The Jatbula Trail, within the Nitmiluk National Park of the Northern Territory, falls within this style of trek, as it is 65kms and traditionally done over 5 nights and 6 days. Jatbula Trail, NT, 62km, 5 days, June 2018 Language warning on the video music by Josh Wellington http://www.streetsicecream.com.au/Brand/Golden_Gaytime.aspx, Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Bushwalking & Hiking Tips from an Unexpected Outdoors Chick. The terrain is varied, beautiful and wild. As you can imagine, this books up very quickly each year when the bookings open in November for the following year. Special permission is required to walk between 1 October and 31 May. Below is a list of my "closet" that I carry in my pack. at a roadhouse on the way. Here's my packing list for outdoor trips. 1 – Only 1 bag per passenger is allowed. Copyright © 2012-2020 Caro (Carolyn) Ryan. You will walk in the footsteps of generations of Jawoyn who traditionally travelled this land over sandstone plateau scrub, woodlands, monsoon forests and riverine landscapes. Read our trip report: 5 Days on the Jatbula Trail . ... Overnight Hike Packing List. The tropical equivalent of Tasmania’s Overland Track, this full-pack carrying bushwalk traverses the heart of this amazing part of Australia. As a result, the heat got up to around 34c, which wasn’t too bad and was quickly satiated when we came to the first of what we were promised, were some of the best swimming holes in the Territory. This was the start of us changing our clocks to not only a slower pace of life, a pace dictated by walking, but being more attuned to the times of the sun and its movement across our skies. The Jatbula is one of the iconic Australian bushwalks and follows the traditional song line of the Jawoyn people. Arriving at the Nitmiluk Visitors Centre, (aka Katherine Gorge) we had a full briefing with our guides as they not only added our share of the group’s food to our packs (around 5kgs), but were able to loan packs, walking poles, sleeping bags or mozzie domes (no tents needed) to anyone who needed them. WHAT EQUIPMENT TO BRING FOR THE JATBULA TRAIL ADVENTURE. Now, before the coffee freaks like, freakout, you’ll be pleased to know that the morning’s breakfast coffee was made with Vittoria grounds, made bush style in a large pot and the ‘tap technique’ to allow the grains to settle, then served with a ladle. ... Mozzie coils and repellant have been added to the packing list for the next trip! The Jatbula Trail is a medium to hard walk for reasonably fit and active people with some bushwalking experience – (Capable of walking over rough ground with up to 15kg backpack). I read a few blogs and articles from expert hikers who are also photographers. Post navigation ← Hiking Food – Plumpy Nut Review. For ages it felt like the key short multi-day walks were The Overland Track (Tasmania) or. Not that I was going to complain, certainly after the exceptional quality of the meals that the guides prepared for us started to appear. The stone country, or Arnhem Land escarpment, is one of the most extraordinary wilderness areas in Australia. Besides it being used during the Fall on the Camino last year, it is about the same as what I used to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail and the Colorado Trail (most of which sits above 9,000 feet / 2743 meters in elevation. I thought, “Aha… surely there must be art there!” We weren’t disappointed. Aug 4, 2018 - Part 1 of hiking the 65km, 6 day Jatbula Trail in Northern Territory Australia. Now, I know that the good folk at SeaLink Kangaroo Island reckon that theirs is the tops, but I reckon that the 90 second boat trip across the Katherine River for $7 probably takes the cake. The Jatbula Trail in the Nitmiluk National Park features magnificent waterfalls tumbling from high quartzite cliffs where shady monsoon forests line the creeks and stunning Jawoyn Aboriginal rock art adorns the caves and overhangs. I’d say, possibly Australia. The things that I store outside the pack for any reason are on a list that lives inside the pack. The Arnhem Land escarpment is an exceptional wilderness area that winds its way along the edge of Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) to Edith Falls (Leliyn) creating a truly extraordinary hiking experience. Hike the Jatbula Trail with World Expeditions. The hike follows the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment over sandstone plateau and through