Sigh every time you see another incredibly beautiful waterfall on Instagram? Visit one of the Northern Territory’s spectacular waterfalls to even up the score…
There are few sights as magnificent as a waterfall in full flow, and after the wet season, the NT has plenty to choose from. Here are five scenic spots guaranteed to be the envy of all your Instagram followers.
There’s a reason this Kakadu landmark is the Territory’s best-known waterfall. Plunging dramatically from 150m-high cliffs, Jim Jim Falls is simply spectacular. Getting there is a bit of a journey: after walking through a monsoon forest, you’ll have to scramble over some boulders to reach the waterhole at the bottom of the falls. However, the picture-perfect surroundings – not to mention the invitingly cool waters – are well worth the effort.
Located just 90 minutes from Darwin, Litchfield National Park is the locals’ favourite weekend getaway. One of the loveliest spots in the entire park is Florence Falls. It’s an easy walk from the car park through forest down to the waterhole, where twin waterfalls cascade into the cool waters. Shady trees fringe the water, making it a lovely place to while away an afternoon.
Unlike nearby Florence Falls, Tjaetaba Falls are often overlooked by visitors, so you may well find you have this panoramic perch all to yourself. To get there, pull in at Greenant Creek and follow the 1.4km path from which heads steeply uphill to the Tjaetaba Falls Lookout. There you’ll find a small pool above the falls where you can swim – and the views are fabulous, too. The plunge pool at the bottom of the falls is a sacred site, however, and swimming there is strongly discouraged.
Also known as Leliyn Falls, this gorgeous swimming spot is about 60km from Katherine. The falls are not as dramatic as some in the Territory, cascading gently from the top of the escarpment, but this is nonetheless a perfect chill-out spot. Many visitors head straight for the lower pool, and it’s not hard to see why: this inviting lagoon is easily accessible from the car park, and amenities include a picnic area, kiosk and toilets. If you want to stretch your legs, take the reasonably challenging 2.6km Leliyn Trail through groves of spinifex and grevillea to the less-visited upper pool.
The tiny township of Adelaide River, about 115km south of Darwin, is best known as the home of Charlie the Buffalo, who starred in the movie Crocodile Dundee. (He’s now deceased, but taxidermied Charlie graces the bar at the Adelaide River Inn). Not far from here, you’ll find one of the best places to cool off in the Northern Territory. Robin Falls remains very much under the radar, and the trail is not particularly well kept: in places you’ll have to scramble over a few rocks. However, these three-tiered falls are definitely worth the journey.