Litchfield National Park - Florence Falls Old 4WD Campground

 29 May - 2 June 2022

We headed off from Batchelor after morning tea and entered Litchfield National Park. As with all Northern Territory national parks we had already booked online so knew exactly where we needed to go. Along the way we stopped at the Magnetic Termite Mounds. There is some interpretative information as well as a very short walk. I remember marvelling at these when we visited Litchfield over 30 years ago. They weren't set up as a tourist attraction in those days.

We made it to the campground and found our site had been vacated already - as it should given it was almost lunch time. We set up and were very happy with our online choice. Some shade, some sun for the solar, a fire pit we were unlikely to use but in a good location, near the amenities and, best of all, just a short walk to the falls and plunge pool. 

Of course we had to try out the pool so headed down once we were settled in. What a fabulous spot, but so crowded in the middle of the day. The other major swimming spot - Wangi Falls - was still closed following the wet season so it seemed like everyone who wanted a swim had come to Florence Falls. We hoped it would be better in the early morning or late afternoon.

There are a couple of easy walks in the area so we started with the one that went from the Florence Falls Picnic Area to Buley Rockholes. The walk itself wasn't great because much of this part of the country had been burned - but the rockholes themselves was the perfect place for a swim. We also went on the walk from the campground to the plunge pool and then on to the picnic area. This was a lovely walk which we finished with a swim in the creek. This part of the creek is a designated swimming area and there are lots of spots where you can slide in. We went there a couple of times, and also to Buley Rockholes where we were able to snag a spot to ourselves. 

There is a lookout which is just a short walk from the car park, and which gives great views of the falls. Between the walks, swimming at Buley Rockholes and the picnic area, as well as at the falls plunge pool, we managed to fill in our time very well. 

Mick took some bird photos but also spent lots of time with the underwater camera photographing fish, and me, in the water - until he dropped it in the plunge pool! It was early morning so the sun wasn't shining enough to be able to see, and the pool is also very deep in parts. We agonised over what to do, and left a note with details for the camp hosts just in case someone found it. Anyway, at about 4:00pm that afternoon a car drove by our camp, slowed, stopped and the driver called out "did you lose a camera?" Dave and Sue had been swimming in the pool mid-morning and spotted the camera shining on the bottom. Dave had goggles so he dived down to retrieve it. They checked the photos, and matched my face to what they had seen on the camera. We shouted them a few cold drinks that night! We just couldn't believe how lucky we had been to get it back, and we are very grateful there are such nice people who would go to that much trouble to return something they found.

After three relaxing days we packed up and set off for Howard Springs, just out of Darwin.