woodlands, open forest, monsoon forest and riverine landscapes. At the end of the walk, the picturesque pool and sandy beach of the next camp is a complete contrast to the rocky falls of the night before. No spam. A delightful grass ringed site, spitting distance from the most lovely wide, open river cascades. It’s a moderately challenging hike with a full pack, doable by any able adult but best enjoyed if you have a good level of fitness, even better if you’ve practiced carrying a full pack. 3 – Travelers may carry liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes in containers of 3.4oz (100ml) or smaller. The Jatbula has been there for millennia, but 2006 was the first year any outfitter offered guided treks: Gecko Canoeing & Trekking (tel. Description. Join my eNewsletter and get the latest articles, videos, pics and inspiration. With a limited amount of hikers allowed at once, you get to deeply immerse yourself in the Australian outback and ancient landscapes as you walk this traditional Indigenous songline. What does paradise look like? The Jatbula Trail in the Nitmiluk National Park features magnificent waterfalls that tumble from high quartzite cliffs, shady monsoon forests that line the creeks and stunning Jawoyn Aboriginal rock art that adorns the caves and overhangs. The Jatbula Trail is a 62 kilometre one way walk, departing from Nitmiluk Gorge, traversing the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment and finishing at Leliyn (Edith Falls). A five-day guided trek starts at $795 if you provide your own equipment and meals, $1,495 for all-inclusive. You really have to dig, not just physically, but mentally to find a sign, let alone a connection to the incredible resilient nations that lived here long before the English invaded when Captain Cook stepped ashore in 1788. I have to admit that it’s open, dry area didn’t impress me at first, however it’s when you walk the 80m towards the sound of tumbling water, that everything changes. Further rock scrambles revealed a few more of these incredible pieces of art. (2016). Clothing Equipment. Websites: ReferencesAustralian Geographic. The campsite at Crystal Falls could not be more different than the night before. The Jatbula Trail is a 62 kilometres (39 mi) one-way walking trail in the Northern Territory of Australia. Stepping out of the boat, you find yourself at the official start of the Jatbula Trail, the first opportunity for our guide, Jakob, to give us what would prove the first of many, interpretative chats. Jatbula Trail with Gecko Canoeing and trekking. Today you can enjoy the Trail as a five or six day walk. The trail management of Jatbula only allows 15 people to walk any one section per day and walkers are set to a strict schedule of pre-identified campsites. For ages it felt like the key short multi-day walks were The Overland Track (Tasmania) or The Six Foot Track (NSW) and unless you were a local or walked with a bushwalking club knowing all the other (often off-track options), there didn’t appear to be much else. Join my eNewsletter and get the latest articles, videos, pics and inspiration. On the 6 day Jatbula Trail adventure you will need to carry all your personal equipment in a full trekking backpack that is 70-90 litres in capacity. The Jatbula Trail is a 5-day hike through everchanging ecosystems in Nitmiluk National Park. This gives the walk an interesting community feel, where you spend all day walking alone only to find the same familiar faces at the campsite each night – each of whom we will enjoy getting to know progressively over the week. Day 1 – Drive to Katherine Gorge, Trek to Biddlecombe Cascades. The majority of people walk the trail as independent trekkers with growing numbers doing the trail with a guide for peace of mind and the extra information and experience afforded. But considering the number of man-eating saltwater crocs in this river, it’s $7 well spent! A beautiful cascade series of pools, about 20m wide to choose as your personal bath and pounding back massage, before the water tumbles endlessly over the final 10m drop to continue downstream. At the end of the walk, the picturesque pool and sandy beach of the next camp is a complete contrast to the rocky falls of the night before. Jatbula Trail with Gecko Canoeing and trekking This five day hike is a must do. Hands done.