Mary River National Park

• Introduction
• Fact file


Introduction

Mary River National Park protects a part of the Mary River catchment that includes the river, flood plains, billabongs, paperbark forests, swamps and rainforest. Birds and crocodiles are prolific, and that wonderful fighting fish, the barramundi, is a magnet for anglers. Corroboree billabong and Shady Camp are considered two of the Top End’s best fi shing spots. Both have boat launching facilities and obvious warning signs about not cleaning fish in the vicinity of crocodiles. Many people fish from the barrage at Shady Camp but the hazards are its fast-flowing water and crocodiles.Rockhole is a popular place to launch a boat to explore the waterways while Couzens Lookout offers stunning views over a lily-studded billabong. A walk through Brian Creek monsoon forest is cool and shady under a dense canopy of species that include ancient banyan trees and liana vines. Hardies Track provides 4WD access to the fertile heart of the park and its wildlife. The track is well defined, signposted and marked with blue arrows. It has two entrances, one 500 metres before Mary River Billabong and the other off the Rockhole road. It is only open in the dry season (May to October) and when conditions permit. During the wet season, sections of the track are flooded with more than a metre of water. There are camping areas throughout the park at public and private venues, including Mary River Park, Annaburroo Billabong, Bark Hut Inn, Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge, Shady Camp and Couzens Lookout. Companies from Darwin take tours to the park and down the river to the mouth at Chambers Bay.

Fact file

Camping

Couzens Lookout, Shady Camp

Location and access

150 km east of Darwin via Arnhem Hwy

Park Information

• PWCNT (08) 8999 5511
• PWCNT Darwin (08) 8999 4555
• PWCNT Wildman R (08) 8978 8986

Size

22 900 ha

Where to Stay

Annaburroo Billabong (08) 8978 8971
Bark Hut Inn (08) 8978 8988
Mary River Park (08) 8978 8877
Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge
(08) 8978 8914


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• Campsites

Campsites

Couzen’s Lookout camping area

Take a walk by the river or stroll up to the lookout to witness spectacular Top End sunsets. You need to bring drinking water. To get here, take the Point Stuart Rd turn-off from the highway, then turn onto Rockhole Rd.... Find out more

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Shady Camp camping area

Beware of crocodiles at Shady Camp, and bring in your own drinking water. The site is 45 km from the Arnhem Hwy, off Point Stuart Rd.... Find out more

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