visited Nov 2016
LITCHFIELD's fabulous FLORENCE FALLS together with PLUNGE POOL.
Most people know KAKADU is a "SHOULD SEE" when visiting the TOP END. But manyknowledgible folks state LITCHFIELD is as good. Lotsa locals claim LITCHFIELD is meliorate (more on that later). So I made sure a LITCHFIELD TRIP was on my trip the calorie-free fantastic card.
LOCATION
LITCHFIELD NP on the left has an eastern entrance on ROUTE thirty abt 120km from DARWIN (you tin also come upwardly inward from the northward but that route has unsealed route - sometimes closed inward moisture season) - for a goodness sealed route all the way, instruct out downward the Hwy1/STUART Hwy 92km to the Route thirty BATCHELOR/LITCHFIELD turnoff. Follow ROUTE thirty 8 km to BATHCHELOR together with so some other 14km to the PARK ENTRANCE.
The to a higher house paradigm is a goodness for the relative sizes of LITCHFIELD together with KAKADU (at right). Now wonder KAKADU tin offering everything LITCHFIELD has, addition a lot more.
Note NITMILUK NP to the due south - almost as large as LITCHFIELD: this is the site of the fabulous KATHERINE (NITMILUK) GORGE, some other of my TOP END "should sees".
(image Brookes Commonwealth of Australia Tours)
A usefully detailed map of LITHCHFIELD tin go seen ON THIS PAGE
As a bottom budget traveler I researched best value. I took WAYOUTBACK's ONE DAY LITCHFIELD TOUR. Viator and TripAdvisor remove maintain this on their sites, although they don't shout out the operator.
The tour exceeded my expectations inward a large way – as the to the lowest degree expensive of many online I wasn’t expecting a lot, but afterwards I’m finding it hard to shout out back what the others tin do meliorate for oft a hell of a lot to a greater extent than money.
Most people know KAKADU is a "SHOULD SEE" when visiting the TOP END. But manyknowledgible folks state LITCHFIELD is as good. Lotsa locals claim LITCHFIELD is meliorate (more on that later). So I made sure a LITCHFIELD TRIP was on my trip the calorie-free fantastic card.
LOCATION
The to a higher house paradigm is a goodness for the relative sizes of LITCHFIELD together with KAKADU (at right). Now wonder KAKADU tin offering everything LITCHFIELD has, addition a lot more.
Note NITMILUK NP to the due south - almost as large as LITCHFIELD: this is the site of the fabulous KATHERINE (NITMILUK) GORGE, some other of my TOP END "should sees".
(image Brookes Commonwealth of Australia Tours)
A usefully detailed map of LITHCHFIELD tin go seen ON THIS PAGE
As a bottom budget traveler I researched best value. I took WAYOUTBACK's ONE DAY LITCHFIELD TOUR. Viator and TripAdvisor remove maintain this on their sites, although they don't shout out the operator.
The tour exceeded my expectations inward a large way – as the to the lowest degree expensive of many online I wasn’t expecting a lot, but afterwards I’m finding it hard to shout out back what the others tin do meliorate for oft a hell of a lot to a greater extent than money.
Maybe their vehicles are to a greater extent than comfortable although our small-scale aircon autobus was non painful. 
Ain't a Merc, ain't 4wd, but our Toyota minibus did the chore well.
Some other operator's vehicles may go 4wd which allows access to dirt route venues – but I’m non aware nosotros missed whatever SHOULD SEES the guide books mention.
Perhaps others' nutrient is meliorate – non that our luncheon was lacking inward quantity/taste (although forenoon together with afternoon tea was NOT included: nosotros had the choice to buy same at ane of the several roadhouse stops. But is this worth many extra dollar?)
I know for a fact that some of the to a greater extent than expensive tours include a halt on the way downward at ane of the JUMPING CROC places.
These are fantabulous but burn downward fourth dimension pregnant that you lot may see ane less venue at LITCHFIELD itself – if 2 instead of three swimming spots is non of import this may go no bad thing: me, I’m a super keen swimmer addition I discovery sitting inward a cool puddle of burbling clear H2O ane of the meliorate things to do to a greater extent than than twice on a 40C day. Besides I’d already done a JUMPING CROC CRUISE as utilization of my KAKADU trip.
So I’m giving this ane five stars for value.
