Florence Falls, Litchfield National Park

Litchfield Park, Northern Territory 0822

Set in the heart of the Litchfield National Park just outside of Darwin, Florence Falls is a stunning cascading waterfall offering spectacular views and a cooling pool to kick back and relax in.

Florence Falls

Surround the waterfall there is plenty of monsoon forest to explore, which is filled with an eclectic variety of flora, fauna, and plenty of hiking trails to get stuck into. From the viewing platform, you can look out over the park and soak up the views of the sprawling valley below.

The viewing platform is really easy to reach at just a three-minute walk from the car park. It opens out onto the gorge where you can take photos of the thunderous Florence Falls and admire the lush scenery that surrounds it. In particular, you’ll get to see the distinction between the wet monsoon forest and the dry Florence Falls plateau that sit side by side in the park.

For the more active traveller, there is the chance to take a stroll around the rim of the gorge, or to descend down the 160 stairs to the plunge pool of Florence Falls below. If you’re feeling the heat, there’s a seat at the halfway point where you can take a breather and some photos.

At the bottom of the steps, you’ll be rewarded with the cool waters of the plunge pool. Though many people are put off by the steps, there is still usually a fair amount of visitors kicking back in the pool, but experiencing the refreshing waters first hand is well worth having to share.

The Shady Creek Walk

Shady Creek Walk

To make the most of the scenery around Florence Falls and to get to the pool via a different route, you can take the Shady Creek Walk. It is only a short walk, but it takes you through open woodland and a dense part of the monsoon forest all the way to the plunge pool itself. If you opt for this route, you’ll get to miss out the steps and enjoy more of the scenery along the way.

One of the best ways to pass the time at Florence Falls is to enjoy a picnic at the designated area at the start of the Shady Creek Walk. These clearings are dotted with barbecues and picnic tables – the perfect space for refuelling before taking a much-needed afternoon dip. If you follow the path on from the picnic site, you’ll find yourself in the Florence Creek Walk which continues on to the Buley Rockholes.

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