Head east from Katherine and you will reach the Gulf of Carpentaria, the sea that separates the north of Australia from Papua New Guinea. This remote region of the Northern Territory, a nine hour drive from Darwin or six from Katherine along the Savannah Way, is home to some of Australia’s largest cattle stations, some of them the size of a small European country! Here too you can enjoy some of the best fishing in the Northern Territory. The small township of Borroloola is the main centre for the Gulf Region’s industries, which include fishing and mining as well as cattle farming.

Things to do and see in the Gulf Region

Borroloola: This small town, close to the Gulf of Carpentaria, has an interesting history – once a wild frontier town and home to a variety of colourful characters, including prospectors, smugglers and drovers, it has an interesting museum housed in the old police station.

Fishing: Like so many places in the NT, the Gulf Region is a great place to land a barramundi. There are many river systems which all ultimately flow into the shallow waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria – King Ash Bay, 25 miles from Borroloola, is a popular spot as it enjoys a huge tidal range.

Barranyi National Park: Off shore from Borroloola is Barranyi National Park, located in the Sir Edward Pellew group of islands, where turtles come to nest and which is on the migratory path of many birds. You can only access the islands by private boat, and you must consult the Parks and Wildlife Department before embarking on the journey here.

Caranbirini Conservation Reserve: This small nature reserve, 30 miles south of Borroloola, marks the division between the dry centre and the tropical north of the Northern Territory, and includes a variety of different natural habitats. The semi-permanent waterhole here is very picturesque.