Litchfield National Park is a beautiful national park in the Northern Territory, just south of the capital city of Darwin. It is not that big but it makes up for it with loads of fabulous waterfalls, making it the perfect little getaway from Darwin or stopover on the way there.
We're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, and exploring Australia, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country). I first visited Australia in 2019, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport. This time, with the freedom of our campervan, we're trying to hit the lesser known spots and go slower.
For thousands of years, the Koongurrukun, Mak Mak Marranunggu, Werat and Warray people lived on this land, long before any Europeans arrived.
The first Europeans to explore the area now known as Litchfield National Park was in 1865 led by Frederick Henry Litchfield, a member of the Finniss Expedition traveling from South Australia to explore the north and after whom the park is named. The group discovered copper and tin which led to small mining operations in the area. Logging then began in 1948 and uranium was discovered the following year, mined until 1971. The area officially became a national park in 1985 also preserving the historical mines and homesteads of the area.
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Useful Information for Litchfield National Park
Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Litchfield National Park. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In Litchfield National Park, the traditional languages of the Koongurrukun, Mak Mak Marranunggu, Werat and Warray peoples are Kungarakany, Marranunggu, Werat and Warray, respectively.
→ Learn more about the language of the Koongurrukun, Mak Mak Marranunggu, Werat and Warray peoples.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data/WiFi: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
We travel with a Starlink in our campervan which enables us to have unlimited WiFi wherever we are, even in places without coverage.
Free WiFi can be found at Wangi Falls in the national park.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Litchfield National Park in the north of the Northern Territory gets very hot during the summer so many roads, campsites and swimming areas get closed due to the heat and risk of flash floods and cyclones. The best time to visit is from May to October.
Length of stay: We spent two days exploring Litchfield National Park to enjoy a few different swimming spots throughout the park.
How to Get to Litchfield National Park
By flight: The closest airport to Litchfield National Park is in Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory, connecting nationally to destinations all across Australia as well as a number of international destinations too such as East Timor, Singapore and Indonesia.
It takes just under two hours to drive from Darwin down to Litchfield National Park.
→ Rent a car at Darwin Airport.
By car: If you're driving around the country as we are in our campervan, then the easiest way to get to Litchfield National Park is with your own wheels. This gives you the freedom to explore the national park at your own pace, stopping whenever and wherever you like.
You might want to start in Darwin as your base for renting a campervan to explore Australia.
→ Rent a campervan in Darwin with Apollo, Camplify or Indie.
By guided tour: There are a number of day trips to Litchfield National Park from Darwin as well as a few multi-day trips which also visit nearby Kakadu National Park.
→ Book a guided day or multi-day tour of Litchfield National Park from Darwin!
How to Get Around Litchfield National Park
By car: Of course, the easiest way to explore is with your own wheels. We are traveling around the entire country in our campervan for a year and it gives so much freedom to get around. Most of Litchfield National Park's main tourist highlights are located along the paved loop road, however there are a few spots for 4WD such as the Reynolds Track and The Lost City.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Darwin.
By guided tour: If you don't have a vehicle, there are a number of guided tours available to explore Litchfield National Park departing from Darwin either as a day trip or multi-day adventure.
→ Book a guided day or multi-day tour of Litchfield National Park from Darwin!
Where to Stay in Litchfield National Park
It is possible to visit Litchfield National Park as a day trip from Darwin but since there are so many places to swim and explore, I recommend at least two or three days to properly enjoy the park.
Hostel: There is one backpacker's accommodation, the Bunkhouse, located within the Litchfield Tourist Park.
Hotel: There are a few accommodation options in Batchelor, the closest town to the limits of the national park, from where you could drive into the park each day.
→ Check out places to stay to suit your budget and accommodation type in Batchelor.
There is also a luxury stay within the national park at Hideaway Litchfield.
Camping: The most popular way to visit Litchfield National Park is with your own wheels with a campervan, trailer or rooftop tent giving you the ultimate freedom and flexibility to explore.
There is no free camping in Litchfield National Park. There are quite a few paid campsites dotted throughout the park. We chose the Florence 2WD Campground which is next to the Florence Old 4WD Campground but the road to that one has since been paved over so the name is now a bit misleading as 2WDs can also camp there! The Florence 2WD and Old 4WD Campgrounds are ideally located next to the beautiful Florence Falls Waterhole. There are toilets, showers and cooking facilities.
→ Book a campground in Litchfield National Park through the Northern Territory Park Bookings website.
You can also check out the Litchfield Safari Camp which provides a glamping experience in the national park.
Best Things to Do in Litchfield National Park
Litchfield National Park is a popular getaway from Darwin, known for its many places to swim. You can only swim here from May to September due to heat, flooding and the risk of saltwater crocodiles from October to April.
Litchfield National Park incurs park entry fees (or you can visit if you hold an NT Annual Parks Visitor Pass).
Swim in the Florence Falls Waterhole
This was definitely our favourite spot in Litchfield National Park! Florence Falls is a segmented waterfall in two parts with a natural pool at the base of it which you can swim in. There is a short, easy walk of about 15 minutes down a flight of steps to reach the pool. When we visited, wet season was just ending and dry season beginning so the water was gushing strongly making for quite a strong current in the pool to be aware of.
Florence Falls from the top
Hang out in the Buley Rockholes
Buley Rockholes are a series of pretty, natural rock pools where you can hang out in and wade about. Formed over thousands of years, the rockholes were named in 1920 after Norman Buley, a government engineer who was examining river drainage areas.
Be careful as the water can be quite rapid flowing and the rocks very slippery!
Spot Wangi Falls
Wangi Falls is a beautiful waterfall which is perhaps the best-known spot in Litchfield National Park. The falls flow all-year-round but unfortunately the area is also popular with crocodiles! It is possible to swim here when crocodiles are not around, just follow the signage and guidance of NT Parks and Wildlife staff.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
