King Ash Bay: A Guide To Visiting & Fishing

Everything you need to know about the King Ash Bay experience.

Vast and diverse, the Northern Territory is world-famous for its fishing adventures and visiting anglers often set their sights on King Ash Bay .

Each dry season (May to October), the King Ash Bay Fishing Club and community swell with the arrival of members and visitors who come to enjoy the great ‘winter’ weather (it’s warm all year round), the fishing, and the lifestyle. Many others drop in for a few days or weeks as part of a more extensive visit to Northern Australia. After receiving a warm welcome at King Ash Bay, you’ll want to return again and again.

Whether you’re looking to just get away, relax and explore the relatively unknown wilderness or you’re a keen angler looking for your next big catch, here’s everything you need to know about King Ash Bay.

an aerial view of Victoria Highway from Kununurra to King Ash Bay — The remote drive from Kununurra to King Ash Bay. (Image: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught)

Fishing at King Ash Bay

Come for the fishing , stay for the lifestyle, sums up King Ash Bay perfectly. With a two-lane boat ramp, hundreds of kilometres of sheltered, mangrove-lined rivers and creeks, and easy access to the Sir Edward Pellew Islands and surrounding waters, the range of fishing opportunities here is enormous.

a freshwater crocodile lurking around King Ash Bay — Freshwater crocodiles are spotted lurking around the area.

Barramundi fishing is what draws most visitors, and while they can be caught all year round, most anglers prefer fishing for barra during the cooler dry season months. Aside from barra, there’s a wide range of fish available in the area. In the estuaries, popular target species include mangrove jack, golden snapper (fingermark), black jew, threadfin and blue salmon, javelin fish (grunter), and queenfish. Around the islands and reefs, these same species can be caught in addition to Coral Trout, Nannygai, Mackerel, Emperor (various types), and many more. The famous mud crab is also available in large numbers, so bring your pots with you.

an aerial view of King Ash Bay — King Ash Bay is a go-to fishing spot in the Northern Territory.

Fishing from the banks can provide some limited success, however, for the best results, it’s recommended to access a boat to experience the full potential of the area. Fishing charters are available through King Ash Bay River and Fishing Charters or NT Coastal Fishing Charters.

a freshwater crocodile in King Ash Bay — Swimming in the river is not advisable since there are crocs in the area.

King Ash Bay accommodation

At 1000 kilometres away from the nearest shopping centre and 700 kilometres from the nearest traffic lights, describing King Ash Bay as remote is putting it lightly, but in many respects, the area is a self-sufficient tiny town. Many visitors are amazed to discover that the bay generates its own power, supplies good quality water, and provides many other services you’d expect to find in a small community.

As well as accommodation, you’ll also find a service station, a well-stocked mini-mart, a nine-hole golf course, and Groper’s Bar & Grill with reasonably priced drinks and meals, entertainment, and communal activities.

King Ash Bay Caravan Park

Set in a natural bush environment, the best way to describe these remote camp areas is informal and friendly. There are no allocated sites and campers are free to choose their own camp area from those available when they arrive. There’s always room though in both the powered and unpowered areas and well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Visitors to King Ash Bay often choose to stay in their own caravans, camper trailers, or motor homes in the powered area . Being situated on high ground, this site is available all year. Toilets and hot showers are provided (as well as a dump pot for emptying caravan toilets) and coin-operated washing machines. Good quality bore water is also provided and it’s generally possible to connect your camper van or trailer to a tap. Small campfires are permitted but they must be attended to at all times and extinguished when not in use. Powered sites cost $40 per night.

King Ash Bay camping

For those who are camping in tents and swags, the very popular unpowered area (known locally as Genny Flats) is a lovely spot on the river bank, though it’s only available during the dry season due to the potential for flooding. Toilets and hot showers are provided. Unpowered sites cost $30 per night.

King Ash Bay cabins

For a touch of luxury, King Ash Bay has a variety of cabins available all year round with stunning views overlooking the McArthur River. They’re fully serviced with air-con and a variety of bedding configurations. All cabins have their own BBQ and outdoor settings, and they’re conveniently situated within walking distance of the King Ash Bay Fishing Club and boat ramp.