*. Pack weight up in Jatbula is also due to the amount of water you’ve got to carry. Jakob shared what he knew about the ancient rock paintings, with suggestions that one of the main figures represented Bula or Pula, one of the most significant figures in the creation stories of the Jaowyn people. The Jatbula Trail, within the Nitmiluk National Park of the Northern Territory, falls within this style of trek, as it is 65kms and traditionally done over 5 nights and 6 days. Things I know – that should be first on my list, hence this. The Jatbula Trail is one of the Top End's best kept walking trails and Traveller's Andrew Bain tells of his experience with Australian Walking Holidays on the trail. Compared to our Kiwi tramping buddies across the Tasman, with their exceptional hut and trail system, the Aussie hiking landscape (at least up until fairly recently) has been quite different. The Jatbula Trail is a full pack 6 day hike through Nitmiluk National Park in the Northern Territory. Seriously, the best food I’ve ever had in the wilderness. We tend to keep back up of backups. Being Northern Australia, where the two seasons of ‘wet’ (Nov-Apr) and ‘dry’ (May-Oct) rule, you really want to choose carefully and wisely when you want to go. Again, a benefit of a guide instead of carrying a guide book. The Jatbula Trail is a trip of a lifetime located in the Northern Territory, giving you the opportunity to walk through Nitmiluk National Park from the famous Nitmiluk Gorge to Leliyn (Edith Falls). to ensure that the campsites (which are AMAZING) don’t get over-booked and you can be assured of a remote wilderness experience with only 15 walkers allowed each day. For instance, I only decided to join my August trip a few months earlier. This is because the whole trail is up on top of an escarpment that you (very gently) ascend on the first day and guess what? Jatbula Trail is a 62km, grade 3-4 one way hike, located in Nitmiluk National Park Northern Territory. In part 2, we discover the Amphitheatre and my favourite campsite of all! After a wet feet creek crossing to start the day, the terrain varied from lush Pandanus groves around the waterholes, to open tall grassed areas, with the evidence of the seasonal burning in patches along the way. 1 – These items must fit into 1 clear plastic quart-sized bag. These signs and journeys make me pause to consider those, who for 40,000 years have lived, loved, worked and fought in and for this country… country I now call home. www.trektoursaustr ektoursaustr saustralia. ... Overnight Hike Packing List. The Jatbula Trail is a 62 km one way walk, departing from Nitmiluk Gorge, traversing through the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment over sandstone plateau scrub, woodlands, monsoon forests and riverine landscapes finishing at Leilyn (Edith Falls) You will walk in the footsteps of generations of Jawoyn who traditionally travelled through parts of the trail. ... Overnight Hike Packing List… Starting at the Nitmiluk visitor centre, the diverse, 58km, 5 day trail takes in Leliyn (Edith Falls), the perfect spot for a swim and a waterfall selfie, winds through rainforest, past ancient Aboriginal rock art (at the Amphitheatre), grasslands and sandstone escarpments. For me, yes … I am interested aboriginal art sites, but what I love more, is not just looking at the art itself, but looking at the ground and area around it, trying to picture the people, families, groups or those trusted to paint and share the stories through images, sitting there, mixing the ochres, chatting amongst themselves, fire burning somewhere in the background, and at the places where there are many small hand stencils on the walls, imagining the children who made those hands running around, laughing and giggling. The trail is an ancient Song Line used by the Jawoyn people. JATBULA TRAIL ITINERARY The stone country, or Arnhem Land escarpment, is one of the most extraordinary wilderness areas in Australia. Day 2 – Trek to Crystal Falls. ⁠ When living in the big cities of Australia and any built up area, the signs and stories of our oldest people (the oldest living people on earth) are usually pretty hard to find. This cluster of rocks, standing up to 20m high, are a standout on the skyline as you approach them. PACKING LIST CLOTHING ̑ Warm jumper (woollen or polar fleece) ̑ 1-2 Pairs walking trousers – lightweight and quick drying For a country the size of Australia, with it’s vast network of National Parks, you’d think that there would be countless opportunities for hikers looking for 4-7 day adventures out on the track. 