Tabletop Track – Hike a Perfect Multi-day Circuit in NT’s Litchfield National Park

Leah hiked the Tabletop Track loop in late September, falling in love with the iconic Top End landscapes, from savannah woodlands to pristine waterfalls and monsoon forests, all just 1.5 hours from Darwin.

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Marrathiel, Marranunggu, Werat, Warray and Koongurrukun peoples who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

A build-your-own-adventure hike, the Tabletop Track can be completed in anything from 2-5 days, covering at least 39km and featuring side trips to some of Litchfield’s most impressive waterfalls – Florence and Wangi Falls.

About the Tabletop Track

The Tabletop Track loops through Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory – approximately 145,600 hectares of rugged escarpments, spectacular waterfalls, monsoon forest, and open savannah woodlands.

The Tabletop Track is a 39km loop within the park accessible only by foot, but connected via link tracks to four day use areas – Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Greenant Creek, and Walker Creek. This hike suits Explorers looking to get away from the crowds on a budget-friendly escape featuring minimal facilities and maximum nature time.

Litchfield National Park is filled with a fantastic array of native wildlife. Twitchers come prepared – the park boasts over 169 recorded species of native birds.

If Spangled Drongos don’t tickle your fancy, closer to the ground you might spot rock wallabies, water monitors, pythons, and hear the howl of dingoes on dusk.

Typically completed between June and August, hiking late in the season (i.e. September) should only be undertaken with a healthy sense of adventure and the ability to walk in 30+ degree Celsius weather (but you’ll be rewarded with a largely empty trail and secluded waterfalls entirely to yourself).

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Tabletop Track History

Litchfield has been a national park since 1986, but long before its national park status the area has been, and remains, an important place for four different Aboriginal language groups – Werat, Koongurrunkun, Waray, and Mak Mak Marrangunggu.

Views from the plateau

How to Get to the Tabletop Track

Only 1.5 hours south of Darwin, accessing the Tabletop Track is easily done by putting your starting location (for us this was Florence Falls) into a GPS, it’s smooth sailing and sealed roads the whole way. Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Walker Creek, and Greenant Creek all have 2WD access and plenty of parking available where you can leave your vehicle whilst you’re on the trail.

There’s no public transport to Litchfield National Park so you’ll need a vehicle to access the track.

Read more: Litchfield National Park Road Trip

Skill Level

Intermediate

Some overnight hiking experience is recommended, however with the right preparation (e.g. taking all the correct gear, a reasonable fitness level, and a sense of adventure) the Tabletop Track is also a good fit for brave first-time multi-day hikers.

The track has Grade 3 and Grade 4 sections (using the Australian Walking Track Grading System).

Distance / Duration / Elevation Gain of Tabletop Track

39km / 2-5 days / 936m

This one’s a build-your-own-adventure kind of hike. It depends where you start, what side trips you take and how fast you want to walk.

Count on covering at least 39km, two big days of walking or 3-4 smaller days. If elevation gain is your thing maybe keep browsing – this hike only climbs about 936m in total.

Sunset at Tjenya Campground

Essential Gear for the Tabletop Track

• Tent
• Sleeping bag and mat
• Food
• Water bottles and water filtration device
• First aid kit
• Stove, fuel and cooking/eating utensils
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• PLB

What it’s Like to Hike the Tabletop Track

Day 1: Florence Falls car park to Southern Campground

Distance: 15km

An empty trail beckoned and the prospect of being drenched in sweat for four days straight never sounded more inviting.

Meet Florence Falls, undoubtedly one of the swimming hole jewels of Litchfield National Park. Nestled in a pocket of monsoon forest, enjoy spectacular views from the plateau above before making your way down to the valley floor and the thundering falls.

Swimming fun at Florence Falls

Once the Tabletop Track kicks in, roughly 12.5km of hiking southwest let you meander alongside Florence Creek and cross open savannah woodlands. A day rounded out with some light rock hopping before arriving at Southern Campground.

Southern Campground is set in a rugged woodland plain next to a dry riverbed framed by a tumble of rocks, still warm from the blistering sun.

Earlier in the season this would have been a small waterfall and flowing creek but in mid-September there was only enough water in the bottom pool to dip our feet in and filter for drinking and cooking (in the reverse order obviously).

Day 2: Southern Campground to Tjenya Campground via Wangi Creek

Distance: 11.4km

The dawn wake-up is well worth it to enjoy the soft morning light filtering through the trees and the cooler air before the day’s heat arrives.

The bush is peaceful and quiet before the heat sets in

The highlight of day two is undoubtedly stumbling across an unexpected waterfall approximately 3km past Wangi link walk junction. A two-tiered fall, the lower pool offers an incredibly refreshing swimming hole before plunging over the rocky edge of a cliff that opens to an extraordinary panorama of the valley floor.