It gets five stars for commentary/leadership likewise – tour leader JOEY was excellent, with interesting together with oft humorous data kickoff inward Darwin. His noesis of flora/fauna/geology was firstly charge per unit of measurement (bit of an goodness on bush tucker which he had us seek out – the light-green ants were pretty good), he was no slouch on preparing dinner spell nosotros soaked inward a cool puddle - together with for the nervous he was a careful driver.
He had a affair nigh how bang-up early on moisture flavor is inward the TOP END. Thing is it isn’t really moisture at all – my three weeks inward the portion saw pelting (short sharp) on three days entirely – 80% sunshine. It rained peradventure 10 nights – short, abrupt again. “TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS!” said Joey. He pointed out other advantages – the crowds are way down: oft the large automobile green at FLORENCE FALLS is packed out inward high season: nosotros had no problems fifty-fifty on a dainty Sat when lots of Darwin residents seemed to remove maintain decided a cool puddle at waterfall’s base of operations is the house to go on a hot day.
I noticed some other addition – plenty of walk inward vacancies at accommodation, tours etc oft with goodness depression flavor discounts. And this is the fourth dimension for inexpensive flights into DARWIN - from Sydney was less than $100 each way.
The downsides include some trips having to go rescheduled because of non plenty takers on the master copy engagement (as did mine), some trips non running at all, together with some venues existence closed (seems to a greater extent than mutual inward KAKADU).
The downsides include some trips having to go rescheduled because of non plenty takers on the master copy engagement (as did mine), some trips non running at all, together with some venues existence closed (seems to a greater extent than mutual inward KAKADU).
The trip venues charge per unit of measurement highly likewise – the MAGNETIC TERMITE MOUNDS, WANGI FALLS, FLORENCE FALLS, BULEY ROCKHOLE are all "should sees" according to the guide books - although I was non whelmed past times the first. These addition several stops at roadhouses along the way brand for an informative but non likewise rushed day. Note all these places are accessed past times sealed route pregnant the tour tin run correct thru moisture season. As said, some of the to a greater extent than expensive tours may utilization a 4wd vehicle allowing access to some of the many 4wd dirt tracks of Litchfield – a few had interesting finish signs (viewpoints etc) although I’m non aware that whatever are SHOULD SEES
TRIP ROUTE AND VENUES - nosotros went along thirty to theTERMITE MOUNDS, so straight to WANGI FALLS, after - retracing our steps to FLORENCE FALLS together with nearby BULEY ROCKHOLES together with so dorsum to DARWIN thru BATCHELOR .
BTW - R30 doesn't cease simply past times the WANGI turn-off: it continues north, becoming unsealed inward parts, together with exits the green abt 20km on. It so runs northward roughly 70km (still many unsealed sections) where it joins principal route B24 (COX PENINSULA RD) which to the correct (east) runs abt 30km across to Hhw1 entirely 45km due south of DARWIN CBD.
Alternatively, you lot tin plough SOUTH off thirty at its most southern indicate simply brusk of WANGI together with bounce abt 45km downward the dirt 4wd SOUTHERN ACCESS TRACK for abt 45km joining DALY RIVER ROAD (28) - instruct out E abt 50km (mostly sealed) to DORAT RD (23) - plough left together with instruct out abt 30km to ADELAIDE RIVER. DARWIN CBD is 112km northward via Hwy1.
btw - the distance mark nigh the intersection of HWY1 together with thirty should read 92km - likewise hard to alter ane time map is posted.
THE TRIP
0700
Then onto Hwy1 for the trip due south - JOEY was already on the PA with data nigh DARWIN, lifestyles of locals, major features along the way. Plenty of humour.
Turned correct onto R30 after nigh 70mins. Another 10 mins saw us inward the town of BATCHELOR. This is the closest to the green for resort/motel type accommodation as far as I know.
We called at a dainty aircon roadhouse to buy some forenoon tea.
PARK ENTRANCE
MAGNETIC TERMITE MOUNDS
Note dissimilar type of mound. Check out JOEY far correct middle-ground - he was goodness at explaining mound construction together with differences.....
Northern Territory National Parks has lay a lot of endeavour into this spot. There is a pull-off loop to the correct of the principal route (if you lot are heading into the park) with side past times side parking spots, residual rooms, some picnic facilities addition a boardwalk together with viewing platforms to assist mound inspections. Instruction panels inward an data shelter explicate structures etc but non as good as JOEY.
