Outback Northern Territory

Cattle Station

Newcastle Waters is a small settlement (but virtually un inhabitated) on the Stuart Highway named after the river which runs through the town, 80 miles south of Daily Waters and 450 miles south east of Darwin. Newcastle Waters was named after The Duke of Newcastle by the famous Australian explorer John Stuart in 1861 and the town is a good rest area with some heritage status buildings - of note is the bronze 'Drovers Statue'.

The nearest petrol station and accommodation is to be found some 20 miles south at Elliott. Newcastle Waters is within the Katherine region and further north the vivid reds of the 'Red Centre' gradually give way to the more fertile environment found in a tropical monsoon climate. Near Newcastle Waters there is a large cattle station with over 40 000 head of cattle.

Mercure Inn Hotel Katherine

Four kilometres south of Katherine on the main highway. Attractive tropical gardens contain a shaded swimming pool and tennis court for relaxation,

Vast Distances

Throughout the Northern Territory, distances between townships or settlements can be great and there are vast tracts of largely un populated land which may require permission from Aboriginal Land Authorities to access.

Travel through the Northern Territory should be treated with the utmost respect. Careful preparation must be made if you are thinking of venturing out alone as people have been known to succumb to the conditions in just a few hours. In addition, during the monsoon season, some roads throughout the 'Top End are often made unpassable by flooding.