King Ash Bay houseboats

To up your game out on the water, why not stay on a houseboat ? Located on the McArthur River at the fishing club, there are four fully equipped boats to choose from. The entertainment decks are great for relaxing with a drink and a BBQ and you can even fish straight off the boat. Prices are from $100pp per night plus fuel. It’s an excellent way to access some of the most remote fishing hotspots in Australia

King Ash Bay Lodge, Northern Territory

A little further away is King Ash Bay Lodge , nestled in beautiful gardens at the quiet end of town. Available all year round for groups of up to 12 people, you’ll find high standards of cleanliness here as well as plenty of extras to ensure your stay is as enjoyable as possible. On one side of the lodge, there’s a private, double self-contained unit, and on the other side, there are five twin-share rooms.

Things to know before you go to King Ash Bay

Located around 50 kilometres past Borroloola (along the Savannah Way) in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the bay is a full day’s drive from Darwin and approximately 650 kilometres from Katherine. There are many ways to get there but it really depends on how much time you have, your budget, and the time of year.

If you’re driving, you can take bitumen roads the entire way except for the last 21 kilometres. Make sure to carry enough fuel though because there are some stretches of road that are several hundred kilometres between fuel stations. However, the quickest way to get there (and probably the most expensive) is to fly via Darwin and then to the McArthur River Mine, where you can get picked up (approx one-hour drive from King Ash Bay).

Keep in mind that during the wet season, the road goes almost completely underwater and is very muddy. When the road is like that, you can only use a very capable 4WD to get through when absolutely necessary. However, during the dry season, the road is usable by all vehicles including 2WD sedans.

an aerial view of road to Borroloola — Venture across the long stretch of road to Borroloola. (Image: Tourism NT/Sean Scott)

With so much to see and do at the Top End of Australia, discover more about exploring the Northern Territory ahead of planning your next adventure.

Spend a few days visiting the real-life Central Australian locations that inspired the new film everyone is talking about, and discover why Alice Springs is such an important part of Australian culture.

In the credits of the new Australian film Kangaroo , the first name under ‘cast’ should read ‘The Northern Territory ’. Not only is Alice Springs (and the surrounding landscape) integral to the movie itself, but the spiritual heart of Australia and its local Indigenous owners also inform the look and feel of every frame, explains Producer Trisha Morton-Thomas of Brindle Films, who also plays Charlie’s grandmother Gwennie.

“By setting Kangaroo in Alice Springs (Mparntwe), the film embraces how visible Aboriginal people are here, and the living Aboriginal culture that is woven through this community,” she explains.

still from kangarro film — See *Kangaroo*, then visit the real-life filming locations.

And while shooting in such a sacred part of the Northern Territory required extra planning, it was something the cast and crew were highly invested in.

“There are incredibly significant sacred sites and places of deep cultural stories in the area, that at times are very gender-specific, which we’ve kept out of the production,” she explains. “Even if overhead drone footage captures a sacred site that isn’t meant to be seen by other people outside of that clan, we’ve made sure to omit it from the film.”

If Kangaroo piqued your interest in a Central Australian holiday, we don’t blame you. Read on to discover eight places featured in the movie that you can visit in real life – and get planning. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and a hat.

1. Alice Springs/ Mparntwe

artist at Many Hands Art Centre — Visit the galleries of Alice Springs, like Many Hands Art Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr/ Many Hands Art Centre)

The red and dusty streets of the film’s fictional town of Silvergum were filmed on the outskirts of Alice Springs. And, while the art gallery featured in the film is fictional, Alice Springs is a hub of creativity. See the work of local artists at the Araluen Art Centre , Yubu Napa Art Gallery , Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and the famous Tjanpi Desert Weavers .

2. The Kangaroo Sanctuary & Kangaroo Rescue Centre

The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs, the inspiration for the Kangaroo move — Visit the movie’s inspiration at Kangaroo Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism NT/ Kangaroo Sanctuary)

Kangaroo was inspired by the journey of Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, who founded the now world-renowned Kangaroo Sanctuary based in Alice Springs. For lead actor, Aussie Ryan Corr, the animals were central to the movie, alongside the landscapes.

“The animals in this story were a real calling point for me,” he explains. “What this story tries to tell us about the connection between humans and animals is beautiful.”