I was a chip underwhelmed with this spot. I reckon the mounds are worth a quick halt – both for their mildly interesting appearance together with as a goodness driving pause heading from park-entrance to the meliorate attractions. But I would non instruct out out of my way to run into them.
Maybe the fact I remove maintain seen termite mounds inward the Aussie bush many times, including at KAKADU the calendar week before, dampened my enthusiasm – silent I remove maintain to acknowledge that KAKADU’S mound expanse did non remove maintain the hundreds of structures of MAGNETIC which kinda makes it a mound “city”. And I don’t shout out back I’ve seen 4m high mounds before. Nor the diverseness of construction types inward the ane place.
LOST CITY
Um....we didn't instruct out to the actual LOST CITY because it is a considerable distance off the principal route along a crude oil dirt track. So nosotros stopped at a similar expanse amongst R30 a niggling farther on from the termite mounds.
Here depression granite cliffs remove maintain weathered together with eroded to give a sort of ANGKOR WAT effect. Once ane time to a greater extent than I was undewhelmed - I promise the existent bargain is meliorate together with worth the bouncy thirty min ane way trip off the principal road. But no worries, the to a higher house was some other peril to stretch the legs, together with the best was yet to come....
WANGI FALLS
- pretty fantabulous place, but non the best (this came later): inward fact I charge per unit of measurement WANGI my #3 LITCHFIELD attraction.
I dunno id you lot tin see, but the entrance to WANGI FALLS PLUNGE POOL is a laid of steps, way meliorate than at its competitor, FLORENCE FALLS. You are looking to a higher house at a genuinely large puddle - I reckon it was at to the lowest degree a 150m swim across to the twin falls - fantabulous places to sit down below the torrent fer a gratuitous H2O massage. There was plenty shallow H2O nigh the steps for our non-swimming guests to instruct wet.
Did I state a pretty large pool? Picture should click-expand nicely.
School excursion poses fer the happy snap.
WANGI LOGISTICS
WANGI is abt 17km farther on from our halt to banking concern check out the LOST CITY-like granite cliffs - 165km from DARWIN, 82 off the STUART Hwy together with 68km from BATCHELOR.
GOOGLE EARTH paradigm showing:
-the POOL ACCESS TRACK from the automobile park: fairly brusk (abt 150m) together with flat.
- the brusk (less than 2km) ACCESS ROAD from R30 - this is sealed, but may overflowing after large moisture flavor rains. Check ahead.
- the LOOP WALK: a 1.7km/35 minutes circuitous path starting poolside together with going up/behind the falls. Unfortunately when I visited it was partially closed non far past times the branch to the VIEWING PLATFORM which gives a dainty alternative outlook of the falls/pool.
- the nearby VISITORS’ CENTRE with eats/coffee, gratuitous wifii, the common local data together with displays (including some cultural materials on master copy inhabitants) addition touristy junk for sale.
- the CAMPGROUND at WANGI is fairly big, unopen to the puddle together with suitable for vans.
FORENCE FALLS
MY #2 LITCHFIELD LOCATION. I prefered it over WANGI because it was to a greater extent than spectacular together with had to a greater extent than variety.
MORE SPECTACULAR
Great overview from a viewing platform on the principal access rail to the puddle abt 150m from the carpark - before reaching the rather steep stairway.
MORE VARIETY 1
I charge per unit of measurement the 135 measuring stairway to the plunge puddle a addition - but I'm an do nut. Less fit people may go less than impressed: all is non lost - you lot remove maintain that bang-up overview before reaching the stairs together with some genuinely dainty stone holes upwardly the top for a cool soak on a hot day.
The puddle itself is non as large as at WANGI - an payoff for poorer swimmers who fancy a H2O massage nether the falls. I'm a keen swimmer - I constitute at that spot was silent plenty of H2O for a goodness workout. There seemed to a greater extent than shallow H2O unopen to the entrance for non-swimmers.
A disadvantage - entry to the H2O was a chip difficult. Fairly narrow with tricky rocks underfoot. Seemed a chip confined fifty-fifty with a moderate crowd on a lovely early on moisture flavor twenty-four hours (lotsa day-trippers seemed to remove maintain come upwardly downward from DARWIN).
