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Litchfield National Park This spectacular Northern Territory Park is only two hours drive away from Darwin. It is a great location for a day visit, however several days could be spent exploring the entire park. This 143sq km area was scarcely known until it was proclaimed a National Park in 1986. Today a quarter of a million locals and tourists each year make the journey to the weathered sandstone pillars of the Lost City, monsoon rainforest, perennial spring-fed streams, waterfalls, magnetic termite mounds and historic ruins of Litchfield National Park. The park features numerous waterfalls which cascade from the sandstone plateau of the Tabletop Range. History Originally the home of the Wagait people, the first European exploration was the 1864 Finniss Expedition. Frederick Henry Litchfield, a member of that expedition, has been remembered in the new National Park's name. For almost 75 years until 1955, the area was subject to tin and copper mining, then fell under pastoral leases until the Park was proclaimed in 1986. Access Just 129km southwest from Darwin and 268km from Katherine, and situated near the township of Batchelor, the park is accessible either by gravel road via the Cox Peninsula Road, or sealed road via Batchelor. Roads are suitable for all vehicles, however the rising floodwaters of the Finniss and Reynolds Rivers may close the main road during the wet season (October - April). When To Visit Heavy rains during the Wet can cause road closures for several days at a time and most 4WD tracks are closed for the duration of the season. Some swimming areas can become unsafe after heavy rain and may be closed. However this park is spectacular at any time and generally accessible year round. Visitor Facilites Camping facilities are available at Wangi Falls, Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls. For visitors with 4WD vehicles, sites are also available at Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek) and below the falls at Florence. Most campgrounds are managed by Campground Services. Camping fees apply and should be deposited in the honesty box provided. Caravans may be brought to the park, but camping is restricted to Wangi Falls and no powered sites are provided. A kiosk is also located at Wangi Falls. Hotel accommodation is available in Batchelor, just 13km from the Park entrance, nearby Lake Bennett, or at Adelaide River. Camping is also available in caravan parks at the same locations. Activities
What To See And Do Batchelor Butterfly Farm: Northern Territory's only Butterfly Farm situated in the heart of Batchelor, gateway to the world famous Litchfield National Park. Relax and enjoy the tropical garden setting with a secure play area for children, and take time to have a snack or a meal in the café and restaurant. Open daily from 9:30am to 4:45pm. Entry is $5.50 for adults and $2.50 for children. Florence Falls: Just past Buley Rockhole. A spectacular double waterfall set amid the monsoon forest cascading into a swimming hole. An easy grade walking track with wheelchair access leads from the main carpark to a lookout with superb panoramic views of the creek over the edge of the escarpment into the pool below, and of treetops of the dense rainforest that fringes the creek. A steep track / staircase leads down to the crystal clear pool at the base of Florence Falls. The pool is perfect for swimming and is open all year round. Admission is free. Blyth Homestead: Off Sandy Creek Road, about 3km north of the Sandy Creek turnoff. Built by the Sargent Family in 1929, and abandoned in the early 1960's, the Homestead, which was also the location of an old tin mine, is now a ruin and shows as a reminder of the tough conditions faced by the pioneers in remote areas. Open daily, however check road conditions during the summer season. Admission is free. The Lost City: These complex freestanding sandstone block and pillar formations suggest the ruins of a long forgotten civilisation. 4WD access only. The track into this section is extremely rocky and rough. Only people experienced in handling 4WD vehicles should attempt the journey to the Lost City, and their vehicle will need plenty of ground clearance. Open from May to November, and admission is free. Buley Rockhole: A series of pretty waterfalls and rockholes, where you will find your own spot to swim and relax. For the adventurous, there is also a walk to the Tabletop Range Escarpment or Florence Falls. Open year round with free admission. Magnetic Termite Mounds: Off Wangi Road. Imagine thousands of termite mounds standing up to two metres high. The mounds' thin edges point north-south while their broad backs and fronts face east-west. It's really a built-in temperature control mechanism, allowing only the smallest possible area to ever be exposed to the sun. Come and see for yourself. Open all year round and admission is free. Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek): 9km from the southern access track and nestled in an open valley luxuriant with paperbarks, the Falls can be found by walking along a 1.7km trail. Relax and enjoy the usually uncrowded plunge pool. Open May to November (4WD access only), and admission is free. Tolmer Falls: Off Litchfield Park Road. One of the most spectacular falls, Tolmer Falls, cascades over two high escarpments into a distant deep, plunge pool. This long narrow waterfall is at its best at the height of the wet season. The caves at the base of the Falls are home to several colonies of rare Ghost Bats and Orange Horseshoe Bats. Access to the pool and gorge is now closed to visitors to help protect the sensitive ecology of this area. Excellent walking tracks and viewing platforms have been installed to help visitors appreciate the true majesty of the Tolmer Falls and gorge. A 400 metre trail from the carpark suitable for wheelchair access, leads to a sturdy lookout where visitors can witness Tolmer's full plummet and the spectacular sandstone formations of the gorge. Open year round and admission is free. Wangi Falls: Off Litchfield Park Road. These Falls are Litchfields most popular attraction. The Falls, ever flowing into a large, easily reached swimming hole, are simply beautiful. A 3km walking trail will take you through monsoonal rainforest and to the top of the falls. Wangi Falls has a large picnic area and kiosk. open all year round, however swimming may not always be possible due to water levels. Entry is free. Petherick's Rainforest Reserve: Further along the road from Wangi Falls is the privately operated Pethericks Rainforest Reserve where camping and day use facilities are provided. A small entry fee does apply. Within the reserve is the wreckage of a spitfire fighter, several squadrons of which were stationed at bush airstrips around the Top End during World War II. Pethricks Rainforest is also home to a large colony of fruit bats and provides access to falls called the Cascades. Open all year round. Protect your Park
Safety
More Information Parks & Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory
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