Litchfield National Park
Northern Territory
Litchfield National Park is a strikingly beautiful area of the Northern Territory that is very accessible even as a day trip from Darwin, which is just 100kms away. However, to really appreciate the park and all it has to offer you should allow for a longer stay.
Litchfield National Park is home to an array of habitats, landscapes and wildlife, particularly birdlife that make doing walks here essential. There are also some beautiful falls to swim at and interesting natural phenomenon like the magnetic and cathedral termite mounds to see.
Whilst many of the attractions in the park are accessible in a 2wd car, a 4wd will open up the southern part of the park to you and with it the amazing rock formations of the Lost City.
There are a number of different camping sites available in the Litchfield National Park, and many types of accommodation available in the nearby town of Batchelor.
Litchfield National Park Attractions
Short Walks
Shady Creek Walk
1km one-way /30mins
The Shady Creek Walk follows a stream through rainforest and woodlands and offers an alternate to walking the 130 or so stairs between the top of the Florence Falls and the plunge pool in the valley below.
Tolmer Creek Walk
1.6km return / 45mins
The Tolmer Creek Walk takes you from the lookout at the Tolmer Falls along the rim, through a sandstone landscape then finally through woodlands back to the car park. Please note that swimming is not allowed above the Tolmer Falls.
Wangi Falls Walk
1.6km return / 1hr
The Wangi Falls Walk is a lovely walk and although steep in parts (there are a number of stairs to climb) there are great views of the Wangi Falls from the viewing platform as well as beautiful monsoon forest views as you climb up to the canopy.
Greenant Creek Walk
2.7 km return / 1.5 hrs
The shorter Greenant Creek Walk is a moderately difficult walk that takes you through a variety of habitats including a palm forest and a monsoonal forest. It is a shady walk but there is a steep climb to the Tjaetaba Falls Lookout. Please note that the area downstream of the falls is a sacred site, so no there is no swimming allowed.
Walker Creek Walk
3.5 km return / 2hrs
The Walker Creek Walk lets you traverse the beautiful clear water and cascades of the creek where you can swim in the many rock pools and waterfalls. You will pass by beautiful woodlands and over delightful wooden bridges. A longer walk (approx. 11kms) is also possible here and forms part of the Tabletop Walk.
Tjaynera (Sandy Creek) Falls Walk
3.4 km return / 1.5hrs
The Tjaynera Falls Walk is another moderate grade walk that takes you past forests of Cycads and ends at a lovely plunge pool under the Tjaynera Falls that is worth a swim in. This walk and the falls are accessible via a 4WD track.
Longer Walks
Tabletop Walk
39km circuit / 3-5 days
For serious walkers the Tabletop Walk offers a chance to experience all that Litchfield has to offer including stunning woodlands, picture-perfect waterfalls and natural swimming pools. It is possible to do sections of the walk instead of the whole track. There are three campgrounds to stay at on the walk and link walks to a number of other campsites.
If you intend to do any overnight walks, please remember to register with the Overnight Walker Registration Scheme (1300 650 730) and note that you need to carry your own water, cooking equipment, food and sleeping equipment with you.
The walk usually closes for the Wet season at the end of September each year.
Sections of the walk
Wangi Falls to Walker Creek
18.5 km / 7 hours
To start the Tabletop Walk from Wangi Falls you will need to walk the 1.2km from the car park to the track via the link walk. From here you walk the circuit clockwise to Walker Creek as you follow the edge of the escarpment and stunning views.
There is a beautiful campsite at Walker Creek to stay. If you want to make this section of the trip a 2-day walk, there is also a basic campsite at Tjanera Falls approx 9.5kms before Walker Creek.
Walker Creek to Florence Falls
12.3km / 5 hours
This part of the track sees you pass through ancient cycads and stone country. There are plenty of shady spots along the route and the end of this section is Florence Falls where there is a lovely plunge pool to refresh in after the walk.
Florence Falls to Wangi Falls
19.7 km / 8 hours
A moderately difficult section of the track, you cross the Florence river and pass large boulders lining the track. As you walk around to Wangi Falls you pass by the link walk to Buley Rockhole, which is a beautiful series of plunge pools (this area can also be accessed via car).
Falls & Waterholes
Many of the spectacular falls in Litchfield National Park are easily accessible by car throughout the year, although swimming may be closed in the Wet season.
Tolmer Falls
The Tolmer Falls are definitely one of the most spectacular falls in the park with water gushing from the high escarpments into the deep plunge pool directly below. There is a viewing platform but for better views do the Tolmer Creek short walk. There are caves near the falls, but they are closed to the public to protect the rare Orange Horseshoe Bat that resides there.
Florence Falls
The spectacular double falls that make up the Florence Falls and the plunge pool below are a great place to take a swim. You can get panoramic views from the lookout at the top and then descend the 130 plus steps to the pool at the base. An alternate option to the stairs is to take the Shady Creek Walk.
There are camping facilities here.
Buley Rockhole
A series of rockholes and cascades the Buley Rockhole is a great place to have a swim and is walking distance from Florence Falls. You can also drive here, with an easy 80m walk to the rockhole from the car park.
Wangi Falls
The Wangi Falls are a very popular area of the park and so can get a little crowded. That said, the scenery is beautiful at the largest of the Litchfield National Park falls. Accessible all year round, the falls are at their most magnificent in the Wet season. There is a viewing platform, a boardwalk and BBQ facilities here. You can also start the Tabletop walk from here.
The campsite here has showers and toilets as well as a café and caters for powered vans.
Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek)
Accessible via a 4WD track and located in an open valley, you will find the Tjaynera Falls a lot quieter than some of the other falls in the Park. It is a lovely spot for a cool off in the pool at the base of the falls. The Blythe pioneer Homestead is also nearby.
There is a small campground with toilet and shower facilities.
Surprise Creek Falls
Another area that should not be crowded with visitors, Surprise Creek Falls are accessible via 4wd track and it recommended that you check road conditions before attempting the drive.
Bush camping facilities are available here.
Other things to do in the Litchfield National Park
Birdwatching
Litchfield National Park is home to many native Australian birds. The Rainbow Bee-eater, the Yellow Oriole and Spangled Drongo can be found near the falls whilst Black Kites and other birds of prey are more prominent in the Dry season.
Blythe Homestead
A relic of the past, the Blythe Homestead was built in 1929 by pioneers the Sargent Family. It has been restored and now houses a display on the region. The homestead is only accessible by 4wd.
The Lost City
As the name suggests the Lost City feels more like the ruins of a small ancient city than the free-standing sandstone rock formations that they are. Quite spectacular, they are only accessible via 4wd and the track can be difficult and rough. This area is closed during the Wet season.
Magnetic & Cathedral Termite Mounds
The strange phenomenon that is the magnetic termite mounds is actually the result of the termite's solution to keeping cool. Standing up to 2m high, the edges of the thin mounds point north to south to ensure that the greatest surface area faces east to west to minimise the sun on them.
Probably more spectacular is the cathedral termite mounds, which are found throughout the region and tower majestically up to 6m high.
Click on the above image to purchase this great Kakadu National Park map from
The Outback Travellers Track Guide.