Litchfield National Park is one of the most popular attractions near Darwin. One of the best things about Litchfield is its waterfalls and swimming holes. They provide both a safe and spectacular setting to cool off. This guide to the waterfalls and waterholes at Litchfield lets you know how to get to them, what you can do when you get there and the best time of day to visit.
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Getting to Lichfield National Park
Litchfield National Park is about 90 minutes south of Darwin. There are a couple of routes you can take to get there. The faster route is via Berry Springs. You can also go through Batchelor and Rum Jungle. This route takes a little longer to get to some of the waterfalls, but you will pass other Litchfield attractions like the magnetic termite mound lookout along the way.
A loop combining the two routes takes 3.75 hours and is a good option for seeing lots of sights. Read our Darwin to Litchfield road trip guide for more details.
Litchfield Waterfalls FAQS
Do i need a National Park Pass to visit Litchfield?
Visitors to the Northern Territory need a park pass to enter Litchfield National Park. Because Litchfield is a national park, dogs are not permitted.
Are there Crocodiles at Litchfield?
Saltwater crocodiles do make their way into Litchfield National Park so pay attention to signage and closures.
Where can I swim at Litchfield?
You can swim at Litchfield National Park. The most popular swimming spots are Buley Rockhole and Wangi Falls. You can also swim at Florence Falls but there is a longer walk to the falls and fewer entry and exit points to the water.
Does Litchfield close in the Wet Season?
4WD tracks are closed in the wet season but Buley Rockhole, Wangi Falls and other attractions generally remain open year round.
Florence Falls
Florence falls is a spectacular way to start a tour of Litchfield’s waterfalls. It is the first set of falls you come to from if you have driven via Batchelor and the last if you have come via Berry Springs.
There is plenty of parking for cars and campers. In the carpark you will see signs to the Florence Falls Lookout 120m away and the Florence Falls Plunge Pool 430m away where you can swim. You will also notice a track to Buley Rockhole which is only 1.7km from Florence Falls and the Shady Creek Loop Walk which includes the Plunge Pool.
We started with a view of Florence Falls from the lookout. Even in late July there was still plenty of water coming down Florence Creek. The creek divides at the edge of Florence Falls and comes down in twin torrents. A campground is available at Florence Falls.
- Litchfield Falls & Jumping Crocodiles Full Day Trip from Darwin with Champagne Lunch
- Litchfield National Park Day Tour from Darwin with Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Buley Rockhole + Adelaide River Croc Spotting
Buley Rockhole
Buley Rockhole is right next door to Florence Falls. It has a separate carpark but there is also a 1.7km walking trail between the two sites. Being close to Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole is closer to the Batchelor Litchfield entrance than the Berry Springs entrance.
This is one of the popular swimming spots in Litchfield National Park. It is no wonder. The chain of rock pools is stunning, but it means you might want to get here early to avoid the crowds/tour buses. As nice as it is, there isn’t as much room to swim here as there is at other locations like Wangi Falls.
From the carpark you have a 500m walk to the upper section of Buley Rockhole. For our morning walk to the water there were birds everywhere. We spotted northern rosellas, blue winged kookaburras and stunning rainbow bee-eaters so keep an eye on the sky and trees.
- Litchfield Falls & Jumping Crocodiles Full Day Trip from Darwin with Champagne Lunch
- Litchfield National Park Day Tour from Darwin with Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Buley Rockhole + Adelaide River Croc Spotting
Tolmer Falls
Tolmer Falls are about halfway along the loop drive you could do from Darwin to Litchfield National Park. If you drive via Berry Springs, you will get to Tolmer Falls about 10 minutes sooner than coming via Batchelor.
You can’t swim or get to the bottom of Tolmer Falls but they are still one of the best waterfalls in Litchfield National Park. A narrow column of water drops down an escarpment. It looks much higher than its reputed 30m fall.
From the carpark you have a 500m return walk to a viewing deck and an 800m return walk to a lookout. Both paths are access friendly. The best views are had from the Lookout rather than the closer viewing platform so definitely do the extra few hundred metres.
