Litchfield National Park is the closest national park to Darwin and it’s overflowing with waterfalls and creeks, making it an excellent spot to spend a few days while visiting the Top End. And if you time it right, you can hit six different swim spots in just one weekend. 

 

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on Wangait Nation, the traditional Country of the Wangait people who have occupied and cared for this land for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

 

Please note! Most of these swimming spots are only open during the dry season (May-October) due to the presence of crocs outside of these periods once the rains come. Read up on staying safe in croc country and check NT National Parks website for current closures.

Quick Overview

You’ll find Litchfield National Park a little over an hour’s drive south of Darwin, NT and bursting with tropical life and freshwater to cool off in.

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About Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park covers 1,500km2 of savannah woodland, monsoon forest, rocky escarpment, and features several dramatic waterfalls. It’s a well-loved park by locals and tourists alike and gets incredibly busy during the Top End’s dry season when the creeks and falls open for swimming.

Outside of this peak time (May-October), many of the waterfalls close due to rapid water and flooding caused by the monsoonal rainfall, which also sees Saltwater crocodiles re-inhabit the waterways.

Litchfield National Park History

Alongside the park’s natural beauty, an incredibly ancient landscape in itself, there’s a deep culture and history to the park. The land within the bounds of the park has been lived on and cared for by First Nations people for tens of thousands of years.

According to NT Parks, it’s an important place for the Koongurrukun, Mak Mak Marranunggu, Werat and Warray peoples. It is believed these group’s ancestral spirits helped form the plants, animals, and landscape.

There’s also a colonial history to Litchfield National Park, with the park being named after Frederick Henry Litchfield, an explorer on the first European expedition to visit the Top End by land and the leader of the European expedition through the Litchfield area.

The area now known as the park was used for copper and tin mining, as well as a pastoral area. Remnants of the small establishments set up for mining can still be seen in the park today, such as Blythe Homestead and Bamboo Creek Tin Mine.

The area was officially declared a national park in 1986.

How to Get to Litchfield National Park

Litchfield National Park is a 1 hour and 15 minute drive south of Darwin. There are two entrances to the park – one via Berry Springs, the other via Batchelor and it takes about the same amount of time to reach the park entrance from either direction.

Make sure to load your route on maps before you leave Darwin as there’s little reception in the park.

Unfortunately, there’s no public transport through the park, so the best way to get around is in a car. If you don’t have a car there are some day trip tours available that leave from Darwin.

Where to Stay in Litchfield National Park?

There’s an abundance of campgrounds in Litchfield National Park, however not all of them are open at all times of the year. The campgrounds of Litchfield National Park include:

  • Florence Falls Campground (best for families)
  • Wangi Falls Campground (best for families)
  • Walker Creek Campground (walk-in)
  • Central Valley Campgrounds 1-3
  • Sandy Campground (4WD)
  • Surprise Creek Campground (4WD)
  • Sybel Springs Campground (4WD)

Where to Eat in Litchfield National Park

There are very limited places to get food within the park, but there are a few!

At Wangi Falls there’s a kiosk/cafe between the car park and the picnic area that sells sandwiches, ice-creams, and drinks. Check the Facebook page for up-to-date opening hours.

There’s also a new espresso bar just off the main road called Kin which does exquisite coffee and sells locally made ice-creams too. Well worth the tiny detour!

For anything bigger than lunch or a snack, you’ll need to head outside of the park. Berry Springs Tavern is an easy stop-off on the way back to Darwin, but if you’ve got the time for a little detour down to Adelaide River Inn, I highly recommend it. This is absolutely one of the best pubs in the Top End, so don’t miss it.

 

Things to Do in Litchfield National Park

  • Wild swimming
  • Hiking
  • Camping
  • 4WDing
  • Picnicking
  • Waterfall chasing
  • Wildlife spotting

Essential Gear for Litchfield National Park

  • Swimmers
  • Towel
  • Sturdy walking shoes 
  • Water! 
  • Camping gear 
  • Sunscreen 
  • Hat
  • Camera

What It’s Like to Visit Litchfield National Park

Wild Swimming

Litchfield National Park is what wild swimming dreams are made of. During the peak of the dry season, there are eight freshwater swimming holes, waterfalls, and creeks for you to cool off in. All with nearby rocks on which to make a lizard and lap up that Territory sunshine!

