Butterfly Gorge Nature Park 4.0 (reviews)

Butterfly Gorge Nature Park is tucked away at the base of a low sandstone plateau, and is a great way for kids to explore the beauty of the NT Outback! The landscapes are simply stunning. The sheer rock faces, edged by dense vegetation and rocky spinifex country, offer shaded riverine walks and beautiful scenery.

The Wagiman people speak for this land and believe their ancestors are here, giving kids a change to learn about culture and history too. 

It is safe to swim in Butterfly Gorge, and this is a terrific spot for a picnic. A swim across the main pool and through the narrowest of gorges will get you to the upper pools. A little climbing and swimming leads to one of the most beautiful and peaceful gorges in the Northern Territory. The gorge and main swimming area is a 10 minute walk from the carpark. Continue on from the main pool via some rocky sections. More enthusiastic walkers may climb up the rocky slopes to reach the top of the gorge with views of rockpools.

Below the Gorge is an extensive paperbark forest with some trees up to 45 metres tall! That's pretty tall! Large Leichhardt trees also form an enchanting forest along the riverbank. A population of Short-eared Rock Wallabies inhabits the escarpment around Butterfly Gorge. Native birds of many varieties are abundant in the bush around the gorge, and as it's name implies, it is also home to extremely large populations of Common Crow butterflies, which children especially find delightful and makes for excellent family photos.

Please plan your journey independently, the sat nav given is for the closest zip and may not be as helpful as we hope! Keep in mind that the last 17km of the drive isn't suitable for caravans, you will need a 4WD.