The best time to see Tolmer Falls is in the second half of the afternoon so the sun is hitting the rock face. The cliffs really glow. On your way down to the falls or on the way back to the carpark, you can do the Tolmer Creek Walk, a 1.5km loop that takes you through savannah woodland, a cycad forest and alongside Tolmer Creek.
Tjaetaba Falls
Tjaetaba Falls are not far from Tolmer Falls on Litchfield Park Road. Look for the turn off to Tjaetaba Falls and Greenant Creek. Tjaetaba Falls are closer to the Berry Springs entrance to Litchfield.
These are not the biggest Falls in Litchfield but is nice walk to get to them and you can swim at the top of the falls. Because of its ecological and cultural significance you cannot swim in Greenant Creek below the falls.
From the carpark where there are picnic, toilet and BBQ facilities, it is a 2.7km return walk to Tjaetaba Falls. The trail starts in monsoon rainforest then as you gain elevation there is a marked change to savannah woodland. The second half of the track gets a bit rocky and there are some big steps so you will want to be wearing some decent shoes. There is plenty of birdlife along the walk to distract you.
You are well rewarded at the top of the trail. There are short side trails to lookouts at the base and top of the falls. At the top there is a small pool where you can go for a swim to cook off. If there are half a dozen people there, it might start feeling a bit crowded.
Wangi Falls
Popular Wangi Falls are 90 minutes from Darwin via Berry Springs. You can add 30 minutes if you are coming from Darwin via Batchelor.
Wangi Falls has the best set up of all the waterfalls and swimming holes in Litchfield if you are looking for somewhere to spend a day. There is a large picnic and BBQ area. There’s a kiosk, and you can easily access the large plunge pool at the base of the twin falls from several areas.
Besides having easy to access swimming area, another feature of Wangi Falls are the walks you can do here. The 1.7km Wangi Loop walk takes you up and over the Wangi Falls and down the other side. A feature of the walk is a Treetop Deck in the canopy of the monsoon rainforest.
The full 1.7km walk is moderate difficulty with some steps and steep sections. If you just go to the Treetop Deck and back, you will miss the more difficult parts of the walk. As well as butterflies and birds, look out for flying foxes that roost in the area. We saw them right at the start of the track, they are quite noisy, you can’t miss them!
- 60 Minute Scenic Flight over Litchfield National Park – Sandy Creek Falls, Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, Tolmer Falls, The Lost City, Magnetic Termite Mounds, Darwin River Dam
- 1 Day Litchfield National Park Tour & Berry Springs in Minivan – Buley Rock Holes, Florence and Wangi Falls, the famous termite mounds, and a delicious lunch
The Cascades
The Cascades are one of the first attractions you come to when you enter Litchfield National Park via Berry Springs. The feature here is the small Curtain Falls and Upper Cascades where you can go for a swim. You have a couple of medium to difficult 2.5km – 3.5km walks to get to Curtain Falls and the Upper Cascades where you can cool off.
Unfortunately for us, the walks were closed when we came through so we will have to save them up for next time. But check them out if you are in the area. There are easier swimming spots to get to, the Upper Cascades walk is quite hot and exposed but if you get to the falls, you will likely have them to yourself!
Surprise Creek Falls & Tjaynera – Sandy Creek Falls
If you want to tick off all the waterfalls in Litchfield National Park, you will need a 4WD. The turn off to Reynolds Track is between Tolmer and Wangi Falls. Tjaynera Falls are 9km along the track. You park at the Sandy Creek Campground and have a moderate 1.7km walk to these tiered falls and beautiful swimming hole.
Surprise Creek Falls are 27km along Reynolds Track. There is a short walk from the carpark through the forest to the first small falls and plunge pool. But if you are up for a rock scramble, you can get to the top of the falls where you see another set of falls and another pool. There are several pools you can swim in; how many you see is only limited by how far you want to climb. There is a fair chance you will have this spot to yourself.
- 4WD Litchfield Day Tour – Swim at Buley Rockhole, Visit Lost City & Sandy Creek
- 3-Day Kakadu & Litchfield 4WD Camping Adventure from Darwin – Explore the best of both Kakadu & Litchfield. Twin shared safari tent or a traditional bush swag
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