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If you’re in the mood for a Top End escape brimming with natural beauty, but still easy enough to reach, Litchfield National Park is one of the Northern Territory's gems. Roughly a 1.5‑hour drive from Darwin and BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park, the park packs in rainforest waterfalls, spring-fed swimming holes, open woodlands, and one of the most fascinating landscapes you can find: mighty termite mounds standing like silent guardians over the plains.
Whether you're chasing a refreshing swim, a scenic stroll, or just the kind of nature that feels ancient and alive, Litchfield delivers on all fronts.
Florence Falls & Upper Cascades
Towering over monsoon forest and carved rock, Florence Falls offers a dramatic twin‑tiered waterfall that plunges into a deep, crystal-clear pool, a perfect watering hole after a bushwalk. There’s a lookout for photographers and a plunge pool at the base for swimmers.
Getting there is straightforward: sealed roads lead to the car park, then you can choose between a short walk to a viewing platform or the stair‑and‑path route down to the pool — roughly 160 steps or a 1 km rainforest walk.
After your dip, stroll along the shady creek and rainforest trail to soak up the peaceful vibes.
Magnetic (and cathedral) termite mounds
It’s not all water here: one of the park’s most iconic sights is the vast field of towering, magnetic termite mounds, some up to two metres high, that stretch across open woodland. These mounds are thousands of years in the making, aligned on a north–south axis to regulate internal temperature.
A short boardwalk near the turn‑off makes them easy to explore, curious, ancient, and starkly beautiful. It’s one of the most unique landscapes you’ll see in the Top End.
Swimming holes, rainforest & waterfall variety
Beyond Florence Falls, Litchfield is home to multiple waterfalls, plunge pools and swimming holes perfect after a morning bushwalk. From gentle strolls to short hikes, there’s something for everyone.
The combination of rainforest, sandstone escarpments and lush waterfalls makes this park one of the best all‑rounder national parks in northern Australia.
Final word: Experience the magic of Litchfield
Litchfield National Park isn’t about one big highlight it’s a tapestry of moments: rainfall on leaves, waterfalls echoing through deep gorges, darters in plunge pools, and termite mounds that seem from another planet.
If you’re staying in the region, whether at BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park or Darwin base, this is one destination you’ll want to carve time out for. It’s nature, it’s wild, and it’s everything you’d hope for on a northern adventure.
Go explore waterfalls. Go swim under rainforest cliffs. Go wander among termite mounds. Go to Litchfield.