Florence Falls Waterhole in Litchfield National Park
If you’re planning a trip to the Northern Territory, one spot you simply can’t miss is Florence Falls and its inviting swimming hole & Lookout in Litchfield National Park. With twin cascades plunging into an inviting pool surrounded by monsoon forest, it’s one of the most iconic and refreshing places to cool off after exploring the Top End.
For first-time visitors, though, the questions start piling up: How difficult is the hiking trail to get there? What’s the best time of year to visit? And are there other walking tracks nearby worth adding to your itinerary?
Having visited Florence Falls a couple of times, In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Florence Falls. Along with other trails linking to Shady Creek and beyond, you can easily make a full day out of your visit.
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How to get to Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park
Florence Falls is located (please see direction Map HERE) at the top end of the Northern Territory, about 1.5 hours drive south from Darwin.
The Park covers 1500 km2 and is named after Frederick Litchfield. Did you know that he travelled there in 1864 from South Australia, with a plan to explore the Top End and establish a settlement here?
Every time I’ve visited Darwin, I’ve always found it easier to hire a car to get around. And sites like Litchfield National Park will be better on your own time schedule. Not only that but with all the other things to see and do around Darwin, it will be better with the convenience.
➡Find your favourite brand & compare prices for your Rental Car HERE
While there are some areas of Litchfield National Park that will require a four-wheel drive vehicle, it’s lucky that Florence Falls isn’t one of them.
The National Park is one of the Top Ends’ most visited sites attracting over 300,000 visitors per year. It’s filled with lots of things to see and do, including the Magnetic Termite Mounds, Historic Ruins, forests, and the fantastic swimming holes we are discussing today.
Don’t have your own vehicle?
If you don’t have your own vehicle to get to Florence Falls, there are a few organised tours leaving Darwin every day.
➡ Find Litchfield tours HERE with GYG, or HERE with Viator.
I think tours are great way to see sites of the Australian countryside, provides local knowledge and take the worry out of the logistics. But you can certainly get there easy enough on your own!
Darwin has a public Bus system, which you can find more information about here. Although, it’s use is only around the Darwin or Palmerston region and won’t get you to Florence Falls.
I haven’t used this Bus service before, so I can’t comment on how good it is, but I’m sure it’s suitable for those with a strict budget.
How long is the walk & Difficulty?
Florence Falls has two areas:
- The Lookout point is only 120 metres walk (About 5 minutes),
- but the waterfall and plunge pool is 430 metres walk (about 30 minutes) one way.
Clearly, the lookout point can be viewed by just about anyone, but it’s the 140 stairs down to the bottom that could deter a few people, especially trying to get back up.
Visiting the falls is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon and cool down from the NT’s humid weather. You’ll get to experience the dramatic landscape of the tropical Top End first-hand, including stunning views across the monsoon forest and rugged escarpment.
Ensure you take everything you need for the next couple of hours, even if you don’t intend to spend much time down there. This includes water, snacks, a hat, a towel, and sunscreen, and you should already be wearing your swimming costume(no change rooms down there).
Although there are 140 stairs you must climb down to reach the waterfall and swimming area, these stairs aren’t too strenuous and are a reasonably quick to use for most hikers.
So overall, although there may be stairs, the walk isn’t overly difficult or challenging. But, I would recommend wearing closed-in shoes for the hike, mainly for safety and protect your feet from obstructions.
➡ Find Litchfield tours HERE with GYG, or HERE with Viator.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit is in the dry season, which runs from May to October, with less rain and generally warm days in the Top end. Not only that, but less crocodiles around and brilliant swimming weather.
The wet season in the Northern Territory runs from November to April over the summer period. This will have your hotter days, but also the most rainfall as this tends to wash out streams and plunge pools. I have some average temperatures and Rainfall here as a guide:
FAQ’s – Common Questions
How big is the Waterfall?
The actual Florence waterfall is an impressive 30-metre vertical drop into a serene water hole. While 30 metres may not seem like much, the excess Northern Territory Rainfall and the canyon walls make for a stunning site.
This is one of the reasons why I love swimming in Litchfield National Park, with the raw, untouched nature and the power of mother nature.
Are there bathrooms?
There are no bathrooms at the waterhole or plunge pool (down the bottom), but there is a national park environmental toilet in the car park. So it’s best to use these before making your way down to the bottom of the falls.
Is it free to visit?
Yes, it’s free to visit and swim, and one of the best experiences from Darwin. But it will require transport or tour costs, to reach the National Park. However, I think it’s an absolutely incredible location for the budget-conscious traveller!
