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Daylight dances on the termite mounds like molten gold as I step onto the crimson earth of Litchfield Nationwide Park, amazed that I’m nonetheless standing on Planet Earth.
Situated simply an hour and a half from Darwin, this nationwide park stands as a vivid distinction to every other panorama I’ve seen in my house of Australia.
Waterfalls cascade into inviting plunge swimming pools which can be protected to swim in, a rarity in Australia’s Prime Finish, and historic sandstone escarpments rise above magnetic termite towers, or present a canvas for historic Aboriginal rock artwork that has survived hundreds of years.
When you’re considering of visiting Litchfield Nationwide Park, however unsure what to do or what to anticipate, right here is every part you must know earlier than you lose your self in one of many Northern Territories prime outback locations.
A quick historical past of Litchfield Nationwide Park
Lengthy earlier than vacationers found its crystal swimming pools made for swimming, Litchfield was house to the Wagiman, Marranunggu, and Wulna peoples, whose connection to the land stretches again tens of hundreds of years.
The land was then found by European explorers within the nineteenth century, drawn by fertile floodplains and the promise of mining, however due to the rugged terrain, the realm round Litchfield was saved at bay and used primarily as a spot to go for a dip within the contemporary water.
As a result of the water is contemporary, there’s no hazard of crocs, because it’s the saltwater crocs you must be cautious of. This can be a rarity within the Prime Finish of Australia, and is without doubt one of the explanation why Litchfield is so well-liked to go to.
Litchfield was formally declared a nationwide park in 1986. This nationwide park standing offers it safety, and now its placing waterfalls, distinctive termite mounds, and craggy gorges could be admired for generations to return.
How lengthy do you must see Litchfield Nationwide Park?
Litchfield Nationwide Park is 1,458 sq. kilometres, which by Australian nationwide park requirements is kind of small. So, you solely actually need two days to expertise the most effective components of Litchfield Nationwide Park.
We extremely advocate you camp in one of many campgrounds, so you possibly can get up early and spend a full day exploring the rockholes and plunge swimming pools. Some folks go to on a day journey from Darwin, however in my view, I believe these persons are lacking out.
Issues to do in Litchfield Nationwide Park
Litchfield Nationwide Park is all about waterholes which can be protected to swim in, in addition to spectacular sunsets and hikes. Listed here are a few of our prime issues to do this we did within the nationwide park.
1. Swim within the Buley Rockhole
Buley Rockhole was my favorite place in Litchfield Nationwide Park, and is a must-see for anybody visiting. It was the right place to go to with our youngsters and we advocate getting there early to flee the tour buses and have the rock pool serenity to your self.
The Buley Rockholes are a collection of rocks with holes which have water cascading by means of them. Stroll as much as the highest and take your decide of rock holes to take a seat in for some time. Spend a couple of hours transferring from one to the opposite. It’s sizzling sufficient to warrant it – even within the winter.
2. Swim in Florence Falls Plunge Pool
Florence Falls is a double-plunge waterfall resulting in a well-liked swimming spot. There’s a steep staircase all the way down to the swimming pools passing by means of a stunning viewing level, but it surely’s not too strenuous.
In any other case, you possibly can take the stroll all the way down to the falls from the automotive park through the Shady Creek monitor. We didn’t get to do it, but it surely’s meant to be very fairly.
And you may stroll between Florence Falls and Buley Rockholes. The Litchfield waterfalls had been merely superb to see.
3. Have A Picnic At Wangi Falls
Wangi Falls might be Litchfield’s hottest attraction with the biggest swimming gap, picnic space, and onsite cafe – our youngsters loved an ice cream right here on a sizzling day, and it may be particularly busy round lunchtime in peak season.
When you’ve received younger children like me, getting into the waterhole is less complicated than at Florence Falls and it’s clear and shallow in shut. Simply bear in mind that it will get deeper and darker the additional you swim out.
