Australia So Much to See

Litchfield National Park - We see 'magnetic' termite mounds, tin mine ruins at Bamboo Creek, and walk along Walker Creek

First we had to get to Litchfield.  Heading south from Darwin, we turned of the Stuart Highway towards Bachelor.  This small town was once market gardens, a WWII camp (which was bombed by the Japanese) and in the 1950s the centre of the Rum Jungle Uranium Mining industry; the first Uranium mine in Australia. We drove into the Rum Jungle picnic and boating area, where a large former open cut mine has been filled with water to form a recreational lake. 

Like a graveyard of tombstones, a stand of “magnetic” termites mounds all lined up certainly give the impression of an old cemetery. 

Soon after entering Litchfield National Park, we stopped at a viewing area for the well known “magnetic” termite mounds.  They are made of light grey clay and are flat on a north south axis aligned according to the Earth’s magnetic fields, to maintain the climate at a constant temperature inside the mound.  The north of Australia is the only place in the world where this phenomenon is known to occur.  There are other places in the park where stands of magnetic termite mounds can be found but this viewing area has easy all seasons access and a boardwalk.  The stands of mounds occur on floodplains which flood in the wet season and are hot and parched in the dry.  Other species of termites go underground to escape the extremes of temperature, but due to the nature of their environment which floods in summer, they cannot retreat undergound hence use the shape and direction of the mounds to moderate the temperature inside the mounds.  Read more about "magnetic" termite mounds here

Litchfield National Park comprises 1,500 square kilometres of diverse environments including rugged sandstone landscapes, monsoon rainforest, plains where magnetic termite mounds are found, perennial streams and waterfalls, and historic ruins from mining and pastoral station days.  With many features are accessible to all vehicles via bitumen roads, some part require a high clearance four wheel drive and are only accessible seasonally.  The National Park was declared in 1986.  There are several Parks campgrounds within the Park with only Wangi Falls designated as suitable for caravans.  Generators are not permitted in the campgrounds. Pets are not permitted in the park.  There are several private camping options near the park. 

Planning to stay at the Wangi Falls campground, we headed through the Park via the wide bitumen road, but were disappointed to find the crowded campground had no vacant sites to accommodate a rig our size, and most sites were not suited to larger caravans with the dreaded bollards.  Wangi Falls campground is well serviced with hot showers.  This proved to be lucky, because we moved on to the private Litchfield Safari Camp just outside of the National Park only four kilometres away and found a quiet spot in a bush environment on the outskirts of the park.  Basic amenities of hot showers and laundry were provided as well as an above ground swimming pool.  Powered sites were available with power from an on-site generator.  We did not need power so were able to move right away from the main camping area.  It cost a few dollars more than the National Park campground at Wangi, but the privacy and environment suited us better than the campground near the falls.  We called at Wangi Falls on the way home from each day’s touring to cool down with a swim. 

Swim only in designated safe areas when the pools are open after the wet season and when declared crocodile safe.  Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole, Wangi Falls, Walker Creek, Cascades, Tjaynera Falls and Surprise Creek Falls are all considered safe in season; watch for signage and do not swim if closed.  Cascades is a new area between Wangi Falls and Walker Creek opened to the public in 2010, subsequent to our visit.  Do not enter the water at Reynolds River.  Some areas are sacred to Aboriginals and swimming is not permitted.  Swimming is not permitted above or below Tolmer Falls, although a tour group was cooling down in the water above the falls as this is permitted under the supervision of certain tour operators.  Swimming is not permitted at Greenant Creek. 

From our turn around point, the trail continues on with the 39 kilometre Tabletop loop track, with additional link walks into Walker Creek,Florence Falls, Greenant Creek and Wangi Falls.  Allow three to five days for the full circuit, which is classified as moderate to difficult.  The track is normally closed between September and March for the wet season.  Walkers must carry a topographical map and the detailed topographic map of the area ‘Australia’s Northern Territory Litchfield National Park’ is one recommend that can be purchased from the Batchelor General Store.  You must obtain a permit prior to overnight hiking and camp only in the three designated camping spots where pit toilets are provided along the Tabletop Track.  Permits can be obtained from the Parks and Wildlife Office in Batchelor. Overnight walkers are strongly urged to register with the Overnight Walker Registration Scheme by calling 1300 650 730. Day walkers should advise someone of their intended route and expected return time.

The first day at Litchfield National Park we viewed the magnetic termite mounds, visited the old Bamboo Creek tin mine site and took the walk trail along Walker Creek.

An early start on the second day took in Blyth Homestead, Tjaynera (Sandy Creek), Greenant Creek walk to Tjaetaba Falls and concluding the day with a welcome cooling swim at Wangi Falls plunge pool. 

On our third day we went early to Buley Rockhole and on to Florence Falls.  Then we took the four wheel drive track into the Lost City. A short visit to the Tabletop Swamp was followed by the loop walk at Tolmer Falls.  We concluded the day with a walk over the top of Wangi Falls and another refreshing swim in the plunge pool.