Top Things to do in Mataranka
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5 Free Things to do in Mataranka That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Mataranka, Australia including Bitter Springs, Elsey National Park, Mataranka Thermal Pool and Rainbow Springs, Elsey Cemetery National Reserve, Botanic Walk.
1. Bitter Springs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 447 reviews
Bitter Springs is a series of naturally fed thermal pools, an ideal place to relax and unwind. Located within Elsey National Park, and only 2 kilometres from Mataranka town ship.
Reviewed By Xanerin - Alice Springs, Australia
You will be absolutely mesmerised with this pure natural spring. Don’t forget to take a noodle as it is very deep and beware of the trees in the water, but that is what makes it so magical. Lie back and drift slowly down the warm water under spiders and webs, under palm fronds and listen to the many birds singing to you. You drift down about 400 metres and there are stairs to get out and an easy walk back to the start to do again AND again! My favourite of the three Springs we visited but all are so unique. Highly recommend this unbelievable place. Don’t forget a noodle!
2. Elsey National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Elsey National Park has warm, crystal-clear pools for swimmers, long stretches of river for canoers and anglers and scenic walking tracks and historic sites for landlubbers.
Reviewed By Nodswollef - Wodonga, Australia
Outstandingly beautiful with minimal human input, this a great and unusual place to visit. Its worth the stop for a look, but when we were there it was completely full of humans, shoulder to shoulder in the water. No for us! The rest of the area is well worth looking at but the caravan park was overcrowded too so we didn't stay.
3. Mataranka Thermal Pool and Rainbow Springs
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 220 reviews
Mataranka Thermal Pool can be reach by a 500 m loop walk, 20 minutes, easy walking. Meanders among towering Livistonas to the Thermal Pool providing swimming access.
Reviewed By mpecak - Brisbane, Australia
Mataranka is always our favorite destination when we travel with our 4WD to Northern Territory. Together with me wife and daughter we simply love the lazy atmosphere in Mataranka Homestead. You can feel a real outback when you stay there longer especially at evenings when you enjoy a meal at Maluka Bar. The caravan park is mostly dirt so if someone does not like it, they can stay in Bitter Springs Caravan Park as they have hot springs too. The good thing about Mataranka Homestead is that it is only 100 m walk to the thermal pools, and the water is crystal clear, transparent, smells nice and is 33 degrees. It is paradise. Most of the evenings birds, peacocks and wallabies approach campers as they are very friendly. It is perfect for kids to have nature encounters. When we were there we always had a campfire on, and my wife cooked something for dinner. Indeed, sometimes, especially closer to wet season bats arrive and they do smell and poop everywhere. However the path and pool area is being cleaned regularly by the homestead staff. Honestly if you like nature and want to go in the ‘zone’ and fully relax, Mataranka is the place to be.
4. Elsey Cemetery National Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By MareeO46 - Melbourne, Australia
After going to the homestead replica at Mataranka and watching the movie again, we were interested to see if we could find the cemetery. First found one cemetery at Mataranka only to discover we were not at the right place. After a bit of investigating and asking questions, we headed in the right direction to find the remnants of the homestead and the cemetery
