Wildlife & ToursKatherine
Bitter Springs (Mataranka)
Be the first to review·364km · 4h 33min
🚗 4h 33min📍 364km💰 Free
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Best Time
All Year
Entry Fee
Free
Drive Time
4h 33min
Access
All vehicles
Croc Safety: Only swim in designated croc-monitored areas. Check signs before entering any waterway. Report sightings: 1800 453 210.
- Limited phone signal
- Carry 3L water/person/day
Crystal-clear thermal springs flowing at 34°C through a narrow palm-fringed channel into a series of idyllic pools at Elsey National Park, 430km south of Darwin. Visitors float downstream on pool noodles. The water is an extraordinary shade of blue-green due to mineral content. One of the NT's most photogenic swimming spots. Bitter Springs is one of the most photographed natural pools in the NT. The combination of crystal-clear 34°C water, overhanging palms, and vivid blue colour is extraordinary.
Explorer Verdict
VerifiedFree entry
Best for
Wildlife watchers, families, first-time NT visitors
Skip if
You'd rather explore independently
Time needed
1-2 hours on site
Best season
All Year
NT Explorer verified
Last updated · 3 months agoWhere does this information come from?
Each location is scored from existing data: visitor ratings & review volume (social proof), official verification, amenities, safety warnings, access friction (permits/4WD), and how fresh the info is.
We show a score once a place has at least 5 visitor reviews. Until then the facts on this page come from official sources and site data — no score is invented.
Best Time to Visit
All Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Getting There
Distance from Darwin364km
Drive Time4h 33min
4WD RequiredNo
Facilities
Parking
Safety Warnings
• Limited phone signal
• Carry 3L water/person/day
Distance
364km from Darwin
Drive Time
4h 33min
Best Season
All Year
Rating
No reviews yet
Safety Warnings
• Limited phone signal
• Carry 3L water/person/day
Distance
364km from Darwin
Drive Time
4h 33min
Best Season
All Year
Rating
No reviews yet
Nearby Locations
Sun & light times
Bitter Springs (Mataranka) · ACST
Sunrise
05:39
Sunset
18:07
Day length12h 28m
Golden Hour AM
05:39 – 06:08
Golden Hour PM
17:38 – 18:07
Blue Hour AM
05:17 – 05:39
Blue Hour PM
18:07 – 18:29
Calculated with NOAA solar algorithm. Times are sun centre at the horizon (refraction-corrected).
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