To gain a real insight into the fauna and flora of the Red Centre, you can visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary on a sunset tour, where you might even get the chance to hold a baby kangaroo.

3. Ormiston Gorge

woman walking along the edge of Ormiston Gorge near alice springs — Take a dip in Ormiston Gorge. (Image: Tourism NT/ @domandjesso)

The film captures the raw beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges, known in the Arrernte language as Tjoritja. This national park is rich in Indigenous culture and stark geological wonders.

Only a 15-minute drive from Alice Springs, Tjoritja offers visitors the chance to camp, hike and swim among ancient landscapes (most attractions are less than a three-hour drive away).

Ormiston Gorge , a cooling oasis in among the red desert sands, is one of the most popular destinations, no doubt because of the permanent swimming hole and towering red cliffs. From here, visitors can also embark on the beautiful Ormiston Pound Walk and the shorter – more accessible – Ghost Gum Walk. Bring your bathers – it’s safe for swimming.

4. Standley Chasm

woman walking through Standley Chasm near alice springs — Wander through Standley Chasm. (Image: Tourism NT)

The 1.2-kilometre walk to nearby Standley Chasm will be a highlight for any visitor as the imposing 40 metre-high chasm walls project strength and ancient wisdom.

Visit at midday to experience the path illumined by the midday sun. Not only will you fill your camera roll with vibrant red images of the gorge and its intoxicating shadows, but you can also camp nearby in a powered or unpowered site so you can watch the brilliance of the desert stars fill the night sky after dusk.

5. Simpsons Gap

three people walking on path through simpsons gap near alice springs — Walk the trails of Simpson’s Gap. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr)

Closer to Alice Springs, the photogenic Simpsons Gap is the perfect place to spot the endangered Black-footed Rock wallaby near the permanent watering hole. While swimming isn’t permitted, soaking up the sun and views certainly is.

Explore the area’s numerous walking trails, appreciate the soaring cliffs on either side of the ‘gap’ and pick out the shooting locations of Kangaroo in the area.

6. Ellery Creek Big Hole

aerial of Ellery Creek Big Hole near alice springs — Dive into Ellery Creek Big Hole. (Image: Tourism NT/ Tourism Australia)

When it comes to classic Northern Territory landscapes, you can’t go past Ellery Creek Big Hole/ Udepata : tall gum trees sidling up to a refreshing watering hole (fed by the West MacDonnell Ranges and surrounded by rugged red cliffs.

Swim in the cooling waters, hike the cliff tops, watch for birds and even stargaze as you camp here overnight. It’s locations like this that attracted the film’s director Kate Woods to the project.

“It humbles you to be in this environment: it’s so beautiful, so old and so vast,” she explains. “I was thrilled to get a chance to … shoot such a beautiful story in the incredible landscape of the Northern Territory.”

7. Larapinta Drive

aerial of Larapinta Drive into alice springs — Drive along Larapinta Drive. (Image: Tourism NT)

There is no better way to get a feel for how the characters arrived at the fictional Central Australian town of Silvergum than to travel along the iconic state road, Larapinta Drive.

Connecting Alice Springs to the mighty King’s Canyon in the west, via the historic community of Hermannsburg, this road takes in the West MacDonnell National Park, Alice Springs Desert Park and artist Albert Namatjira’s house, among other attractions. Take your time, bring a camera and prepare for numerous stops along the way.

8. Todd River

competitors in Henley on Todd Regatta, alice springs — Join in the fun of the quirky Henley on Todd Regatta. (Image: Tourism NT/ TImparja Creative)

Meandering through Alice Springs like a lazy Western Brown snake, the Todd River is a central part of Alice Springs culture. Known as an ‘intermittent river’, the Todd can go from a dry dusty riverbed to a flowing waterscape in less than 15 minutes after heavy rainfall.

When it’s dry, the famous Henley on Todd Regatta fills the sandy riverbed with handmade ‘boats’ carried by sailors. This is the world’s only dry river boating event, and it’s referenced in the ‘Silvergum Boat Race’ in the movie. Inspired by the real-life event, the characters built quirky “Flintstones-style boats” and competed in teams.

See Kangaroo in cinemas now, and start planning your NT getaway at northernterritory.com.

A guide to King Ash Bay; the ultimate fishing holiday destination