Litchfield Tours from Darwin

Litchfield National Park is the Top End's waterfall park, about 120 km south-west of Darwin and roughly a 90-minute drive away. Litchfield tours from Darwin turn that drive into a day out with a guide and a driver, swimming stops and lunch, and some swap the coach for a helicopter or a night under canvas. They all sit under our Darwin tours and day trips.

What a Litchfield day trip from Darwin covers

Most of Litchfield's pull is water. Florence Falls drops into a plunge pool shaded by monsoon forest, Buley Rockhole is a run of rock pools you can wade and sit in, and Wangi Falls has a large waterhole at the base of the falls, with camping nearby. Tolmer Falls is a look-but-don't-swim stop, with viewpoints along the sandstone escarpment.

The other drawcard is the termite mounds. Litchfield's magnetic termite mounds are aligned to help regulate their temperature, and some are up to 100 years old. Coach tours add a lunch stop, a short guided nature walk and a visit to the town of Batchelor on the edge of the park, depending on the operator.

Coach tours, helicopter days and overnight safaris to Litchfield

The trip style shapes the day more than the waterfalls do. Pick the pace first, then the stops.

Full-day coach tours from Darwin

Coach tours are the classic way in. A tour like the full-day Litchfield National Park tour with Autopia runs as a 10.5-hour day from The Leea Darwin at 7.30am, with Florence Falls, the magnetic termite mounds, swimming at Buley Rockhole or Wangi Falls, a guided nature walk of about 1 km with stairs, and either Fogg Dam's wetlands or a jumping crocodile cruise on the way. Park entry is included.

The AAT Kings Litchfield day tour with lunch is a 10-hour day from Darwin with hotel transfers, lunch and stops at Florence, Tolmer and Wangi Falls and the town of Batchelor. Coach days suit a swim, so pack accordingly.

Helicopter and airboat day tours

A trip such as the Litchfield helicopter, airboat and wildlife tour spends the day on the floodplains of the Litchfield region instead. It starts at 8.30am, with hotel pick-up from 6.20am, and combines a scenic helicopter flight, an airboat ride, a billabong cruise, a crocodile feeding and a BBQ meal. Expect time in the air and on the water rather than on the walking tracks.

Overnight glamping safaris

For a night in the bush, an option like the overnight glamping safari from Darwin stretches the trip to a 2-day, 1-night stay. It includes a helicopter flight over the floodplains, a 45-minute airboat cruise, a crocodile feeding, a BBQ dinner on an open star deck, a stay in a deluxe tent with a double bed and outdoor shower, and a cooked breakfast the next morning. Self-drivers face a 1.5-hour drive from Darwin plus 7 km of unsealed road to reach the camp, and more detail sits on our Top End Safari Camp page.

Swimming in Litchfield and what to bring

Swimming is allowed at Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole and the Cascades, and not at Tolmer Falls. Conditions change with the season, and the park can close unexpectedly due to bushfires, flooding or maintenance, so tour operators adjust the order of stops or swap a stop when they need to.

Pack swimmers and a towel, a refillable water bottle of about 2 litres, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, tropical-strength insect repellent and walking shoes with closed toes. Coach tours usually limit luggage to a small day bag.

When to visit Litchfield from Darwin

Darwin's dry season, May to October, brings warm sunny days, cooler nights and very little rain, and it's when Litchfield tours run most often. Coach tours leave daily through the dry months and on fewer days of the week from November to April, when the wet season brings heat, humidity and storms.

If you have more days, pair Litchfield with Kakadu tours from Darwin for rock art and wetlands, or Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge tours for gorge cruises, and browse the wider things to do in Darwin.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Litchfield National Park from Darwin?

Litchfield National Park is about 120 km south-west of Darwin, roughly a 90-minute drive. Full-day Litchfield tours from Darwin are 10 to 10.5-hour days, including the drive and several stops.

Can you swim in Litchfield National Park?

Yes. Swimming is allowed at Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole and the Cascades, but not at Tolmer Falls. The park can close without notice for bushfires, flooding or maintenance, so conditions are worth checking before you go.

What should I bring on a Litchfield tour from Darwin?

Bring swimmers and a towel, a 2-litre refillable water bottle, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent and closed-toe walking shoes. Coach tours limit luggage to a small day bag.

What are the magnetic termite mounds in Litchfield?

The magnetic termite mounds in Litchfield National Park are aligned to help regulate their temperature, and some are up to 100 years old. Litchfield tours from Darwin usually stop at them.

Is there an overnight Litchfield tour from Darwin?

Yes. The Overnight Glamping Safari from Darwin is a 2-day, 1-night trip, with a helicopter flight, an airboat cruise, a crocodile feeding, a BBQ dinner and a night in a deluxe tent in the Litchfield region.

When is the best time to take a Litchfield tour from Darwin?

The dry season, May to October, is the best time for Litchfield tours from Darwin, with warm sunny days and daily coach departures. Tours run on fewer days from November to April, when the wet season brings heat, humidity and storms.

Are Litchfield day tours suitable for young children?

It depends on the tour. The full-day Litchfield tour with Autopia isn't suitable for infants or children aged 5 and under, and it needs a moderate level of fitness, so check the tour page for the age policy before booking.

Litchfield works best as a full-day trip with swimming at the centre of it, so choose the pace you want and book it before you fill the rest of your Darwin week. The wider list of tours from Darwin has the other national parks.