Our story
When one door closes...
The story of Katherine Outback Experience begins with heartbreak and resilience. In 2011, the Australian Government imposed a sudden ban on live cattle exports, causing widespread upheaval across the pastoral industry. Like many others, horse trainer Tom Curtain found himself without work almost overnight, as cattle stations halted operations—including horse training.
With his livelihood in ruins and bills to pay, Tom turned to something else he loved—music. He began performing four nights a week at the Katherine Holiday Park, singing songs and sharing stories from the stock camps of the Top End.
... another door opens
Those performances sparked something unexpected. Tom’s tales of outback life, horse-breaking mishaps, and station antics captivated audiences. One night, a retired couple asked if they could visit his property to watch him work with horses firsthand. That simple request planted a seed.
Tom realised there was a rare opportunity to share not just his music, but the real-life workings of the outback with the world. In July 2013, Katherine Outback Experience was born—an immersive live show combining animal training, bush storytelling, and country music.
Since then, the show has grown beyond expectations. It’s welcomed thousands of visitors and hosted special guests, including country music stars like Travis Collins, Luke O’Shea, the Davidson Brothers, Harry Hookey, and Bill Chambers. National and international film crews have captured the magic too, helping spread the story even further.
A decade later
Over a decade on, Tom and his wife Annabel have built a passionate team who share their love of animals, the bush, and storytelling. From May to October, the crew is based in Katherine, delivering up to ten shows a week. Their efforts have been recognised with multiple awards, including:
Tourism NT’s Best Tourist Attraction and Best Visitor Experience
Bronze at the National Tourism Awards
Gold for Best Tourist Attraction at the 2021, 2023 & 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards
Chairman’s Award for Tourism Excellence at the Brolga NT Awards
Excellence in Accessible Tourism (2023)
When the wet season arrives, the team hits the road. Since 2016, they’ve toured across regional Australia, bringing the show to new audiences each summer.
In 2018, Tom won two prestigious Golden Guitar Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival for his duet Never Never Land with Luke O’Shea, and was named Independent Australian Country Music Artist of the Year, among other accolades.
That same year marked the start of Speak Up, a major tour through Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, combining live shows with school visits to spread the anti-bullying message of Dolly’s Dream. Since then, the team has continued touring under banners like We’re Still Here, Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us, Why We Live Out Here, and most recently, The Good Life national tour in 2024/25.
Through droughts, awards, music, and even a global pandemic, one thing has never changed: a deep commitment to sharing the spirit of the Australian outback—raw, real, and full of heart.
