The complete guide to Litchfield National Park

If you’ve ever been awestruck by the rugged beauty of the NT, it’s highly likely that you’ve been looking at a picture of Wangi Falls. The most popular swimming spot in Litchfield, you can only dip here during the dry season, as strong currents and crocs can come by in the wet. You can access Wangi Falls by car on the western boundary of the national park, just a 1.5-hour drive from Darwin. Surrounded by a lush picnic area, monsoon rainforest and gorgeous walking tracks, this very special spot is perfect for a spectacular freshwater swim that will (probably) make you feel like you’re on the front page of National Geographic. 

Time Out tip: You can stay the night at Wangi Falls campground, which is open during peak season from May to September. Given its Litchfield's most popular swimming hole, you'll want to book far in advance. 

Again, if you want a primo Instagrammable experience that simultaneously makes you feel like you’ve transcended reality, the gentle three-tiered waterhole at Buley is one for you. Imagine an opalescent series of freshwater pools set into deep orange rock, surrounded by lush green rainforest. Open pretty much year-round, this swimming hole is special no matter the time of day. 

Time Out tip: Spend time exploring the different levels of the rockhole to find your favourite spot. Some are even deep enough for a dive bomb!

Reaching this hidden gem requires a bit of effort, but it’s worth every step. The breathtaking waterfall, known as Tjaynera or Sandy Creek Falls, is tucked away and accessible only via a stunning 1.7-kilometre hike past hills dotted with cycad palms. Far more than just a sandy creek, this epic waterfall boasts a refreshing plunge pool that you’ll often have all to yourself. 

Time Out tip: To get there, you'll need to cross a fairly deep creek, so be aware that access is only possible with a 4WD and is closed during the wet season.

Fuel up for all your Litchy adventures at Kin Coffee and Goods, the area’s first espresso bar and gift shop. Opened in 2023 by the Latham family, who also run Hideaway Litchfield, this cute café is just three kilometres from the Cascades and eight kilometres from Wangi Falls. Start your day with hot coffees, pies and toasties, or cool off with refreshing mango smoothies and fruity icy poles.

Time Out tip: While you’re there, stock up on locally sourced treats, browse the adjacent (and air-conditioned) gift shop full of jams, jewellery and artworks, and soak up the sunshine outdoors. 

Where: 49 Marindja Rd, Rakula

Opening hours: Thur-Mon 8am-4pm

Swimming is a big deal in a state that offers so few safe options, and it’s an even bigger deal when the vibes are this good. Florence Falls is a cascading masterpiece that plunges down into crystal waters that you can swim in all year round. With a viewing platform located just a three-minute walk from the car park, this is a fabulous and accessible day trip option for explorers in the NT. If you’re keen on swimming, walk down a one-kilometre, moderate-grade track through rainforest and sandstone plateaus, with the plunge pool at the end a welcome reward for all your hard efforts. 

Time Out tip: Arrive early to beat the crowds!

Termites don’t always get a spectacular rap, but the Magnetic Termite Mounds spiking across Litchfield’s vast and empty plains are nothing short of magnificent. Over a century old, these massive termite-made structures strike an imposing and otherworldly figure in the most remote parts of the Territory. With some measuring more than four metres high, these temperature-regulated mounds have been intricately engineered to be like magnetic compasses, with their thin edges pointing north and south, and their broad backs directing east and west.

Time Out tip: Consider joining a Litchfield National Park day tour, as almost every one includes a stop at the mammoth termite mounds. 

Venture off the beaten track to one of Litchfield’s most secluded waterfalls, where you can swim (dry season only), walk, bird watch and even camp. You’ll need a 4WD to reach this natural wonder, located on the Reynolds 4WD track between Tolmer and Wangi Falls. From the car park, it’s a relaxed 1.5-kilometre walk through monsoonal forests to a large plunge pool where you can take a refreshing dip. However, climb up the rocks to discover more hidden pools above.

Time Out tip: Sleep under the stars at one of the most remote campgrounds in the area, complete with a pit toilet and barbecue facilities.

In a land so vast and ancient, it's impossible to discover all of its secrets. But with Northern Territory Indigenous Tours, you’ll uncover far more than what’s visible to the eye. Led by Tess and her team of local Indigenous guides, these intimate tours take you beyond the surface – to sacred waterfalls, lush rainforests and stone formations carrying ancient stories. You'll swim in clear, croc-safe natural swimming pools, and feast on crocodile, kangaroo and wild-caught barramundi for lunch. Along the way, you'll walk through Tess’s family’s own country, get up close to the magnetic termite mounds, and discover a whole lot more magnificence in what is already a deeply spectacular place. 

Time Out tip: These guys offer pick-up and drop-off from Darwin, so all you need to do is book in – they’ll handle the rest.

