Litchfield National Park

Tolmer Falls, Litchfield National Park, NT.  Photo credit:Nick Rains/Tourism NT

Litchfield National Park

At Wangi Falls, four year-round waterfalls spill over a sandstone plateau into inviting plunge pools surrounded by rainforest. Discover a little piece of heaven at Litchfield.

 

 

Anywhere the locals love is all right by us – and that makes Litchfield National Park a worthy addition to your to-do list. It’s about 100km south of Darwin and you’ll always find locals here, taking a dip or enjoying an uplifting walk.

Swimming and walking
Wangi, Florence and Tolmer Falls, and Buley Rockhole are the major Litchfield tourist attractions – and the most tourist-heavy areas. All but Tolmer (where no swimming is allowed) are great places for a dip, although you might want to find somewhere a little less crowded at the height of the dry season.

Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole are lovely for cooling off and getting out of the sun, while Tolmer Falls offers a 1.5km walk with stunning views of the valley.

Bushwalking
Bushwalking is encouraged and you’ll find various walks at each site. If you’re planning an overnight bushwalk it’s best to get yourself on the Overnight Walker Registration Scheme by calling 08 8938 1140. More information can be found here.

Litchfield is apparently crocodile-free, although we’re not sure who told the crocs that.

Organising visits to and tours of Litchfield National Park
If you want to see all the park has to offer you’ll need a 4WD. There’s usually year-round access to the park via the sealed road from Batchelor. In the dry season you should also be able to get here via the unsealed Cox Peninsula Road.

You’ll find plenty of tour operators running day trips to Litchfield out of Darwin, but longer tours are available if you’re on a more relaxed schedule. Just search for Tours under Northern Territory/Darwin & Surrounds.

We’d recommend the Aboriginal-led tours of Litchfield which offer a more spiritual insight into the land. You’ll also discover more about the native fauna and its uses (e.g. herbal remedies), and you may get the chance to sample some fresh bush tucker. It’ll be croc or kangaroo. If you’re lucky…

Get the latest information
Swimming holes may close after high rainfall and roads may be closed due to flooding or water damage. You’ll find current information here.

 

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Welcome To Tombstone, Stranger...

 

Something eerie’s going on in Litchfield. It’s the tombstones. Only these ones contain the living…

You can find Litchfield’s oddest natural attractions at numerous sites around the Park, but the greatest concentration is about 17km from the eastern boundary. They’re all aligned north to south, marching off into the distance as if there’s somewhere they’ve got to be.

Inside are millions of termites. Each magnetic mound is built this way to regulate the temperature within – and it’s a striking, disconcerting sight.

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