Julija Posted on 08 April 2025

Top 5 NT National Parks

Words Hema Maps Editorial and Julija Zivanovic Pics Supplied

The Northern Territory is renowned for its natural beauty and spectacular national parks — here are our top five. Keep reading to learn more.

Twin Falls in Kakadu NP in the NT The epic Twin Falls in Kakadu National Park, NT

The Northern Territory was certainly blessed by Mother Nature, considering the amount of incredible and untouched wilderness there. Whether you’re after wide, sweeping vistas, sensationally blue swimming holes or striking (in the colour sense, not them striking your vehicle, but you do have to watch out for that as well) native wildlife, you’ll find it in the NT. Beyond Alice Springs and Uluru / Ayers Rock are countless great places to explore, including some of the country’s best national parks.

There are a whopping 80 national parks in the NT, and that means plenty of opportunities to explore the fantastic nature, Aboriginal culture and history within them. Keep reading as we break down our five favourites and suggest a few products to enhance any Northern Territory adventure.

Judbarra / Gregory National Park

Camping in Gregory National Park

Judbarra / Gregory National Park is a dream destination for those who love isolated four-wheel drive adventures. Several tracks run through the park, ranging from easy 2WD access to tyre-piercing, suspension-sapping, low-range 4WD challenges. The remote national park covers more than 13,000 square kilometres and is the NT’s second-largest national park following Kakadu National Park (more on this below).

This is remote country, so a satellite phone (we recommend the ZOLEO Global Satellite Communicator) or PLB (personal locator beacon) is recommended, and you’ll need to be self-reliant, including drinking water.

A great test for your 4WD is the Bullita Stock Route, a one-way loop track once used by packhorses and donkey teams bringing supplies to the isolated cattle stations and also as a stock route to Wyndham used by Bullita and Humbert River Stations. Please be aware that the 4WD tracks close due to seasonal flooding from late November to May.

The main campground in the western section is near the historic Bullita Homestead and there are bush campsites located at Limestone Gorge and along all 4WD tracks.

Contact: 08 8975 0888

Kakadu National Park

Maguk Falls in Kakadu NP in the NT The stunning Maguk Falls in Kakadu National Park, NT

Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage-listed living cultural landscape and the largest national park in the NT at almost 20,000sq km. Aboriginal people — the Traditional Owners of the Northern Territory — have lived here for more than 65,000 years. The park is full of ancient rock art with the paintings offering an insight into Aboriginal life over thousands of years. This is a spectacular national park and one, we believe, should be on every person’s bucket list.

Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu is thousands of years old

There is plenty on offer for the four-wheel driver too, with a 60km drive out to the iconic Jim Jim and Twin Falls, the Old Jim Jim Road that cuts between the Arnhem and Kakadu Highways, the track into Alligator Billabong and an 80km track out to West Alligator Head.

There are plenty of bush camp areas scattered about the park as well as several commercial campgrounds as well.

Contact: 08 8938 1120

Keep River National Park

Harsh sun in Keep River NP in the NT (Credit: Emma Warren & Sam Richards)

Keep River National Park is one of the NT’s best-kept secrets, with its striking sandstone formations, like those found at Purnululu, diverse landscapes and Indigenous rock art. The brilliant sandstone ‘honeycomb’ domes eroded over time by the winds and rains are 300 million years old and are from the same ancient seabed as the Bungle Bungles.

Tall Livistona palms are found clustered at the base of the escarpments or clinging precariously in the high up cracks and crevices. Spectacular views across the Keep River floodplain and the Jarnem escarpment are a highlight, with Dreamtime stories written in the landscape.

Camping is available at Jarnem and Gurrandalng with walking trails leading from both.

Contact: 1800 653 142

Limmen National Park

The Southern Lost City in Limmen NP in the NT The breathtaking Southern Lost City in Limmen National Park, NT

Located in the Gulf of Carpentaria region, Limmen National Park offers great fishing, remote camping, spectacular sandstone rock formations — known as the ‘lost cities’ as they resemble eroded skyscrapers — and several river systems.

While the Southern Lost City is easily accessed, the Western Lost City is a little more challenging and trailers are not recommended. The ‘cities’ are sandstone formations weathered over time. The river systems and lagoons offer fantastic sport fishing and are a twitcher’s paradise. Huge salties (saltwater crocodiles) roam these waterways, though, so be very aware.

Camping is available at Butterfly Springs, Towns River, Limmen Bight River, Southern Lost City and along the Roper River whilst commercial camping is available at Limmen Bight Fishing Camp.

Contact: 08 8946 5126

Litchfield National Park

Wangi Falls in Litchfield NP in the NT

The beautiful Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park, NT (Credit: Tourism NT/Tyson Mayr)

Home to stunning waterfalls, crystal-clear pools, safe swimming holes and magnetic termite mounds, Litchfield National Park is a popular destination, even for locals. Buley Rockhole, the Cascades and Florence and Wangi Falls offer fabulous swimming opportunities while Tolmer Falls cascade 35 metres into a deep plunge pool below.

The weathered sandstone pillars of the Lost City are accessible in a high clearance 4WD and are a must-see while you’re there. Another more challenging test is the 4WD-only Reynolds River Track, that leads to the Blyth Homestead ruins, Tjaynera and Surprise Creek Falls before linking up with the Daly River Road.

Camping is available at Wangi and Florence Falls or the more remote Tjaynera and Surprise Creek Falls.

Contact: 08 8999 3947