Spend the day like a local and escape to a water wonderland. An hour’s drive southwest from Darwin, Litchfield National Park is the locals’ favourite hangout. Take a cooling dip in crystal clear waters under misty waterfalls, walk through monsoon forests, marvel at termite mounds, spot wildlife and learn about Australia’s Indigenous culture. This is the Top End’s best kept secret.
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Litchfield National Park is known for its iconic waterfalls: Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Tolmer Falls. The crystal clear, natural pools at the bottom of the falls are croc free and perfect for swimming. Yet there is so much more to discover! Easy access to beautiful rocky landscapes, sweeping views of vast lowlands, and scenic drives and walks through a wide variety of habitat and vegetation types. Litchfield National Park is bound to inspire any nature lover.
Litchfield National Park is located in the Northern Territory between the Finniss and Daly Rivers. It is the traditional land of the Marrathiel, Marranunggu, Werat, Warray and Koongurrukun peoples (amongst others). Learn from an Indigenous guide about the close relationship between the Aboriginal people and the rugged landscape. Along the way, you can marvel at numerous giant termite mounds and walk around the old Bamboo Creek tin mine.
If you’ve always dreamt of swimming in crystal clear pools under idyllic waterfalls, then Litchfield National Park is your must-go-to! Take your pick from numerous stunning plunge pools at the bottom of these iconic waterfalls, all within easy access.
The falls cascade down from the spectacular Tabletop Range, a sandstone plateau. During the wet season (November to April), they plunge down quite violently. However, less so during the dry season (May to October), making the plunge pools very suitable for a cooling dip. And no worries! Unlike other wetlands in the Northern Territory, the waters here are crocodile free.
By far the most popular of the falls, and it’s easy to see why! From the carpark, it’s only a short walk to a most impressive sight. A huge plunge pool with two waterfalls cascading into it. The perfect place for a swim and also the biggest, attracting crowds. To avoid these, take the one mile hike to the top of the falls. You can enjoy beautiful uninterrupted views along the way.
Florence Falls could well be the most beautiful spot in Litchfield National Park. Just an easy three minute walk from the carpark there is a viewing platform. Stop here to look out over the park and soak up the views of the valley below. Admire the contrast of the sand plateau at the top and monsoon forest below.
Continue down the steps into the gorge to suddenly find yourself in a scene out of a tropical fairytale. Reward yourself with a refreshing dip year-round in the crystal clear waters. Walk back via the one kilometre Shady Creek walk and have a picnic in the woodlands with Florence creek bubbling past.
One of Litchfield National Park's best hidden gems, Tjaetaba Falls is located right near the better known Tolmer falls. A sacred place for its native traditional owners, access to the base of the falls is prohibited. However, there is a hiking trail called Greenant Creek that takes you to the top of the falls and is a 45 minute hike each way.
Make your way through a dense tropical forest followed by savanna woodlands, before starting the climb up to Tjaetaba Falls. At the rocky top of the waterfall, you are treated with views over the landscape below through the trees. You will also find a beautiful plunge pool and infinity pool. Cool off in the crystal clear water before making your way back down.
One of the most impressive sights of Litchfield National Park are the hundreds of magnetic termite mounds that rise up to two metres high on a wide plain.
These structures are up to 100 years old and unique to the Top End of the Northern Territory. Litchfield National Park is home to the biggest you will see! The mounds were built in the north-south direction by compass termites. This aspect provides thermoregulation of the mounds for the magnetic termites within, which prefer high humidity and stable temperatures.
Learn about these mounds and the larger nearby Cathedral Termite mounds at the information centre. This gives a fascinating insight into these remarkable creatures and their habitat. In the northern part of the park, near Litchfield Park Road, is a lookout area with accessible boardwalks. Stroll along the boardwalk to get a closer look at the two-metre-tall, thin Magnetic Termite mounds and the four-metre-tall Cathedral Termite mounds.
The Lost City is a series of large sandstone rock formations reminiscent of the remains of an ancient civilization. Be amazed at the vastness of this formation. Spread out over an area the size of a small town, they resemble the ruins of a city with a maze of narrow alleys.
This spectacular sight is located in a remote area in Litchfield National Park that is difficult to access. Experienced 4WD drivers will put their skills to the test on the six-mile trail to The Lost City. Once there, you can admire this natural structure formed by thousands of years of erosion from wind and rain.
With so many ecosystems, the wildlife in Litchfield National Park is diverse. With a range of habitats including monsoon forests, extensive escarpments and ancient gorges, there are plenty of places to spot a range of different plant and animal species.
Native kangaroos and wallabies, possums, flying foxes and dingoes are just a few of the species that live in this unique park. At Tolmer Falls, you'll find caves filled with rare orange leaf-nosed bats.
Are you a bird lover? Then Litchfield National Park is the place for you. Many native bird species, including the black kite, striped drongo and rainbow bee-eater, can be found at the many waterfalls. Around Wangi Falls, you might catch a glimpse of the possum and the bush grouse.
The magnetic termite mounds are arguably the park's most popular highlights. They form a silhouette against the background of the park and are home to thousands upon thousands of termites.
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NewsletterLitchfield National Park can be visited all year round but if you want to see it all, the dry season (May to October) is the best time. It is recommended to visit this park early in the day so that you have the place to yourself.
In the wet season (November to April) the waterfalls are at their most impressive, but the roads are often closed due to flooding. While this park is known for year-round swimming, when water levels are too high swimming is banned. This is due to the risk of saltwater crocodiles that may have entered from the rivers and oceans.
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