Litchfield National Park

Introducing Litchfield National Park

This magnificent park is something to write home about. Four waterfalls drop over a wide sandstone plateau, spilling into idyllic waterholes surrounded by patches of rainforest. People come for the sensational swimming, bushwalking and camping – and, boy, do they come on weekends.

The two routes to Litchfield (115km south of Darwin) from the Stuart Hwy join up and loop through the park. The southern access road via Batchelor is all sealed, while the northern access route, off the Cox Peninsula Rd, is partly unsealed and may be impassable in the Wet.

About 17km after entering the park from Batchelor you come to what look like tombstones. Only the very tip of these remarkable magnetic termite mounds is used to bury the dead; at the bottom are the king and queen, with workers in between. Metal objects won’t fly from your person to these world-exclusive magnetic mounds; rather, less dramatically, they’re perfectly aligned north to south, designed to regulate the temperature, so the termites’ thin skins can cope with the extreme seasonal changes.

Another 6km further along is the turn-off to Buley Rockhole (2km), where water cascades through a series of rockpools big enough to lodge your bod in for a pleasant hour or so. This turn-off also takes you to Florence Falls (5km), which is accessed by a 15-minute walking trail leading to a deep, beautiful pool surrounded by monsoon forest. There’s a walking track (45 minutes, 1.6km) between the two places that follows Florence Creek.

About 18km beyond the turn-off to Florence Falls is the turn-off to the spectacular Tolmer Falls, which is for looking only. A 1.5km loop track (45 minutes) offers beautiful views of the valley.

It’s a further 7km along the main road to the turn-off for Litchfield’s most popular attraction, Wangi Falls, 1.5km up a side road. The Wangi (wong-guy) Falls flow year-round, filling an enormous swimming hole bordered by rainforest and roosting fruit bats. Bring swimming goggles to spot local fish. It’s immensely popular with families during the Dry, but water levels in the Wet can make it unsafe; look for signposted warnings.

The park offers plenty of bushwalking, including the Tabletop Track (39km), a circuit of the park that takes three to five days to complete depending on how many side tracks you follow. You can access the track at Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Walker Creek. Overnight walkers should register (call 1300 650 730).

Last updated: Apr 21, 2010