – if you have booked the Wild Top End trip

from $1200 per person without the Wild Top End trip.

Register your interest NOW

Contact us and make a booking ASAP using any of the following options:

• Register your interest using this FORM OR email us
• e:  enquiries@echidnawalkabout.com.au OR call us
• tel:  03 9646 8249
• IMPORTANT: Arrange your own accommodation and meals
• Book, register and pay for events once the program is released (see next drop down)

Registration is a MUST for all activities and must be booked by participants directly via the Katherine Information Centre. The best way to do this is to call them ph. 1800 653 142

Katherine

Beagle Motor Inn – has a restaurant

Knotts Crossing Resort – has a restaurant

Various motels and caravan parks some of which have on site accommodation.

Nitmiluk National Park

Cicada Lodge – has restaurant (5 star)

Nitmiluk Cabins – self catering and nearby outdoor restaurant (lots of fun)

There’s lots of ways to make life colourful in the Top End – here’s a few ideas…

Darwin

In the 3 day period between the end of the Wild Top End trip and the trip to Katherine there are heaps of things to do in Darwin. We can suggest a few including some great birdwatching locations. There’s also a wonderful tour that goes out looking for turtles plus other activities with Sea Darwin https://seadarwin.com/darwin-tours/

Darwin city is also a wonderful place to walk around both by day and night. The Deckchair cinema is a great novelty for visitors and often has meals provided outdoors prior to the show: https://www.deckchaircinema.com/

The Darwin Botanical Gardens are fantastic for bird life and have great day time restaurants. East Point is one of our favourite places for wildlife.

The Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery is mind blowing especially for those interested in wildlife and Aboriginal Culture.

Katherine/Nitmiluk

Here’s a few ideas for downtime – you can walk to many places in Katherine but there are taxis if required. Katherine is by no means a sophisticated place but it is fascinating and the people are friendly:

• Katherine Hot Springs – fantastic swimming spot
• Helicopter flights over Nitmiluk National Park – stunning
• Birdwalks in the town – some incredible sightings
• And lots more