Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, Limestone show cave system in Katherine, Northern Territory
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park is a limestone cave system in Katherine that extends about 750 meters into the earth. About 240 meters of the caves are open to visitors through illuminated walkways that run beneath natural rock formations.
A local stockman discovered the main cave around 1900, and it later became known by different names including Smith's Cave and 16 Mile Cave during World War II. These changing names reflect how the caves were understood and used across different periods.
The Jawoyn Indigenous people named these caves Cutta Cutta, meaning many stars, reflecting their belief that stars rested in caves during daylight hours. This naming connects the place to local Aboriginal understanding of the natural world.
The nature park operates from April to October, and visitors should wear closed shoes because the cave floors can be wet and slippery. The tropical heat outside the caves makes lightweight clothing preferable, though the air inside remains noticeably cooler.
This is the only tropical cave system in Australia that is open to the public, and it provides habitat for five bat species and numerous snakes. The range of wildlife living in and around the caves shows how important this natural shelter is to the local environment.
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