With its magic combination of monsoon rainforests, tumbling waterfalls and energising plunge pools, Litchfield National Park will take you as far from the stress of everyday life as you can imagine.

Litchfield National Park has more than 1500 square kilometres of largely untouched wilderness and it's about two hours from Darwin. A major drawcard of the Park is that many of its attractions are accessible by car, along sealed roads.

Near the Park's entrance you'll find the small town of Batchelor. You can stay here overnight if you like and visit a number of attractions including the Batchelor Butterfly and Bird Farm. Explore the lovely butterfly house and bird aviary, both in a tropical garden setting, and have a drink at the cafe before entering the Park.

At the Park, have your camera ready for Wangi Falls as it's a must-see and popular with photographers. Leaving the Falls, head down to the Reynolds River and take the Wangi Wildlife Cruise. This is a great way to check out all the unique wildlife, and the later you travel in the dry season, the more animals and birds you're likely to see. The lack of water elsewhere means that they all have to feed at the river.

Cool off with a swim or snorkel in the plunge pool below Florence Falls, a spectacular double waterfall set in the monsoon forest. Go to the viewing platform for a panoramic view. You can also take the easy 30-minute Shady Creek Walk and it' possible to camp here for the night.

Tolmer Falls is one of the most popular attractions at Litchfield. It cascades over two sandstone escarpments into a deep plunge pool. Keep an eye out for rare ghost bats and orange horseshoe bats living in caves at the base of the falls.

Unwind by taking a relaxing wade through the cascading pools at Buley Rockhole. Learn about the region' colourful pioneering and pastoral history by visiting the rusting ruins of the Blyth Homestead. Built by the Sargent family in 1929 at the location of an old tin mine and abandoned in the early 1960s, the homestead stands as a reminder of the tough conditions faced by the pioneers in remote areas.

Next explore the sandstone towers of The Lost City. The Lost City is an area of unusual sandstone pillars and block formations that have been sculpted by wind and rain over thousands of years. For a thrill-ride, go on a helicopter tour where you fly 11 kilometres from the base - you'll be overwhelmed by the ancient columns of sandstone rising up to meet you. From the air you'l also see exactly how these natural skyscrapers were formed.

Another natural phenomenon you have to see to believe are the magnetic termite mounds 17kms east of the park. Here you'll see hundreds of termite mounds standing up to two metres high. The mounds are like enormous magnetic compasses with their thin edges in north and south alignment, cleverly angled to avoid catching too much heat in the middle of the day.

There's lots to marvel at in the Park, so although many visitors come for a day trip, you might like to stay a little longer to make the most of the experience.

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• Nearest City:Canberra
• Distance to Canberra:175kms
• Nearest Airport:Cooma
• Distance to Cooma Airport:90kms

Local Attractions in the Area

• Cycling and Mountain Biking
• Snowy River Horseback Adventure
• Kosciuszko Alpine Guided Walks
• Trout Fishing
• Wild Brumby Watching
• Four-Wheel Driving

Helpful Links for the Area

• Snowy Mountains Tourism
• Thredbo
• Tourism NSW
• Snowy Mountains SkiFields
• Bushwalking in the Snowy Mountains

Seasonal Events

• Thredbo Blues Festival: January
• Snowy River Festival: November
• Snowy Ride Thredbo: October
• Thredbo Turns 50: 1st January 2007