Destinations / Darwin / Litchfield National Park

The 1,500 square kilometre Litchfield National Park is an easy journey (an hour-and-a-half drive) from Darwin.

Visitors can visit Litchfield National Park for the day or for the more adventurous stay for two or three days. The Park contains several types of typical Top End habitats including lush monsoon forests, termite mounds, unusual rock formations, waterfalls and cascades.

The Park encloses much of the spectacular Tabletop Range, which is a wide sandstone plateau mostly surrounded by cliffs. During the monsoon season, from October to May, four major waterfalls thunder from the cliffs to tropical rock pools many metres below. During the rest of the year the waterfalls flow more gently, making the waterholes perfect spots for a cool dip.

The Park’s traditional owners are the Wagait Aboriginal people, many of whom live in the area. The region has a colourful pioneering and pastoral history and places like the ruins of Blyth Homestead, built in 1929 but abandoned in the 1960s, are a reminder of the tough conditions faced by pioneers.

For visitors, Litchfield National Park's main attractions are permanent spring fed waterfalls (Florence, Tolmer and Wangi), cascades at Buley Rockhole, magnetic termite mounds, and a wildlife cruise along the majestic Reynolds River. Sealed roads link all main attractions.

Just outside the Park’s entrance is the small township of Batchelor, which serves as a gateway to Litchfield National Park. Travellers can stay overnight here in budget accommodation and caravan parks. Day-trippers can refuel, grab a meal and inspect a number of interesting attractions, including the Butterfly and Bird Farm and the Coomalie Cultural Centre.