If you love waterfalls and lush surroundings, beautiful gorges and nature in all its glory and mystery - then prepare for heaven. Situated only 130kms from
Darwin,
Litchfield National Park is one of the most spectacular and accessible National Parks in the "Top End". While the majority of the park is sealed and of good gravel quality, there are a couple of excellent 4WD alternatives that take you to some of the lesser know areas of Litchfield. It's possible to take in Litchfield NP in a day, but if you have the time, then its definitely worth exploring around. If you're travelling in the park, especially in the peak season of May to October, don't be surprised if the major attractions in the park are extremely popular.
How to Use this Trek Note
If you'd like to download this Trek there are two options:
- Purchase our app ExplorOz Traveller. This Australian-made GPS & Navigation app will allow you to download all the ExplorOz Treks to your GPS enabled smartphone/tablet/iPad or laptop and enable active route guidance along the route as per the Directions shown on this page. The app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. The app also allows you to edit/customise the route. Viewing the Trek in the Traveller app also includes all the words, images and POIs exactly as on the website (excludes Wildflowers). For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage.
- Alternatively, if you already have another raster mapping software program you can Download this route in GPX format using the button shown below the map on this page .
TIP | To purchase our maps for offline use, you will need to purchase the EOTopo 2021 map licence. To install the maps you will need the ExplorOz Traveller app. |
Environment
Litchfield National Park is a very integral part of the Northern Territory’s network of conservation
reserves. The park covers approximately 1,500 square kilometres and features
sandstone plateaus, tropical
woodlands, paperbark and monsoon forests, gorges, waterfalls, creeks, floodplains and much more. It has a high diversity of plants and animals including around twenty plant species and a dozen animal species.
Like just about
all places there are hazards and
Litchfield National Park is no exception. Please use caution and observe Park safety signs, swim only where recommended and observe warning signs.
Estuarine crocodiles also known as Saltwater crocodiles live in the top end of Australia and management practises reduces the risk of these reptiles entering popular areas such as
Wangi Falls. Prior to opening the
Falls each year, surveys are conducted and crocs are trapped and removed when detected. Please report sightings to Park Rangers and do not risk entering areas that are closed.
History
The history of Litchfield begins with the Wagiat Aboriginal people who lived here for thousand of years supported by a rich environment which provided plenty of bush tucker and materials for shelter and bush medicine.
The first European discovery of the area was in 1864 with the Finnis Expedition. The park was named after a member of this expedition, Fredrick Henry Litchfield, who believed the area offered enormous prosperity and settled here.
From 1889, copper and tin were mined at Bamboo Creek and Mt Tolmer for ten years and later parts of the area were used for pastoral leases. In the late 1960's, 4WD tracks were pushed through to a number of
falls. In 1986, increasing visitors to the area results in the establishment of
Litchfield National Park.
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