AU · Northern Territory · 13.28°S 130.88°E

litchfield national park

Waterfall pools, monsoon forest and tall termite mounds close to Darwin.

Best time
May–September is the dry season, when most swimming spots and roads are open. December–March brings full, roaring waterfalls but closed pools and some flooded roads.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly to Darwin with one stop, usually via Singapore, about 8–10 hours all in. Batchelor, the gateway town, is about 1.5 hours' drive south. Darwin is 1.5 hours ahead of KL all year.
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AU · Northern Territorylitchfield national park13.28°S 130.88°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Waterfall pools, monsoon forest and tall termite mounds close to Darwin.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingLitchfield National ParkAU, Northern Territory
KLlitchfield national park
≈ 3,703 km from KL, as the crow flies
Wangi Falls in Litchfield NP (NT)

Photo: Bäras · CC BY-SA 3.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Litchfield packs waterfalls, plunge pools and giant termite mounds into a small park about an hour and a half from Darwin. It works as a long day trip, but a night near Batchelor gets you to the pools before the tour buses.

Makan

  1. Cool-box picnicSandwiches, fruit and cold water for the picnic areas by the falls.Map ↗
  2. Batchelor stopThe gateway town has a store and a couple of cafés for a meal before or after the park.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Florence FallsTwin falls dropping into a deep, forest-ringed plunge pool at the bottom of a long flight of steps.Map ↗
  2. Buley RockholeA string of small cascades and rock pools, the easiest swim in the park.Map ↗
  3. Wangi FallsTwo falls pouring into a big, open pool, with monsoon forest walks around it.Map ↗
  4. Magnetic termite moundsFlat, gravestone-like mounds all lined up north–south, beside towering cathedral mounds.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Litchfield needs the Northern Territory parks pass; a Kakadu pass doesn't cover it.
  • Swim only where signs say a pool is open; Wangi can stay closed for crocodile checks long after the rain stops.
  • Halal food is scarce outside Darwin, so pack a cool box there.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.