Day 23 Litchfield National Park

Today we drove to Litchfield National Park an ancient 1,500 square-kilometre natural wonderland located just a 90-minute drive southwest of Darwin. Important to the Koongurrukun, Mak Mak Marranunggu, Werat, and Warray Aboriginal people, it is highly celebrated for its pristine spring-fed waterfalls, clear swimming plunge pools, and massive, structured termite mounds.

Our first stop was the Magnetic and Cathedral Termite Mounds - Built by termites, with their amazing architectural feats complete with arches, tunnels, chimneys, insulation and nursery chambers. Hundreds of Magnetic Termite mounds standing up to two metres high on a wide flat plain up to 100 years old look like a cemetary with headstones. These enormous magnetic compasses, with thin edges pointing north-south and broad backs facing east-west. This aspect thermo-regulates the mounds for the magnetic termites inside, who prefer high humidity and stable temperatures, but for one side of the mound to remain shaded so they do not overheat.

A large Cathedral Termite mound nearby use to stand over 5 metres tall and is estimated to be about 50 years old however has be damaged and is now a small version of these massive mounds all built by little creatures 5mm big.








Our next stop was Bluey Rockhole a set of several small, rapid flowing streams , the water ranges from small deep plunge pools to shallow rock pools. A great place to lounge around in the natural flowing water streams, we were lucky enough to find a small shallow area in the shade at the top of Bluley Rockhole and spent nearly two hours relaxing in the cool water and enjoying the scenery.





Our next stop was Florence Falls there were 160 step staircase down to the swimming area. However to return to the car we took the Shady Creek Walk for1km which meanders around the back of the waterfall with shady little creek crossings. There was quite a contrast between the wet monsoon forest and the dry sandstone plateau along the walk.