MORE VARIETY 2
Up the top, virtually side past times side the automobile green (a chip east) were three or 4 dainty ROCKHOLES - bang-up for cooling downward inward the oestrus (and early on moisture flavor sure is hot!)
MORE VARIETY 3
TUCKER TIME - Joey spent the fourth dimension nosotros had at the waterfall together with rock-holes setting upwardly tiffin inward the picnic shelters nigh the automobile park. The common Aussie excursion luncheon - BBQ sausages together with steaks, plenty of salad, breadstuff etc - unlimited water, Went downward existent well.
Now I'm cheating hither inferring picnic facilities are unique to FLORENCE - all our venues had same. But the timing hither was perfect to lay on the olfactory organ bag.
MORE VARIETY 3
My #1 LITCHFIELD LOCATION - the BULEY ROCKHOLES are entirely 2km farther upwardly the creek so you lot tin knock over 2 bang-up venues at the ane halt past times taking the connecting bush track. Of class you lot tin retrace your drive along the access route to BULEY's automobile park.
GETTTING TO FLORENCE
From WANGI nosotros went dorsum onto thirty together with retraced our drive 22km to the sealed side route into FLORENCE (5km) together with BULEY (3km). This makes the final 2 closer to DARWIN/BATCHELOR for the time-short. Another payoff - I've heard the access route is less probable to go cutting after heavy prolonged rain. than that into WANGI.
Flornce layout. Not existent clear - but at that spot is a 4wd campground simply out of paradigm TOP RIGHT.
I noticed NT NATIONAL PARKS remove maintain lay inward a novel overflow car-park inward side past times side the access route from R30 directly E of image.
BULEY ROCKHOLDES - my #1 LITCHFIELD VENUE.
This house is a jewel - what nosotros remove maintain is a bunch (a one-half a dozen+) small/medium pools along 400m of creek - some are simply deep plenty for sitting, some you lot demand to go able to tread H2O - but none large plenty to swim distances. People who wanna do that remove maintain the bang-up FLORENCE plunge puddle entirely 2km downward stream.
Oh yeah, a chip farther downstream of the ROCKHOLES (but good brusk of FLORENCE) is a stretch of creek/river where nosotros on the tour did an ADVENTURE TREK/SWIM over nigh 500m. Totally fantabulous - to a greater extent than afterwards but it was this ane extra which makes me charge per unit of measurement BULEY #1 ahead of FLORENCE.
THE ADVENTURE TREK-SWIM
After checking the pools, Joey asked for participants for this extra small-scale excursion - he stressed takers should go fit together with able to swim. He seemed a chip surprised when I opted inward seeing I'm a 71 yo geezer who hides behind a long-sleeved shirt together with long duds most of the fourth dimension - but the fact is I swim/cycle/run every twenty-four hours together with am so fit I could remove maintain on a whole posse of pole dancers inward ane session without raising my pulse (okay, that's a prevarication - my ol' pump would go banging so hard it could fritz the sensors inward my FITBIT) together with I tin swim farther underwater than the average 25 yo tin swim on the surface without a rest.
Thing that gets me is my photographic television set camera is non waterproof so I can't demo you lot shots (nor tin I discovery whatever shots on the 'net of same) - nosotros walked peradventure 200m downstream on a track, so entered the H2O where nosotros waded/swam some other 300m - checking out local fauna/flora guided past times Joey's goodness information. At ane phase a large WATER MONITOR (Australia's version of Indo's KOMODO DRAGON but non as big/scary) entered the current (Joey doing a voice-over inward a hushed note similar DAVID ATENBOROUGH).
Didn't run into whatever harmless FRESH WATER CROCS (I had my diving confront mask) - it was likewise high for the unsafe SALT WATER CROCS (apparently they don't similar heading upstream - I'm thinking FLORENCE FALLS would go an extreme barrier - genuinely the plunge puddle below the falls is a fair chip upstream from the floodplain too).
Could a non-swimmer do this? Most of the journeying inward the creek was wading, but at that spot were a few deeper sections together with ane spot where nosotros had to dive nether a large fallen log - I'm thinking a non-swimmer would discovery this really tricky.