1 Woolen/Polar fleece jumper. Remove this bag from your carry-on and place it separately in the screening bin. 2- The Jatbula Trail, Northern Territory There are so many great walks in Australia in the Northern Territory, with stunning gorges like Ormiston Gorge: Photo: Tourism Australia/Tourism NT Five days of wilderness hiking in the Top End with a full pack (not a daypack) might not sound like your cup of billy tea, but this is one of Australia’s best walks for a reason. E. Backpack 70-90 litre capacity E, H ($50) 2 T-shirts/Long sleeve shirts We provide light weight inflatable sleeping mat E. Walking trousers (not jeans) or walking shorts We provide sleeping bag rated to 3 … Lilies bloom in purple glory around its banks and goanna tracks lead through the sand to the water. Combine this trek with a Katherine River Canoe Expedition for the complete Top End wilderness experience! The Jatbula Trail, within the Nitmiluk National Park of the Northern Territory, falls within this style of trek, as it is 65kms and traditionally done over 5 nights and 6 days. Well, arriving into camp at 4.30pm, paradise is returning to the campsite after your freshwater swim to find the billy has not only boiled, but your choice of Twinings tea, Staminade powder, hot chocolate or Moccona was waiting. Make sure you download and read the detailed Jatbula Trail trip notes which contains all the essential information you need to know before booking. Everyone suggested packing light, as a photographer that is a tough call. The Jatbula Trail begins at the visitor centre in Nitmiluk National Park, three hours’ drive south of Darwin. The Jatbula Trail in the Nitmiluk National Park features magnificent waterfalls tumbling from high quartzite cliffs where shady monsoon forests line the creeks and stunning Jawoyn Aboriginal rock art adorns the caves and overhangs. *Apart from the time a friend turned up in Summer to a 3 day walk, with a hidden foam box with dry ice in it… with Magnums and **Gaytime ice-creams. Jatbula Day 4: A long day (early start), a vegetation change and lots of mud as you reach the Edith River. Shot by @1andre, Millaa Millaa Falls is an 18 metre high heritage-l, Hiking attire has changed a lot over the last cent, How Feral Horses Damage Australia’s Precious Alpine Environments, El Questro is an Outback Oasis Along The Gibb River Run, Trek to Maitland Bay Along The Bouddi Coastal Walk, Millaa Millaa Falls is The Perfect Place to Get Your Feet Wet, Nitmiluk Gorge Southern Walks – Secluded 4 Day Solo Hike, Ngurrungurrudjba – A Guide to Kakadu’s Most Magnificent Wetlands. It’s open year-round, though it’s best walked during the dry season, from June to September. The trail has some challenging ascents and descents but in general, it is all quite manageable. The trail winds 62km through vast wilderness in the outback where we found ourselves camping each night near pristine water holes, the perfect spot to have a refreshing swim at the end of the day. I read a few blogs and articles from expert hikers who are also photographers. Specifically, adventures that are suitable for people who’ve done a few full day and overnight walks and are ready to step-up to try a true bushwalking holiday – a multi-day adventure. A packing list will be provided for you. Only love. There’s even a spot you can swim in behind the waterfall – it felt like a door into Narnia. Thankfully, we snuck in a coffee stop (from a machine… heck, we’re in the outback now!) Because the Jatbula Trail seasonal sweet spot is relatively short, National Parks have instigated an easy, online booking system to ensure that the campsites (which are AMAZING) don’t get over-booked and you can be assured of a remote wilderness experience with only 15 walkers allowed each day. Exploring the Jatbula Trail. Because the Jatbula Trail seasonal sweet spot is relatively short, National Parks have instigated an easy. This was a rhythm I could certainly get used to… and we did. This breathtaking Top End adventure is one of the most popular walking trails with our travellers. Watch out for the tree climbing green ants with their leaf nests above your head! The great news is that over the last few years there’s been a lot of work done in the various state National Park offices on developing sustainable overnight and short multi-day (4-7 day) trips. For instance, I only decided to join my August trip a few months earlier. 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