Otherwise, it’s a short hike to nearby and secluded Sweetwater Pool, where – if you’re lucky – you might share the water with a few turtles.ĭiscover the Breathtaking Beauty of South Australia’s Southern Ocean Drive Road Trip: The Ultimate Getaway for Cooler Months It’s perched at the base of Nitmiluk National Park (the gateway to Kakadu) and it’s well worth turning off the main highway to find it.ĥ8879,39782Ĭool off by taking a paddle in the two separate pools at the top or bottom of the falls. #6 Edith Falls, Nitmiluk National Park Image: Njbawden / FlickrĮdith Falls sits among the red rock landscape near Katherine Gorge, just over three hours from Darwin. To take a dip here you need to walk 1.4 kilometres from the car park before you reach the swimming hole. Like Jim Jim, it’s accessible only via a 4WD track which means, on a quiet day, you might be lucky enough to have the place to yourself. You didn’t hear it from us, but Tjaynera Falls is one of Litchfield’s best kept secrets. #5 Tjaynera Falls, Litchfield National Park Image: Taryn Stenvei At the risk of sounding cliché, it really must be seen to be believed.
The plunge pool is breathtakingly huge and difficult to capture on camera. The falls themselves are a sight to see, dropping an extreme 200m down to the natural swimming hole below. Nested inside a deep gorge, the only way to reach it is via a rugged 4WD track so, during the wet season, it’s often inaccessible (check opening dates in advance). Jim Jim Falls is one of the better known places to splash about in the World Heritage–listed Kakadu National Park. #4 Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park Image: Taryn Stenvei There are ladders at both ends for easy access, but this swimming spot is not for the faint of heart – it’s deep, it flows fast, and overhead is a rather intense gauntlet of intricate weavings by our eight-legged friends. Bring along a tube or noodle and float with the current from one end to the other. At Bitter Springs, underground warm springs have produced a 100-metre stream lined with native reeds and plants. The second swimming hole at Mataranka is Bitter Springs and it’s often overlooked, despite being an even more unreal experience than the Mataranka Thermal Pools. #3 Bitter Springs, Mataranka Image: Kate McCabe Bonus fact: the waters here are believed to hold healing powers for all your aches and pains. It can be crowded at times because it is a regular stop for tour buses and grey nomads, but there is plenty of room for all. At the Mataranka Thermal Pools, springs bubble up at 34 degrees to fill a semi-man made pool of perfectly turquoise water under a shady canopy of stretching palms.Ĥ9948,4884 There are two absolutely mind-blowing swimming holes near Mataranka (about a 75-minute drive south of Katherine) and they both make the list. #2 Mataranka Thermal Pool, Mataranka Image: Kate McCabe It’s only a 90-minute commute, so it’s not uncommon for Darwin locals to pack an esky and head to Buley’s for the day, an afternoon or a weekend camping trip.īetter still, bypass those expensive spa treatments and take a seat while fast flowing whitewater gives you a shoulder massage. #1 Buley Rockhole, Litchfield National Park Image: Kate McCabeĪ favourite for locals and tourists alike, Buley’s is a cascading collection of rock pools that seems to go on forever. Now that that’s taken care of, here’s our pick of the most impressive places to take a dip in the Top End. Always check signage, obey information from parks authorities and seek appropriate national park entry passes.ĥ8879,51135,24060 Most of the best swimming spots are open during the dry season (May to October), but this is the Outback, of course, and in the occasion of extreme weather or wildlife (yep, crocs), some may close to the public.
The Northern Territory has a reputation for being dry and sparse, but hidden among its desert landscape are oases of crystal clear waterholes, warm springs and cascading falls.īut first, a few points of administration.
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