Waterfall dropping into a clear green plunge pool surrounded by monsoon forest in Litchfield National Park

Top End · 115 km from Darwin

Litchfield National Park

Sandstone plateau, spring-fed waterfalls, and plunge pools cold enough to make you gasp. If you do one day trip from Darwin, do this one.

Why Litchfield beats the bigger name for a single day

Kakadu is vast and needs time. Litchfield gives you the Top End's greatest hits inside two hours of the city, on sealed road, with swimming that is actually permitted. The falls here are fed by springs on the Tabletop Range, which is why they run all year and why the water arrives clear and startlingly cool.

The main stops, in a sensible order

Twin falls · 160 steps down

Florence Falls

The lookout first, then the stairs to a wide plunge pool with two streams landing at the far end. Get there early and you may have it to yourself for twenty minutes.

Series of pools · easy access

Buley Rockhole

A staircase of small cascades and pools. Pick your own, sit in the current, watch dragonflies. The most relaxed swim in the park.

Largest pool · kiosk and campground

Wangi Falls

Two falls into a big, deep pool below a rock wall. Popular, well set up, and the most likely site to close on safety grounds after heavy rain.

Lookout only · no swimming

Tolmer Falls

A long drop into a gorge that houses rare bat colonies. Viewing platform, short circuit walk, best light late afternoon.

Five minute stop

Magnetic termite mounds

Thin grey slabs aligned north to south to manage heat. Odd, and genuinely worth the pull-in.

Longer walks · quieter

Cascades and Walker Creek

For visitors who want to walk rather than park and swim. Walker Creek has small walk-in campsites along the water.

Before you swim

Swimming, seasons and closures

Through tropical summer the falls run at full volume, which is spectacular and often means swimming is closed. Access roads can flood. From about May the water clears, sites reopen progressively, and by June the park is at its best. Wangi in particular sees late reopening.

Practical notes

  • 2WD reaches the main sealed loop through the Dry. The Reynolds River track is 4WD only
  • Allow a full day: roughly 90 minutes each way, plus swimming and walking time
  • Take drinking water, food, repellent and a towel. Facilities are limited
  • Fuel and food at Batchelor on the way in
  • Park entry fees apply for Northern Territory parks; buy your pass before arrival
Can you swim in Litchfield National Park?
Yes, at designated sites such as Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole and Wangi Falls when Parks and Wildlife has them open. Openings vary by season and after rain.
Are there crocodiles in Litchfield?
Freshwater crocodiles live in some waterways, and estuarine crocodiles can move into rivers in the Wet. Rangers survey and clear swimming sites, which is exactly why you only swim where it is permitted.
Is Litchfield or Kakadu better for a day trip?
Litchfield, comfortably. It is closer, the swimming is better, and a single day does it justice. Kakadu rewards three days or more.
Do I need a tour?
No, though tours remove the driving and add commentary. Self-driving gives you the early start that makes the difference.
Read the full day-trip guide