The Mataranka Thermal Springs, which are also known as the Rainbow Thermal Springs, form the major attraction of the 13,840 hectare Elsey National Park that encompasses the headwaters of the Roper River. Located just 110 kilometres south of Katherine, the Elsey National Park contains numerous permanent springs which feed the river with around 30 million litres of thermal water each day, and include the popular Rainbow and Bitter Thermal Springs.
Standing adjacent to the Mataranka Homestead, the crystal clear waters of the Rainbow Thermal Springs maintain a constant 34 degrees centigrade and meanders for 500 metres amongst the towering Livistona palms before entering the beautiful Mataranka Thermal Pool; while the deeper Bitter Thermal Springs are located approximately 9 kilometres west of the Rainbow Thermal Springs and can be accessed from the township of Mataranka along Martin Road. The waters of the Bitter Thermal Springs encircle the tree-lined natural pool and extend for around 500 metres. Swimmers can access the thermal flow upstream and enjoy the pleasure of gently floating along the channel. The water from this thermal aquifer is first seen around Bitter Springs and flows into the Little Roper River which links through a series of pools to the Rainbow Springs, the Mataranka Thermal Pool and on to the Roper River.
Elsey National Park provides visitors with bushwalking, bird watching, canoeing, swimming and fishing, and contains a re-constructed homestead which was once the setting for the autobiographical account of Jeannie Gunn called ‘We of the Never Never’ that recounts her experiences in the Northern Territory in the early 1900’s.
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