9 Top End Waterholes That Are Perfect For Wild Swimming

Picture a stunning oasis – unruly red cliffs, lush pandanus coves, the inviting sparkle of crystal-clear water and the peaceful hum of a running waterfall. This is how we experienced swimming in the waterholes of the Top End, and there wasn’t a croc in sight! There’s no such thing as a real winter in the NT; with day temperatures rarely dropping below 25 degrees, freshwater swims are a vibe almost year-round.

Our togs were at the top of our daypacks, and we took a dip on the daily! That said, we obeyed all crocodile safety and general wild swimming procedures to make sure we returned to our desk jobs in one piece. The best bit? Most of these Top End waterholes are only a few hours from Darwin.

Acknowledging Traditional Owners & Respecting Cultural Sites

In the Top End, water places have sustained Aboriginal people and their livelihoods for tens of thousands of years. Whilst these swim spots are amazing to relax in and enjoy, they remain very important places culturally, spiritually and environmentally. Traditional Aboriginal owners share these swimming places with us, so whilst lapping up the serenity, please respect the waters and their surrounding ecosystem.

Half ‘n’ half at Katherine Hot Springs | @jonny.melon

Kakadu National Park

1. Gunlom

Gunlom – The Jawoyn people (Bolmo, Matjba, Wurrkbarbar) of the southern part of Kakadu are the custodians of Gunlom and surrounds. Much of this region is known as Buladjang. Bula, the most important Jawoyn creation ancestor, created features of the landscape. A sacred place for Jawoyn people, Traditional Owners ask that you only spend two nights visiting the area.

Upper Pools

We’d suggest making a sunset event of Gunlom’s epic Upper Pools, a serene spot to soak in Kakadu’s unique sense of space and silence. A steady 15-minute uphill climb with a short rock scramble takes you to the top. At the viewpoint spend a moment enjoying the stunning vista overlooking Australia’s largest National Park (World Heritage listed), where green woodlands expand to meet the southern hills and ridges.

Continue on to reach one of nature’s finest infinity pools and take a well-deserved dip in the cool, clear water. Then prepare yourself for an unreal sunset reflection experience, as the sky’s colour palette becomes mirrored in Gunlom’s upper pool.

Hitting the water at the massive Gunlom waterhole | @mattcherub

Lower Pool

Bring your brolly and towel, Gunlom’s lower plunge pool has a sandy bank that’s a perfect beachy relaxation station. Shaded by tall eucalypts, look up towards the Upper Pools as a lustrous waterfall cascades down a 100-metre escarpment into a crystal-clear plunge pool below. If you’re quiet you might be able to spot the likes of a shy long-necked turtle, a rainbow fish or a brightly coloured dragonfly, the lower pools are teeming with life!

Read More: 11 Places You Must Take Your Camera In Kakadu

2. Moline Rockhole

Igoymarrwa – Looked after by the Jawoyn people (Bolmo, Matjba, Wurrkbarbar). Goymarr, the freshwater crocodile is associated with the creation of springs and falls in this area.

A short walk leads to this lesser-known, unmarked beauty. Eucalypts and pandanus wedge themselves in granite crevices, as dappled sunlight catches the rocks and underwater life of Moline Rockhole’s crystal-clear plunge pool.

Moline, moline, mo-line mooo-liiiiinnee | @goldiekatie_

The rock hole and its running waterfall are a well-kept secret, only a select number of tour guides are allowed to access this natural wonderland and each day they keep visitor numbers to a minimum by only letting one group enjoy the spot at a time!

Read More: 17 Reasons Kakadu Is Better Than A Theme Park

3. Maguk Gorge (aka Barramundi Gorge)

Maguk – owned by the Jawoyn people (Bolmo, Matjba, Wurrkbarbar).

Towering sandstone escarpments and pandanus aplenty transport you to a tropical wonderland at this Top End plunge pool. Throw your boots on for a 1km walk to get to the swim zone, but don’t rush! We suggest visiting Maguk Gorge later in the day when it’s a tad quieter.

You’ll get to wander through a paperbark forest; paperbark is a versatile plant for local Aboriginal people who use it for bush tucker, medicine, and material. You may even be able to catch a rare sighting of the Rainbow Pitta bird, a species endemic to Northern Australia. After the stroll, your secluded paradise awaits, a delightful waterhole with strong island vibes and a running waterfall that flows year-round!

Litchfield National Park

4. Florence Falls

Litchfield is an important place for the Kungarakan, Mak Mak Marranunggu, Werat and Warrai people who have lived in the area for thousands of years.

A hot spot for Darwin locals, Florence Falls boasts two mesmerising waterfalls that feed a refreshingly cool plunge pool. Enjoy a decent 15-minute walk from the carpark, check out an unmissable photo viewpoint of the falls, then wander through monsoon rainforest before you reach the lush bottom swimming hole.

Expect stunning ochre cliffs topped with iridescent green trees and vines, stark white splashes of water from the running waterfalls and deep blue hues of the waterhole. We recommend rock lounging in the shade, flicking through the pages of decent book, then taking a once-in-a-lifetime swim out to Florence’s waterfalls.