DETAILS - BULEY ROCKHOLE area
BACK TO DARWIN
Our ane halt on the way dorsum was at a roadhouse on the outskirts of BATCHELOR - had the common materials (very mutual frigidity beer at a reasonable price) addition some pop-art similar this old Hyundai.
80 minute's afterwards nosotros arrived dorsum inward DARWIN, to start the inevitable circular of drop-offs. The town sure has a widely dispersed bunch of accommodation places.
- pretty fantabulous place, but non the best (this came later): inward fact I charge per unit of measurement WANGI my #3 LITCHFIELD attraction.
WANGI LOGISTICS
WANGI is abt 17km farther on from our halt to banking concern check out the LOST CITY-like granite cliffs - 165km from DARWIN, 82 off the STUART Hwy together with 68km from BATCHELOR.
-the POOL ACCESS TRACK from the automobile park: fairly brusk (abt 150m) together with flat.
- the brusk (less than 2km) ACCESS ROAD from R30 - this is sealed, but may overflowing after large moisture flavor rains. Check ahead.
- the LOOP WALK: a 1.7km/35 minutes circuitous path starting poolside together with going up/behind the falls. Unfortunately when I visited it was partially closed non far past times the branch to the VIEWING PLATFORM which gives a dainty alternative outlook of the falls/pool.
- the nearby VISITORS’ CENTRE with eats/coffee, gratuitous wifii, the common local data together with displays (including some cultural materials on master copy inhabitants) addition touristy junk for sale.
- the CAMPGROUND at WANGI is fairly big, unopen to the puddle together with suitable for vans.
FORENCE FALLS
MY #2 LITCHFIELD LOCATION. I prefered it over WANGI because it was to a greater extent than spectacular together with had to a greater extent than variety.
MORE SPECTACULAR
MORE VARIETY 1
MORE VARIETY 2
MORE VARIETY 3
TUCKER TIME - Joey spent the fourth dimension nosotros had at the waterfall together with rock-holes setting upwardly tiffin inward the picnic shelters nigh the automobile park. The common Aussie excursion luncheon - BBQ sausages together with steaks, plenty of salad, breadstuff etc - unlimited water, Went downward existent well.
Now I'm cheating hither inferring picnic facilities are unique to FLORENCE - all our venues had same. But the timing hither was perfect to lay on the olfactory organ bag.
MORE VARIETY 3
GETTTING TO FLORENCE
I noticed NT NATIONAL PARKS remove maintain lay inward a novel overflow car-park inward side past times side the access route from R30 directly E of image.
BULEY ROCKHOLDES - my #1 LITCHFIELD VENUE.
This house is a jewel - what nosotros remove maintain is a bunch (a one-half a dozen+) small/medium pools along 400m of creek - some are simply deep plenty for sitting, some you lot demand to go able to tread H2O - but none large plenty to swim distances. People who wanna do that remove maintain the bang-up FLORENCE plunge puddle entirely 2km downward stream.
Oh yeah, a chip farther downstream of the ROCKHOLES (but good brusk of FLORENCE) is a stretch of creek/river where nosotros on the tour did an ADVENTURE TREK/SWIM over nigh 500m. Totally fantabulous - to a greater extent than afterwards but it was this ane extra which makes me charge per unit of measurement BULEY #1 ahead of FLORENCE.
THE ADVENTURE TREK-SWIM
After checking the pools, Joey asked for participants for this extra small-scale excursion - he stressed takers should go fit together with able to swim. He seemed a chip surprised when I opted inward seeing I'm a 71 yo geezer who hides behind a long-sleeved shirt together with long duds most of the fourth dimension - but the fact is I swim/cycle/run every twenty-four hours together with am so fit I could remove maintain on a whole posse of pole dancers inward ane session without raising my pulse (okay, that's a prevarication - my ol' pump would go banging so hard it could fritz the sensors inward my FITBIT) together with I tin swim farther underwater than the average 25 yo tin swim on the surface without a rest.
Thing that gets me is my photographic television set camera is non waterproof so I can't demo you lot shots (nor tin I discovery whatever shots on the 'net of same) - nosotros walked peradventure 200m downstream on a track, so entered the H2O where nosotros waded/swam some other 300m - checking out local fauna/flora guided past times Joey's goodness information. At ane phase a large WATER MONITOR (Australia's version of Indo's KOMODO DRAGON but non as big/scary) entered the current (Joey doing a voice-over inward a hushed note similar DAVID ATENBOROUGH).
