If you’re ever in the area of Northern Australia, the Litchfield National Park is an area bustling with wild life. The park has a number of waterfalls that cascade from sandstone plateaus into swimming holes, one of the most popular being the Florence Falls. The park also has a number of preserved aboriginal sites as well as a number of large magnetic and cathedral termite mounds.
Florence Falls – Photo courtesy of Charles Strebor
The Florence Falls feature two waterfalls that flow all year round! View the falls from above at the lookout point where you can see the smaller waterfalls upstream as well as the dual-column falls. Then head down the trail to the bottom of the Falls for a refreshing dip in the freshwater pool. While there are other waterfalls with swimmable areas, they are often occupied by a number of saltwater crocodiles that make their way up through the saltwater access points. As Florence Falls is isolated from these points it’s a safer place for a dip on a hot afternoon.
A short distance from the turnoff to Florence Falls you’ll find a number of magnetic and cathedral termite mounds. While this is a common sight in Northern Australia, this area has an unusually high concentration of mounds with many of them above average in their stature. While they may seem like a clusters of dirt protruding from the ground, inside there’s arches, tunnels, chimneys, insulation and chambers.
If you’re a true outdoorsman, consider one of the many walks offered in the park, such as the Florence Creek Walk. This walk will take you to Greenant Creek and through the cool monsoon rainforest for a total of 22 kilometers. Bird lovers pay attention for the kingfishers, honey-eaters, fairy-wrens and pigeons that all call this park home. This challenging walk goes on for two days, camping at designated camping areas.