The Wangi Falls campground is a good place to cease for an evening. There’s a BBQ space, and all of the amenities you want for a cushty evening similar to clear bogs and showers.
4. Hike to Walker Creek
If you’d like a swimming gap expertise that’s away from the crowds then take the 3km stroll alongside Walker Creek to shared swimming gap quantity six. It was small, however simply pretty to have all to ourselves and so refreshing after such a sizzling stroll with two children.
Alongside the stroll, you’ll see numerous non-public campsites subsequent to the creek with their very own non-public swimming gap. Price contemplating pitching a tent if you happen to like bush tenting. Primary was my decide.
5. Try the Magnetic Termite Mounds
These termite mounds are unimaginable. Constructed by hundreds of termites of various species, with a north-south orientation to regulate the temperature inside.
These magnetic bugs have designed their house to attenuate publicity to the solar. Wonderful, proper? The mounds are greater than 100 years outdated and arise between two and 4 meters tall.
There’s a boardwalk that takes you near the mounds, the tallest and most spectacular being the four-metre-high Cathedral Termite Mounds. You’ll move these termite mounds first if you happen to enter the park from Darwin, we saved them for final on the way in which out.
6. Watch the sundown from the Tolmer Falls Viewing Platform
Tolmer Falls is without doubt one of the most well-known websites in Litchfield Nationwide Park. This enormous waterfall has two massive falls that fall right into a deep plunge pool which you can swim in through the dry season.
It’s additionally top-of-the-line locations to go to in Litchfield Nationwide Park for sundown. Situated only a quick stroll from the falls are two viewing platforms that overlook the waterfalls.
There’s additionally a 1.6km loop stroll from the automotive park which takes you previous Tolmer Creek, a tributary, and different rock swimming pools (which you can’t swim in, sadly).
7. Go 4-Wheel Driving at Blyth Homestead
There are lots of 4WD tracks in Litchfield Nationwide Park, however one of the vital well-liked is the monitor to Blyth Homestead.
Blyth Homestead is an outdated mining city that has been deserted for the reason that Sixties. It was in-built 1928 when Litchfield was wealthy in tin. The realm serves as a reminder of how difficult it’s to arrange a enterprise in such dry and arid circumstances.
You’ll be able to be taught concerning the former tin mining trade from the knowledge boards at this deserted web site. The realm is often inaccessible within the moist, tropical season of November to April because of the rain.
8. 4WD to Shock Creek Falls
One other four-wheel drive monitor that you must add to your Litchfield itinerary is the Shock Creek Falls monitor. It’s a Grade 2 monitor, so not too tough to drive up, but it surely’s undoubtedly well worth the bumpy terrain that meanders by means of monsoonal forests and opens up at a big swimming pool on the finish.
9. Find out about The Park’s Conventional House owners on the Batchelor Museum
Litchfield Nationwide Park has been house to the aboriginal folks for hundreds of years. You’ll be able to be taught concerning the park’s conventional house owners, the Mak Mak Marranunggu, Koongurrukun, Werat, and Warray folks on the Batchelor Museum simply outdoors the Nationwide Park.
The museum additionally affords a glimpse into the park’s mining historical past, Darwin’s significance throughout WWII, and agriculture within the space.
10. Go to the Batchelor Butterfly Farm
Not really in Litchfield Nationwide Park, however close by, is the Batchelor Butterfly Farm. Step into the subtropical Butterfly Home and wander amongst vibrant Australian butterflies in flight, sipping nectar, and thriving of their man-made habitat.
Past butterflies, the encircling Pet Gardens are the right place to let the children and massive children run unfastened. Right here you possibly can stroke pleasant goats, geese, rabbits and different small animals, and there’s even an opportunity to satisfy the farm’s resident saltwater crocodile, Zeus.
11. Journey to Sandy Creek Falls
When you’re after a slice of solitude, Sandy Creek Falls affords this reward in trade for slightly grit and journey. Nestled deep throughout the park’s rugged south area, this lengthy, shimmering plunge pool lies on the finish of a 3.4 km return stroll that threads by means of an open valley of paperbark and cycad palms.
