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
- To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.
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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