Litchfield National Park

14 May

Wangi Falls

We left Katherine after replenishing supplies and headed for Douglas Springs and had travelled about 35km down a rough road before we came across a road sign telling us Douglas Springs was closed. Upon further advice from the local caravan park we found out that the recent rains coupled with the discovery of a saltwater crocodile  had forced the closure. This may be a place we come to on our return south. Litchfield National Park was the next place we were to visit and being only another couple of hours away we decided to head straight there. Wangi Falls in the park has a camping area and being the only one with hot showers (we were to find out later they were luke warm) and limited sites it fills up reasonably early. As luck would have it we managed to secure a site and, after setting up our camper trailer, went on a hike that circles the falls and takes in some lovely views at it's highest point.

15 May

Thomas and Declan at Tolmer Falls Lookout

Our first stop in discovering Litchfield National Park today was Tolmer Falls. This was only a short walk so we decided to take in Tolmer Creek as well. Tolmer Falls is the more rewarding walk but the creek walk is about 1.2km through some very peaceful woodlands before emerging at the creek and looping back toward the carpark.

The magnetic termite mounds were our next stop. These amazing species of termite only build their mounds facing north-south so that they warm up in the morning before having only the smallest area of the mound facing the sun during the hottest part of the day. This keeps their nest at a very constant temperature.

Buley Rockhole

From there the next three places we went to Tom and Declan had a ball - Buley Rockhole, Florence Falls and The Cascades at Curtain Falls. Buley Rockhole is a series of waterholes of varying depth where you can jump off rocks or just swim in the rapidly flowing water. The boys were very sad to leave after spending over an hour jumping off the rocks.

Florence Falls

Florence Falls has a picnic area and this is where we decided to have lunch before heading down to the plunge pool. Like all the waterholes we have encountered the water was crystal clear and quite cool but refreshing and teeming with fish. Here we were swimming with small Barramundi which were quite inquisitive and would come up and swim between your legs.

The Cascades

The last attraction we visited today was The Cascades. The walk from the carpark to the lower cascades starts off through arid woodlands before turning into a monsoonal rainforest meandering along the river bed and crossing it a few times through the water. We had bought some wetsuit boots in Mataranka and these were priceless in hiking over rocks and gravel paths before walking through the river over slippery rocks. We stopped on numerous occasions to swim and jump off rocks and to swim through the waterfalls to the rock face. The walk back to the carpark took us uphill and back into the arid woodlands which was quite a contrast to the lush rainforest near the river.

Upon leaving The Cascades the boys were quite relieved after a big day that we were not far from camp - only 5 minutes. After cooking once again on the BBQ provided by the National Park Linda showed us how to make damper on a stick over a camp fire . What a fitting end to an action packed day.