Price: $496 for adults, $248 for children up to 12

National parks are all about day walks for a reason, and Litchfield is no different. You’ll need a car to access pretty much all of them (and you’ll also definitely need a Park Pass to get in at all), but most of the walks are fairly manageable. You can do a pretty one-kilometre stroll to Shady Creek and Florence Falls through monsoon forest to a plunge pool, or step it up a notch with an easy 3.2-kilometre walk along Florence Creek, ending with a dip at the beautiful Buley Rockhole. If you like spectacular waterfall views, do the 1.6-kilometre return Tolmer Falls hike – but be warned, there’s no swimming at this one.

You can also do some more walking and/or waterfall viewing (but no swimming) with a 1.6-kilometre loop to Wangi Falls, while the more intrepid can attempt the 39-kilometre Tabletop Track. This bad boy is for experienced hikers only, and traverses savannah woodlands, waterfalls and swimming holes. You can do it solo over three to five days, or, if you’d rather have a bit more of a walking safety net, you can go in with a Litchfield Tabletop Tour. 

Time Out tip: All day walkers will need a Parks Pass, which is just $10 a day for adults and $5 for children. If you plan to visit regularly, two-week and 12-month passes are also available.

With 1,500 square kilometres to explore, Litchfield can be wonderfully overwhelming with its endless array of things to do and see. You can tailor your own Top End adventure or leave your itinerary to the pros at Cyaround Australia Tours, who run custom, private day or multi-day 4WD tours. Jack, your seasoned guide and all-around legend, will take you off the beaten path to his favourite hidden gems, like Tjaynera Falls, and join you for a splash at all the popular waterfalls too. Along the way, you’ll learn fun facts about native flora and fauna, and hear stories about the ancient culture surrounding this land, making for an absolute ripper day. 

Time Out tip: Got a waterfall you’re dying to see or a hike on your bucket list? Just let Jack know – he’ll customise your itinerary to make it happen.

If you need some peace and quiet after splashing out at Waangi Falls or Buley Rockhole, take a 15-minute drive down the road to Tabletop Swamp. Here, you’ll find plenty of shaded and secluded benches perfect for a picnic. You’ll need to bring all your own food and water, as there are no shops or cafés in Litchfield National Park. 

Time Out tip: If you're short on snacks, you can refuel at Wangi Falls Café, Litchfield Tourist Park or Lil'Ripper – all conveniently located inside or near the park. Just be sure to check their opening hours ahead of time, as they can change with the seasons.

Keen on feeling like you’ve stumbled into a magical ruined city in the middle of the bush? Go no further. These glorious free-standing sandstone towers are estimated to be more than 500 million years old (so, no spring chickens), and look set to dazzle with their intricate and towering formations that look like the ruins of an ancient city. Spread over an area as large as a small town, these towers are only accessible by 4WD and shouldn’t be attempted by anyone inexperienced in handling rocky conditions.

Time Out tip: Access to The Lost City is closed during the wet season.

If you’re up for a real outback adventure, pack your bags (and even your tent) for a trek to Walker Creek. You can take a refreshing swim in the creek near the day-use picnic areas or cool off at Rocky Falls, just 600 metres along the track from the car park. And if you’re up for it, spend the night under the stars at one of the seven secluded campsites – each equipped with a fire pit, pit toilets and picnic tables. 

Time Out tip: You’ll need to BYO boiled water!

If you’ve come to the Northern Territory for epic views, this one’s for you. Tolmer Falls is one of the most stunningly spectacular waterfalls in Litchfield, and you can gaze at its magnificence from two viewing platforms suspended high above. Stretch your legs by doing the short loop walk to the viewing platforms, or take the path less trodden with a 1.6-kilometre loop track that winds past gorgeous swimming holes, rainforest and sandstone country. 

Time Out tip: Sadly, you can’t swim at this one – but sometimes, it’s nice to look and not touch.

If you’re in a particularly flush financial place – or just want to splurge on a life experience that you most certainly will not forget in a hurry, look no further than a helicopter tour with Nautilus Aviation. Departing from Darwin Airport, this day trip will take you soaring above the vivid valleys, thundering waterfalls and lush gorges of Litchfield National Park. You get to land on top of a pristine private waterfall at Sandy Falls for a private swimming sesh, far away from other people. After you’ve dipped in crystal clear waters, sunbaked on red rocks and felt the green quiet of the bush, you will get an airborne ride to the super luxurious five-star Finnis River Lodge for a bougie, chef-prepared lunch that will have you pinching yourself.

Time Out tip: Helicopter tours run year-round, making them a great way to explore the park even when many other attractions close during the wet season. 

Price: From $1,415 per person