Didn't run into whatever harmless FRESH WATER CROCS (I had my diving confront mask) - it was likewise high for the unsafe SALT WATER CROCS (apparently they don't similar heading upstream - I'm thinking FLORENCE FALLS would go an extreme barrier - genuinely the plunge puddle below the falls is a fair chip upstream from the floodplain too).
Could a non-swimmer do this? Most of the journeying inward the creek was wading, but at that spot were a few deeper sections together with ane spot where nosotros had to dive nether a large fallen log - I'm thinking a non-swimmer would discovery this really tricky.
BACK TO DARWIN
80 minute's afterwards nosotros arrived dorsum inward DARWIN, to start the inevitable circular of drop-offs. The town sure has a widely dispersed bunch of accommodation places.
BETTER THAN KAKADU?
LITCHFIIELD vs KAKADU
Is the local saying: “LITCHFIELD DO – KAKA DON’T” true? Um....tricky. Each has its pluses making both good worth visiting. But time-short people may remove maintain to select ane only. Hopefully the materials below may help:
CLOSEST TO DARWIN – LITCHFIELD’S principal attractions are centered nigh 130km from Darwin, KAKADU’S simply about 250-300.
LITCHFIELD much closer. Those smaller place-markers around the KAKADU mark are some of the attractions inward the green - KAKADU is a BIG region.
LOWEST ENTRY FEE – KAKADU is a federal national park: Canberra lately increased the entrance fee to $40.
LITCHFIELD is a Northern Territory national park: entrance is gratuitous unless camping.
This may go unimportant to many, but some travelers are dollars-deficient.
The fee increment has diverted a lot of bucks-down backpackers together with Darwin resident day-trippers from KAKAUDU to the already pop LITCHFIELD.
WAYOUTBACK's JOEY told us that since so it’s oft hard to discovery a high flavor parking spot at pop LITCHFIELD attractions despite the NT govt spending large on expanding carparks .
CROWDS – the to a higher house suggests LITCHFIELD may go the loser here. However leader of my overnight KAKADU trip, MATT from TERRITORY EXPEDITIONS reckoned that had nosotros visited inward high flavor nosotros would remove maintain constitute difficulty finding infinite at many picnic areas, swimming holes together with the rest. Such is the popularity of KAKADU.
So gang, I can’t genuinely tell you lot which is meliorate inward abide by to existence uncrowded – except to state TIME OF VISIT contributes. My tours of both were inward early on moisture (low) flavor Nov together with both parks featured relatively few people – crowding was a work nowhere except peradventure at the rather confined entry to LITCHFIELD’S otherwise fantabulous FLORENCE FALLS gorge pool. Hate to run into it inward high season.
Entrance to FLORENCE FALL's plunge puddle a chip squeezy together with rocks brand it quite tricky underfoot - required a chip of aid fifty-fifty with depression crowds of early on moisture season. Could go a chip of a circus with multiple people. Nice puddle though.
BTW my LITCHFIELD TOUR was on a beautiful sunny Dominicus when lotsa DARWIN residents had decided soaking inward the diverse pools together with rock-holes would go really appealing inward the forecast 40C. So the house was sure non deserted, but definitely non overcrowded.
Plenty of sunshine inward this shot. Tourists expression dissimilar from locals to a long-time erstwhile similar me. Most of these people at ane of the BULEY ROCKHOLES pools seemed locals to me.
BEST FOR DAYTRIPS – closeness to Darwin, addition the fact KAKADU’S to a greater extent than numerous attractions are spread out over its enormous expanse (at to the lowest degree 5x the size of LITCHFIELD), ensure LITCHFIELD gets the prize. In fact I can’t imagine doing a KAKADU daytrip – likewise much of the fourth dimension would go spent inward the vehicle together with venues would necessarily go rationed. I constitute fifty-fifty my 2 twenty-four hours tour missed things I consider KAKADU “SHOULD SEES”.
VARIETY – LITCHFIELD’S size restricts variety. The depression plateau has quite a few streams spillIing off its sides at attractive waterfalls. These remove maintain carved neat swimming holes together with smaller rock-holes ideal for sitting together with soaking. So it’s no surprise a lot of attractions are confined to waterfalls/swimming/soaking spots. The relative lack of verticality way panoramic viewpoints are express (maybe some of the 4wd tracks characteristic these but WAYOUTBACK’S small-scale autobus was 2wd).