Are there Crocodiles?
Sorry to say, but both saltwater and freshwater Crocodiles can be present in all the waters around Litchfield National Park. While this is a random occurrence, it’s more likely to happen during the high rainy season or summertime from December to March.
That being said, Florence Falls has had fewer issues with crocodiles and, apart from the Buley Rockhole, is one of the safest areas to swim. If you have any hesitation, please check with the Tourist Information Centre in the park (near Wangi Falls) for the most up-to-date advice.
Generally, signs will be erected near the waterholes if there are suspected crocodiles, so please look out for these. I have been to Wangi Falls twice in the last few years, and both times it was closed.
Safety Tips!
This is wild swimming, and you need to take care of your own safety and others around you. Please take the below into consideration when visiting:
- Never jump off the rocks into the waterhole.
- Do not swim in areas in Northern Territory without a “Swimming Allowed” Sign, or at least check with tourist info before hand.
- Be aware that Crocodiles can be swimming in freshwater areas in Northern Territory.
- Don’t swim in any waters after extreme flooding.
- Wear closed-in shoes on walking tracks.
- Carry a small first aid kit.
- Take plenty of water, a few snacks, and wear sunscreen.
- Always keep children within viewing distance.
- Never via off-the-formed tracks.
- Stay within fenced areas.
- Be aware of wildlife and stay away from dangerous animals.
- Leave only footprints and take only photos. Take all rubbish with you.
- Don’t destroy the natural environment.
- Know your own limits.
- Don’t swim alone, and don’t put yourself or others at risk.
- Always read and heed on-site information and signs.
- For all emergencies, call (000).
Other Waterfalls & Hiking Trails Nearby?
Buley Rockhole
Buley Rockhole is just a quick 5 minutes drive away and another popular swimming hole. But instead, has several different rock pools cascading into each other. This is a lot shallower and a better spot to take young children and interesting enough that the water here eventually joins to other streams and ends up forming Florence Falls.
If you are feeling energetic, there is a hike from Buley Rockhole to Florence Falls (or vice versa). It’s graded as a leisurely 3.2 kilometres walking trail return, taking roughly 1.5 hours.
Wangi Falls
It takes about 25 minutes to drive Wangi Falls, and it’s sometimes a great alternative when there is no hiking needed to get to the falls for swimming.
However, this waterhole does close more under heavy rain. But conveniently, there is a kiosk, Tourist Information Centre, toilet, and Barbeque Facilities.
Tip: Bring a pool noodle or a donut to help you stay afloat in the water.
Apart from the waterfalls in Litchfield National Park, you can set off on an adventure and trek some of the walking trails in the area. I have some of them listed below with distances and how long they take, but you can find out more HERE with maps.
Tolmer Creek Walk
- Distance: 1.5 Kilometres
- Time: 45 Minutes
- Grade: 3 – Moderate
Shady Creek Walk
- Distance: 1 Kilometre One Way
- Time: 30 Minutes
- Grade: 3 – Moderate
Florence Creek Walk
- Distance: 3.2 Kilometres Return
- Time: 1.5 hours
- Grade: 2 – Easy
Wangi Falls Walk
- Distance: 1.6 Kilometres return
- Time: 1 Hour
- Grade: 3 – Moderate
Tjaetaba Falls Walk
- Distance: 2.7 Kilometres return
- Time: 1.5 Hours
- Grade: 3 – Moderate
Lower Cascades Walk
- Distance: 2.6 Kilometres return
- Time: 1.5 Hours
- Grade: 4 – Moderate to difficult
Upper Cascades Walk
- Distance: 3.3 Kilometres return(Dry Season), 3.6 Kilometres return(wet Season)
- Time: 2 Hours
- Grade: 4 – Moderate to difficult
Walker Creek Walk
- Distance: 3.5 Kilometres return
- Time: 2 Hours
- Grade: 3 – Moderate
Where to Stay?
When travelling to Darwin, there are plenty of options for accommodation. If you want something comfortable yet budget-friendly, you can never go wrong with the array of motels and hotels across the city. Plus, many offer free parking and breakfasts, so make sure that you research these amenities when booking.
➡ Find Darwin Accommodation HERE with Booking.com
Of course, if you’re after a luxury retreat, there are plenty of high-end resorts available. We stayed at a number of places like the Mindel Beach Resort, Hilton Garden Inn, and the Poinciana Inn.
Wrap up & Read More!
Thanks for reading this blog post today on exploring Florence Falls in Litchfield national park. I hope you found what you were looking for, but if you’re still researching, please check out my other Northern Territory Blogs for inspiration.
