Litchfield National Park National Park
National park in Northern Territory with waterfalls
Northern Territory park popular for swimming at Wangi and Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole, sandstone plateaus and short rainforest walks; camping, waterfall swims and access to Aboriginal rock sites shape most visits.
Litchfield National Park is a protected park in the Northern Territory of Australia noted for its waterfalls, plunge pools, and unique termite-mound fields. The park is a popular regional destination for swimming, short walks and scenic viewpoints.
Visitors come for multiple accessible waterfalls with swim-ready plunge pools such as Wangi Falls and Florence Falls, the terraced rock pools at Buley Rockhole, and the distinctive magnetic termite mounds. The park also contains sandstone escarpments, monsoon forest pockets and seasonal creeks.
The area is part of the Top End’s sandstone and laterite landscape and has long been used by Indigenous Australians; it is now managed as a national park with marked day-use sites and short walks. Facilities at main sites include carparks, picnic areas and toilets, with more limited services within the park interior.
Litchfield National Park sits inland from the northern Australian coastline in the Northern Territory, within driving distance of Darwin and forming part of the tropical Top End landscape.
- Seasonal access and swimming safety: Best visited in the dry season for easier access and safer swimming; some pools are closed to swimming after heavy rains for safety and water quality.
- Proximity and access: Many major attractions are accessible by short walks from carparks, making the park suitable for day visits from Darwin, roughly 100 km away by road.
What to See#
- Wangi Falls: Wangi Falls with a sizeable plunge pool and formed cliffs popular for swimming; the falls are accessible from a short sealed walk and parking area.
- Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole: Florence Falls and the nearby plunge pools connected by short walks and viewing platforms, often combined with visits to the Buley Rockhole plunge pools downstream.
- Magnetic termite mounds (termite fields): Magnetic termite mounds - tall, parallel-built termite structures occurring in large grouped fields near visitor roads and picnic areas.
How to Get to Litchfield National Park#
Litchfield National Park is approximately 100-150 km southwest of Darwin, typically a 1.5-2 hour drive. From Darwin, follow the Stuart Highway south to the Batchelor turnoff, then follow sealed and unsealed park access roads (signposted) to the main attractions. Many car- and camper-based visitors make it a day trip from Darwin; check road conditions in the wet season.
Tips for Visiting Litchfield National Park#
- Visit early in the dry season (May-June) to enjoy lower humidity and clearer trails.
- Bring insect repellent for the wet-dry transition months (March-May) when sandflies and mosquitoes are most active.
- Swim only at designated pools and heed crocodile warning signs - in the Top End, signage exists for a reason.
Best Time to Visit Litchfield National Park#
Best visited in the dry season (May-September) when roads are open and waterfalls are accessible.
Weather & Climate near Litchfield National Park#
Litchfield National Park's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in October) and warm winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 16°C to 36°C. Abundant rainfall (1524 mm/year), wettest in February with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is hot, feeling like 33°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (325 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is hot, feeling like 33°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (345 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (314 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is hot, feeling like 31°C due to high humidity. Moderate rainfall (46 mm).
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May
May is warm with highs of 33°C and lows of 20°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 17°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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July
July is mild with highs of 32°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is warm with highs of 33°C and lows of 17°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 28°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is the hottest month, feeling like 31°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm).
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November
November is the hottest month, feeling like 33°C. Significant rainfall (139 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is hot, feeling like 33°C due to high humidity. Heavy rain (242 mm) and mostly overcast skies.