Like Kakadu, Litchfield has an expanse of extensive termite mounds but I constitute these to a greater extent than a goodness excuse to pause the journeying together with would remove maintain been underwhelmed without the informative spiel from JOEY.
There are some sections of weathered granite which has eroded to make a landscape a chip reminiscent of ANGKOR WAT. I constitute the department nosotros saw a chip underwhelming too. The best of these, LOST CITY, is upwardly a tricky 4wd dirt side road.
Not just LOST CITY, but as unopen as our 2wd autobus could get. Didn't just float my boat. Plus KAKADU is so large I bet it has the equivalent.
KAKADU’S sheer size way It tin offering plenty of LITCHFIELD-like waterfalls, swimming holes together with rock-holes, termite mounds (although the expanse nosotros inspected did non remove maintain the “mound city” seen at LITCHFIELD), addition quite a chip more. There are several globe storey rock-art sites, wetland cruises, large river floodplains, coastal areas together with some upmarket accommodation (better than tents/vans) within the park. There were also a span of roadhouses with dainty swimming pools, bar areas, snacks etc genuinely within the borders of KAKADU. Plus 2 dedicated aboriginal cultural centers which outgun LITCHFIELD’S express display at the WANGI FALLS visitors center. Hell, there’s fifty-fifty a town – JAIBIRU – offering typical small-town services.
As far as I know, LITCHFIELD can't do rock-art similar KAKADU.
And the way the multi-coloured ARNHEM PLATEAU ESCARPMENT has eroded has produced a to a greater extent than tantalising characteristic to me than LITCHFIELD’S weathered granite.
As far as camping ground is concerned, both remove maintain plenty of sites but ane time again, KAKADU’S size way it has more.
SCENERY – LANDSCAPE. We aren’t talking YOSEMITE at either – ane time once to a greater extent than the lack of verticality (um- is that a word?) way whatever highlands aren’t all that high, cliffs together with escarpments non gob-smacking together with waterfalls drops limited. But what at that spot is is non unattractive – together with I reckon KAKADU gets the gong hither – I don’t shout out back LITCHFIELD has anything to compete with the long multi-coloured, intricately eroded ARNHEM PLATEAU ESCARPMENT or the YELLOW WATER (and other) WETLANDS, river floodplains-estuaries-tidal flats.
LITCHFIELD hasn't anything similar KAKADU's YELLOW WATER CRUISE
(image KAKADU TOURISM)
And although LITCHFIELD’S waterfalls together with pools are pretty good, several I visited inward KAKADU were much the same - together with JIM JIM (track closed when I visited) from what I sympathise is far to a greater extent than gob-smacking.
The ARNHEM PLATEAU ESCARPMENT also gives visitors panoramic views over surrounding lowlands – an outlook non able to go matched past times anything I saw inward LITCHFIELD.
JIM JIM FALLS pours over the ARNHEM PLATEAU ESCARPMENT
(image Venture North)
SWIMMING/SOAKING – LITCHFIELD is known for such things but ii waterfall swimming holes I visited inward KAKADU were simply as good. I didn’t run into anywhere to compete with LITCHFIELD’S fabulous BULEY ROCKHOLE, but with the sheer size of KAKADU, I bet at that spot is somewhere which is simply as good. Maybe this is the affair – inward KAKADU you lot remove maintain to instruct out searching for sure features whereas BULEY, say, is entirely 2km away together with on the same creek at the best (IMHO) KAKADU waterfall place, FLORENCE FALLS.
TREKKING – each has goodness trekking. Time constraints on my visits meant a xv infinitesimal walk at most but before query suggested KAKADU has to a greater extent than walking tracks together with may go preferable to hard marrow trekkers seeking genuinely long walks.
IMPACTED BY WET SEASON – KAKADU has to a greater extent than unsealed side roads to out of the way places - addition several major river floodplains the principal roads must traverse. These tin go cutting after really heavy prolonged rain.
Note tour operators seem to remove maintain plenty of alternative venues at such times times.
Don’t concur me to this, but inward my planning I seemed to discovery a greater give away of attractive sounding KAKADU tours that didn’t run AT ALL inward moisture season.