They range from the very family-friendly swimming holes at the bottom of Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole, and Wangi Falls that are all just a short walk from the car park, to the slightly more secluded swim spots at Walker Creek, Cascades, and Tjaetaba Falls that require a short walk in, and the remote spots at Sandy Creek and Surprise Creek Falls that require a 4WD and a river crossing to get to.

All of the most accessible swimming spots can be found just a short detour off the main road through the park, which means you can hit up a few in one day and even more in a weekend.

 

Hiking

Most of the hikes within Litchfield National Park lead to a swimming hole, (why else would you be here?). They range from a short 100m walk to Wangi Falls to the 2.7km return walk to Tjaetaba Falls.

The longest track in the park is the Tabletop Track, a 39km circuit walk across the top of the park’s rocky escarpment and through savannah woodland. The track includes detours to the main swimming holes within the park, but also includes a few swimming spots reserved just for the multi-day walkers.

If you’re after a short walk that doesn’t involve getting wet at the end, check out the boardwalk at the Magnetic Termite Mounds and the paths at Tolmer Falls which take you to either the viewing platform, for a speccy view of the tallest waterfall in the park, or along Tolmer Creek. Swimming isn’t allowed at Tolmer Falls.

 

4WDing

Although most of Litchfield National Park is 2WD-accessible, there needed to be somewhere for the 4WDers to have their fun – this is the Territory after all.

The best spot for 4WDing in the park is the Reynolds Track, a 44km-long track that links up with Daly River Road at the southern end of the park. The Reynolds Track isn’t for 4WDing newbies, as it starts with a deep and sandy river crossing. Along the track you can stop off at Blythe Homestead for a bit of history, Sandy Creek for a hike, swim, and camp, and Surprise Creek Falls for a swim and camp as well.

It’s also worth taking the 4WD down the shorter track to The Lost City, a spectacular collection of unique rock stacks that resemble city ruins. The 4WD-accessible Central Valley Campgrounds are also close by.

Litchfield National Park Itinerary

Day One – Darwin to Wangi Falls

Distance: 133km
Driving Time: 1 hr 38 min

Beginning your day in Darwin, the first entrance to Litchfield National Park is only 1 hour and 15 minutes down the Stuart Highway. All 2WD accessible spots in the park are just a short drive off the one main road that loops through the entire park. 

Starting at the northern entrance and following the road around to the southern exit is the most efficient way to see the park and all its glorious rock holes. 

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes

Be aware that there’s next to no reception throughout the entire national park. Wangi Falls has a Wifi hotspot you can use if you’re desperate to post your photos ASAP, otherwise it’s best to come fully prepared for an off-the-grid adventure. Batchelor is the closest town with reception! 

Swim Spot 1 – Walker Creek

Walker Creek is one of the lesser-visited spots in Litchfield, which is lucky for you because it’s up there with the most beautiful. 

 

 

Ignore the shallow section of the creek at the car park and continue along the trail that crosses the creek and winds past the eight secluded campgrounds – these are walk-in campsites and can’t be booked ahead (you have to write your name on the blackboard when you arrive to save a spot!). 

The path climbs up over a few small ridges and through a pocket of rainforest before opening up to rocky terrain.

At around the 1.5km mark, right by Camp 7, you’ll find the Walker Creek plunge pool. A small cascading waterfall, endlessly-deep pool for bombing into, and plenty of rocks to soak up some rays. 

 

 

You’ll probably feel like you’re intruding on someone’s private camp spot, but this is a public picnic area as well, so don’t fret, just enjoy!

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

Swim Spot 2 – Cascades Lower Pools

Once you’ve had your fill of Walker Creek, head back to the car and scoot a short distance up the road to Cascades. 

From the car park there are two tracks you can take to either the Lower Cascades or the Upper Cascades. The walk to the Lower Pools has the advantage of shade from the rainforest canopy and is a little shorter at 2.6km. 

Sturdy shoes are recommended as there’s some slippery rock hopping involved in getting to the main pool.

 

 

When you reach Lower Cascades you’ll be greeted by a clear and sandy-bottom pool sitting pretty below an overhanging rock and waterfall. There’s minimal space to set up for the day here, but to the right of the falls, there’s a short path that climbs up to the flat rocks above. 

Up here there’s plenty of space to lay down towels and lots of smaller pools to dip in and out of. 