You’ll want a 4WD to sort out the unsealed Reynolds River monitor that results in the trailhead, which is why these cascades are sometimes unexplored, however for many who have the means will be capable to chill out within the huge, clear pool on the base of falls with out anybody else round.
Is Litchfield Nationwide Park price visiting?
It’s simple to see why Litchfield attracts 260,000 guests annually; it boasts gorgeous tropical waterfalls and swimming holes, magnificent rainforests, large magnetic termite mounds, an abundance of native wildlife, aboriginal historic websites, and lots of strolling and 4WD tracks.
There’s quite a bit to see and do, in addition to off-the-beaten-path adventures to have. It’s top-of-the-line locations within the Prime Finish of Australia to go swimming, with waterfalls plunging off the sting of the escarpment into crystal-clear, protected swimming holes. And by protected, I imply salt-water crocodile free!
There should not many locations within the Northern Territory the place you possibly can safely swim with out worry of crocs, so for that reason, it’s 100% price visiting. When you’ve got a minimum of every week and also you’re exploring the Prime Finish of the Northern Territory, then I extremely counsel a looped highway journey from Darwin taking in Katherine Gorge, Kakadu Nationwide Park, and Litchfield Nationwide Park.
Need to see different nationwide parks round Darwin? Then think about this five-day tour of Litchfield Nationwide Park and Kakadu Nationwide Park!
The place to remain in Litchfield Nationwide Park
The one lodging on provide throughout the nationwide park is tenting, nevertheless, that doesn’t imply it’s important to tough it. Many campsites present well-maintained facilities, and hook up websites for folks travelling with RVs.
If you wish to keep in a resort, you possibly can keep close to the park however not really in it. Batchelor is the closest city to Litchfield Nationwide Park, and has numerous lodging to select from and easy accessibility to the park.
You’ll be able to browse extra lodging choices within the following interactive map:
Finest time to go to Litchfield Nationwide Park
The most effective time to go to Litchfield Nationwide Park is through the dry season, which runs from Might to October. That is when the climate is at its most nice and all roads are open.
Nonetheless, if you happen to do plan to go to through the moist season in November to April, you do get the good thing about seeing the waterfalls at their fullest and extra magnificent. The moist season can be the off-season so count on fewer crowds.
When you plan to go to within the moist season, keep in mind lots of the 4WD tracks might be closed this time of 12 months. Through the moist season, swimming can be not at all times permitted.
Opening hours and entrance payment
Litchfield Nationwide Park is open all 12 months spherical and is free to enter. You solely have to pay for campgrounds, and costs fluctuate relying on the place you camp.
Getting there
Litchfield Nationwide Park is a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Darwin, which is why you’ll find many tour operators working a day-trip to the park. When you don’t wish to take a tour, we advocate you rent automobiles from Darwin and take the quick drive alongside the B30 to Litchfield.
Suggestions for visiting Litchfield Nationwide Park
- If you’ll be able to, rent a 4×4 car. Whereas a lot of the park is accessible with a typical car, you possibly can have an adventurous off-road expertise to locations similar to The Misplaced Metropolis and Tjaynera Falls which is extremely enjoyable and a novel expertise.
- Be sure to plan to go to on a weekday if doable. Litchfield is sufficiently small to take pleasure in in a day, or sufficiently big to discover over a weekend, however if you happen to can, think about visiting midweek to keep away from the weekend rush.
- No matter time of 12 months you go to, be certain that to pack a towel and bug repellent!
Remaining ideas
Darwin locals are lucky to be inside comparatively simple attain of one in all my favorite nationwide parks in Australia. In lower than 90-minutes drive, Litchfield affords excellent nature spots with magnificent landscapes.
We hope this information helped you intend your go to and gave you some inspiration for what to do there, and easy methods to put your itinerary collectively.
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