I shout out back rescheduling tours that DO RUN due to lower moisture flavor client numbers would deport upon both equally.
Oops! Tourists over-rate Land Cruiser's might to ford KAKADU'S flooded together with croc infested MAGELA CREEK. Lucky the police push clit 4wd has a snorkel (image NBC.com)
COST OF TOURS – the far fewer kms together with no entry fee of a LITCHFIELD tour way prices for equal duration trips are considerably lower. Plus to run into KAKADU properly you lot demand to a greater extent than than ane twenty-four hours which starts to brand tours at that spot downright expensive (at to the lowest degree to tight-wads similar me on a skinny geezers’ pension). Shop simply about – at that spot are considerable differences.
I shout out back an fantabulous way of seeing to a greater extent than of KAKADU may go independently with car/van/4wd over to a greater extent than than 2 days. But this is to a greater extent than expensive ane time to a greater extent than if you lot remove maintain to hire the vehicle - addition you lot won’t instruct the fantabulous insider’s tour guide commentary.
DO YOU NEED H5N1 4WD? It’s surprising how 2wd cars together with campers tin go crude oil dirt roads. But they aint likewise hot inward H2O over 40cm deep. However fifty-fifty inward dry out flavor many side roads inward both parks remove maintain deepish creek crossings, sand patches, rocky sections needing high clearance, steep grades etc requiring 4wd together with are signposted as such.
But here’s the affair – at that spot are plenty SHOULD SEE attractions inward both parks on or really unopen to sealed roads, so fifty-fifty 2wd buses tin access. And complaint that some of the to a greater extent than expensive tours remove maintain 4wd trucks with autobus cabins together with smaller 4wd vehicles together with so they tin instruct into the trickier places.
Many LITCHFIELD together with KAKAUDU (pictured) side roads inquire for 4wd (image Parks Australia)
SUM UP – overall KAKADU’S size allows it to offering simply nigh everything LITCHFIELD tin addition a fair chip more. But for time-short or bucks-down travellers LITCHFIELD is the way to go.
Time of yr may remove maintain some impact likewise - LITCHFIELD seems less affected past times moisture season.
Of class if you lot remove maintain the fourth dimension together with are non destitute, do both. I would remove maintain felt short-changed if I had missed either inward my TOP END visit.
WHEN TO GO
Many of you lot remove maintain niggling selection re vacation timing, but for those non so restricted……
…..I reckon early on moisture flavor may go the go. According to guides MATT together with JOEY, conditions conditions are ordinarily bang-up that fourth dimension of yr with niggling pelting together with plenty of sunshine. In my 22 Nov days inward the TOP END it rained (short/sharp) on three days entirely together with nigh 10 nights. Days were 80% sunshine. “TELL YOUR FRIENDS” stressed JOEY – he said as shortly as dry out flavor officially ends inward Oct tourist numbers plummet. They discovery it hard to create total the buses together with remove maintain to reschedule some tours.
So that tin go a disadvantage fifty-fifty early on inward the moisture – you lot may instruct an electronic mail similar me quest you lot if some other twenty-four hours is okay for your tour. I also constitute some places were already closed to visitors – eg the fantabulous JIM JIM FALLS inward KAKADU - together with some of the to a greater extent than attractive-reading tours non existence run at all Nov thru March, specially for KAKADU.
Of class afterwards inward the moisture things tin deteriorate – after periods of sustained heavy rainfall fifty-fifty the principal routes thru both parks tin go cutting past times overflowing for a twenty-four hours or so, to a greater extent than side roads are liable to go closed together with swimming holes raging torrents of water. They state the falls tin go pretty spectacular at such times however. Btw my query said at that spot is ordinarily silent plenty of sunshine inward the genuinely moisture months – it simply rains harder together with to a greater extent than often. However if a depression pressure level monsoon trough settles inward it tin pelting hard to a greater extent than or less constantly for several days - this is when it floods.
Other payoff of depression flavor inward the parks – no overcrowding. And exterior – to a greater extent than vacancies (often walk in) together with some goodness discounts, specially for mid make together with meliorate accommodation.
But is sure gets HOT together with HUMID.
Plenty of sunshine inward this early on moisture flavor BULEY ROCKHOLE (LITCHFIELD) pic.
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