 

Swim Spot 3 / Base Camp – Wangi Falls

After a busy day of hiking in the heat, Wangi Falls is a blessing! This mighty waterfall and expansive pool is just a short drive up the road from Cascades and doesn’t require a hike in! 

 

 

There’s a large campground here, which is the best place to pitch up for the night. The campground is also the best in the park for caravans and campervans if that’s how you roll. 

In the dry season, it could pay to head here first and claim a spot before heading out exploring, as sites are first in best dressed. You’ll also need to bring some cash to pay the camping fees at the honesty box. Camping fees are $10 for adults, $5 for kids, or $25 for a family of up to six.

You’ll find plenty of facilities here including toilets, showers, tap water, picnic tables, fire pits, cooking facilities, plus a little cafe! There’s a gorgeous shaded and grassy area right by the pool which is lovely for relaxing after all day in the sun. 

 

 

If you’ve still got spring in your step, there’s a track that climbs up the side of Wangi Falls to the top – The Tabletop Track no less! But be aware this is along a 39km overnight track, so don’t wander too far away!

Day Two – Wangi Falls to Darwin

Distance: 223km
Driving Time: 2 hr 45 min

Wake up to the gushing of Wangi Falls, but don’t hang around too long – it’s best to get going early before the heat and crowds arrive. 

Swim Spot 4 – Tjaetaba Falls

Jump in the car and head up the road to Greenant Creek. From the car park, there’s a 2.7km walk past fig trees and palms and up along a ridgeline to Tjaetaba Falls lookout and plunge pool.

 

 

This perfectly spherical pool right by the drop off of the falls is a welcome relief after a short but hot climb. Just don’t get too close to the edge! 

There are some rocks here to lay down a towel and relax. 

Read more: How To Hike in Hot Weather

Lookout – Tolmer Falls

Not 3km further down the road is the turn off to Tolmer Falls. Swimming at these falls is prohibited as it’s a sacred site for the local Wangait people and rare species of Ghost bats and Orange Horseshoe bats live in the cave near the pool. 

 

 

But there’s nothing stopping you admiring the falls! A short paved walk to the Tolmer Falls lookout will give an excellent view of these tall and tumbling falls, as well as a lovely vista across the park. (The colours are superb at sunset!). 

 

 

Return to the car via the 1.6km loop track that follows Tolmer Creek past a bunch of rock pools – however swimming’s not permitted here. 

There are a few picnic tables around as well so this is an ideal spot for a bite to eat!

Swim Spot 5 – Buley Rockhole

10 minutes further down the road, take the turn off to Florence Falls. Drive past the campground turn offs, ignore the Buley Rockhole sign and drive to the Florence Falls car park. From here you can access both Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole.

Take the short paved stroll from the car park towards Buley Rockhole – along the way there are several swimming signs pointing off the track – each path leads to its own rock hole!

 

 

Some are deeper plunge pools and others are shallower spots to sit and let the cascading water flow over you. If you time it right, you could have one all to yourself! 

Swim Spot 6 – Florence Falls

The last swimming hole for the day is the glorious pool at the base of Florence Falls. 

Make your way from Buley Rockhole back to the car park and take the stairs down to Florence Falls, making sure to stop off at the lookout to check out what you’re in for!

 

 

It’s just a short wander through the rainforest before you emerge by the river, and peek around the corner to see the falls in all its glory. 

 

 

Hopefully by late in the afternoon the crowds will have started to disperse a little and you’ll be able to grab a slice of this heaven to yourself. 

Once your skin starts to get all pruney take the 1km rainforest track back to the car park. 

Lookout – Magnetic Termite Mounds

The last stop in the park is the magnetic termite mounds. This short detour will reward you with a field of hundreds of termite mounds, strangely all shaped the same way and facing the same direction. 

Tips for Visiting Litchfield National Park

  • There’s no reception in the park, so make sure you have all the info you need downloaded before you get there
  • Litchfield National Park is remote! If you’re out there for a few days make sure to bring the food and water you need for the whole time
  • There’s no petrol for sale in the park. The closest petrol stations are in Batchelor and Berry Springs
  • If you’re a visitor to the NT you need to purchase a Parks Pass beforehand. All campgrounds need to be booked in advance as well
  • Wangi Falls has a Wifi hotspot

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