5. Wangi Falls

We visited Wangi Falls at the magic hour, and true to form, it was spellbinding!  As other swimmers packed up for the day, we were left to soak in Wangi’s beauty with only a few others and the local Rainbow Bee Eaters (don’t be fooled these colourful birds are bossy folk).

Make a note to take a float | @mattcherub

The zone came to life as golden hour turned up the colours of the plunge pool and its two waterfalls. A vivid reflection of the surrounding pandanus, stringybark gums and falls were cast across the pool. We made a swim dash to get a closer look and lucked out, spotting a miniature rainbow under the awe-inspiring fall’s splashes!

Wangi Falls is a top spot for a day picnic, with grassy areas and shade from tall gums, it’s a Darwin day trip must-do.

6. Buley Rockhole

Are you a rock lunger, a deep-sea diver or surface splasher? Open for most of the year, the cascading pools of Buley Rockhole have something for everyone. Seek your own private rock hole to cool off in, or spend a day exploring them all and taking in the surrounding bush.

Buley Rockhole is an invigorating freshwater wonderland where gentle falls feed crystal clear pool upon crystal clear pool. It’s also a nice spot for families, with a set of picnic benches located en-route to the pools and shady zones to keep the groms out of the sun!

Read More: A Complete Guide To Litchfield National Park

Nitmiluk National Park

7. Edith Falls

Leilyn –  Owned by the Jawoyn people, the name of surrounding area Nitmiluk means ‘Cicada Place’. Traditional Custodians, the Jawoyn people continue to hunt, gather bush tucker and practice traditional ceremonies in the Park.

Edith Falls is only a short 60km drive on the Stuart Highway from Katherine. Grab a coffee in town from the Black Russian Caravan (it’s a bucket list item for caffeine addicts) before heading out to Nitmiluk National Park for a day of waterhole exploring.

Alive with ancient Jawoyn culture, there are plenty of waterhole options to discover around Edith Falls. Get a taste of the Jatbula Trail’s magic by scheduling in the 8.6km return full day walk to Sweetwater Pool. Hike to find an inviting large pool where you can cool off; you might even spot a freshwater turtle.

There’s also a short 2.6km return walk to the upper pool from Edith Falls carpark. The upper pool is set amongst raw sandstone cliffs, like something from a martian fairy-tale, where crystal-clear rockholes are fed by a picturesque waterfall (also a thrill to swim beneath!) Jump into the refreshing water or relax like a local goanna, your choice!

Otherwise, if you’re keen to just put the feet up and relax, head to Edith bottom pool. Laze on a noodle as you watch water tumble high from the escarpment into the large plunge pool below! Absorb the woodland as you float, taking note of paperbark and pandanus that surround the pool. If you’re the type to forget your lunch or get hungry fast, don’t stress, there’s a true-blue Aussie café at Edith Falls carpark.

Katherine

8. Katherine Hot Springs

The town of Katherine is an important meeting place for the Jawoyn, Dagoman and Wardaman people.

Talk about serenity, these hot springs were a hit, and only five minutes from Katherine! Arriving early, we had the place to ourselves, and boy oh boy was it beautiful! There’s a natural thermal hot spring that remains a divine 32 degrees year-round. At times it felt like we’d been transported to a Hawaiian island via a hula bus, splashing in the clearest bright blue pools between green pandanus and tropical vines. Enter flocking cockatoos calling out overhead; seriously, this spot was an unreal Top End experience.

How’s this for a bathtub? | @jonny.melon

Bring your snorkel and dive down to witness the bubbles from where the spring is being pumped from deep below the Earth’s surface. Not just a stunner for the eyes, thermal pools promote natural healing. Springs are said to reduce stress, boost blood circulation, relieve muscle pain and heal skin problems.

Mataranka

9. Bitter Springs

Korran – For the Mangarrayi and Yangman people, Korran is a place of cultural significance.

Bring the camera for this one! Take a short walk amongst towering cabbage palms and paperbark, before you reach a lush freshwater sanctuary. Bitter Springs is Mother Nature on steroids and is the largest of the springs in the Mataranka region.

The colours of this place are almost edible, with decadent turquoise blues from the springs set against the alluring green foliage of surrounding vegetation. Feel like a float? Bring your noodle then walk up from the first entry point to enjoy a short and relaxing natural ride down the springs.

Crocodile Safety

Crocodile safety is not to be taken lightly in the Top End, there’s a potential that where you plan to swim could be the temporary home of a saltwater crocodile. Always obey crocodile safety signs, read up the National Parks websites before you visit each swimming spot or phone the local Park Ranger ahead of your visit to ask whether watering holes are open for swimming and croc-free. Swimming is at your own risk, so make sure you’re making an informed judgment before you jump in!

Wild Swimming Safety

It’s bloody crazy that people are still diving into waterholes… if you’re planning a fast entry, check the water levels before doing so and definitely don’t be a kook by going in head first.

There are also plenty of slippery rocks in the Top End close to high cliffs, take precautions and be extra safe while enjoying these potentially dangerous areas.

Here’s our complete guide to staying safe when wild swimming. Have a read and share with your rowdy mates!

All cultural information was sourced from the official factsheets, interpretative signs or websites of  NT National Parks, Parks Australia and Katherine Council. Northern Land Council collaborated to check facts and information prior to publishing.

Feature photo by @goldiekatie_