The Jawoyn people gained control of their country, which includes Katherine Gorge, in 1989 after a long legal battle. They took responsibility for a growing tourism business and through wise investment and partnerships, and through a philosophy of “sharing our country” have created one of the great tourist destinations in Australia. Nitmiluk, a place of cicadas, to give the gorge its traditional name, is staggeringly beautiful. It consists of 13 linked gorges with sandstone cliffs rising up to 70 metres above clear water. Everyone is catered for, from bushwalkers to bird watchers, campers in tents to caravaners, people seeking cabin accommodation and at the high end, the luxurious Cicada Lodge with its very fine dining restaurant. The first gorge is closed to swimmers because of salt water crocodiles. The other gorges are open in the dry season although they are inhabited by smaller and relatively harmless fresh water crocodiles. GH
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