Surprise waterfalls along the trail

Wangi Falls is also well worth a visit via the Wangi Link Track, especially if you fancy a snack from the kiosk.

Hot tip! The kiosk opens at 11am.

Tjenya Campground is perched on a dry plateau, while Tjenya Falls is less than a 200-metre walk back towards Wangi Falls. Settle in at the falls and enjoy an afternoon reading in the company of the local water monitor.

Day 3: Tjenya Campground to Walker Creek

Distance: 11.5km

A fairly exposed day, predominantly passing through open savannah woodland. There’s some beautiful vegetation to enjoy, but avoid walking in the heat of the day as there’s limited water along this section of the trail and no swimming holes to cool off in.

Native flowers in full bloom

Reward yourself with an afternoon at Walker Creek, where many of the campsites are positioned with direct access to private swimming holes that are soundtracked by the trickle of crystal clear water, native bird calls, and the rustle of leaves in the afternoon breeze.

Book campsite six, lay back, relax, eat some scroggin, and enjoy your own slice of paradise.

Our private Walker Creek swimming hole

Day 4: Walker Creek to Florence Falls Car Park

Distance: 12.5km

A flat 12.5km day completes the last section of the loop. Savour the early morning light hitting the rocks tumbling throughout the landscape and keep an eye out for rock wallabies.

The trail passes by Northern Campground, an alternative camping site to Walker Creek but one that’s not nearly as spectacular.

Keep an eye out for the iconic Green Ants of Litchfield

A shallow river crossing makes for a perfect snack break location before hitting the last stretch of woodland savannah as Florence Falls approaches.

Tips for Completing the Tabletop Track

• Take your time! If you’re a speedy walker you could smash through this hike in two days, three at most, but the magic of it lies in exploring secluded waterfalls along the way and spending lazy afternoons in beautiful campsites with a good book
• On that note – take a book (if that’s your vibe)
• If you’re hiking late in the season, try to walk in the early morning or late afternoon. We kicked off our first day at about 12.30pm and hiked right through the hottest part of a 35+ degrees Celsius day. Don’t be us.
• Take something to filter water so you can top up whenever you find it along the way, even from questionable-looking sources.
• Before heading out onto the Tabletop Track, be sure to check whether the track is open through NT Parks. Even once the track has reopened for the dry season, bushfires can cause parts of the track to close.
• Most of Litchfield National Park has no reception, even at the campgrounds and day-use areas, so it’s highly recommended you take a PLB with you

Tabletop Track FAQS

Is it worth doing the hike late in the season (i.e. mid-late September)?

Yes! Any good Darwinian will probably tell you this is rather too close to the ‘the build-up’; some might go as far as to say this is a silly time to hike. We know this because we asked this question to some local friends and got this response. But if you don’t mind a sweaty adventure and are looking to escape the peak season crowds then this one’s for you.

Can you swim outside of the designated swimming areas in Litchfield National Park?

All designated swimming areas (and the non-designated ones) in Litchfield National Park are affected by the wet season rains and there’s a possibility of Saltwater crocodiles entering the park’s waterways with heavy monsoonal rains. When we hiked at the end of the dry season, all the designated swimming areas were open and we may or may not have splashed about in the other secluded waterfalls we found along the way…

How busy is the Tabletop Track?

When we hiked it in mid-September we didn’t see another soul on the track. During peak season (e.g. June-August) this track would be a lot busier, especially on a weekend.

Do you have to book the Tabletop Track?

Yes, campsites need to be pre-booked via the NT Parks Booking System.

Where is the Tabletop Track located?

The Tabletop Track can be found in Litchfield National Park, around 1.5 hour’s drive from Darwin in the Northern Territory.

How do you get to the Tabletop Track?

The Tabletop Track can be started at a few different trailheads at day use areas in Litchfield National Park. All of the access points are able to be reached by 2WD, however there’s no public transport available.

When is the Tabletop Track open?

The Tabletop Track is usually open from around May to September each year, as this is the dry season in the Northern Territory and the coolest time of year. It’s important to check the NT Parks website before heading out as some waterholes may not have reopened yet due to a risk of crocodiles.

How long does it take to complete the Tabletop Track?

It can take anywhere between two and five days to walk the Tabletop Track, depending on how quickly and how much you walk each day.

How long is the Tabletop Track?

The Tabletop Track is 39km long.

Is the Tabletop Track free?

In 2022, NT Parks introduced day walking fees to some of the Territory’s multi-day hikes, including the Tabletop Track. The price is dependent on the number of days you hike and the number of campgrounds you stay at.