Litchfield National Park expansion welcomed as a win for tourism, lifestyle and the environment

A major expansion of national parkland is being celebrated as a ‘monumental’ win for tourism and the NT lifestyle, unlocking stunning swimming holes, 4WD tracks, and camping the whole year round.

The NT government has expanded Litchfield National Park by 20 per cent through its purchase of Silkwood property. Picture: Fia Walsh.

A major expansion of the Top End’s national parkland is being celebrated as a “monumental” win for tourism and the local lifestyle, unlocking stunning swimming holes, 4WD tracks, and bush camps the whole year round.

On Monday the Northern Territory government announced it had acquired Silkwood, a 30,000ha property bordering the southeast end of Litchfield National Park.

The $7.5m purchase will expand Litchfield by 20 per cent, securing public access to pristine bush, hotsprings, swimming holes, a new hunting reserve, and the much loved Robin Falls.

Four Wheel Drive NT president Mickey Barratt. The NT government has expanded Litchfield National Park by 20 per cent through its purchase of Silkwood property. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Four Wheel Drive NT president Mickey Barratt said high escarpments in the area meant it could be enjoyed when most of the Top End’s swimming and camping options shut due to wet weather.

“One of the main advantages of this area is you can go mid-monsoon, up through river crossings, all the way up and camp,” he said.

“Mid wet season in a beautiful little pristine forest, little swimming holes – it’s pretty rare in Darwin.

“This is a monumental day for driving and recreation in the NT – to secure this and protect it for years to come, to have it open and accessible for Territorians and interstate visitors to come and use it, is rather spectacular.”

While the land is now open to the public, it is expected signage and official infrastructure for the first lot of bush camps, walks and swimming spots will be rolled out within the next two years.

Tourism Top End general manager Samantha Bennett. The NT government has expanded Litchfield National Park by 20 per cent through its purchase of Silkwood property. Picture: Fia Walsh.

About 250,000 people visit Litchfield each year, and Tourism Top End said that number was expected to grow.

“Having somewhere we can access all year round means that we’re going to address the seasonality problem we’ve got, because tourists visit us all year round,” general manager Samantha Bennett said.

“This has been a real priority for our industry – to be able to address our low season – and this will give us the ability to do that.

“I think the key market for this will be the international (visitors), they come to us in our low season because they want to get out of their winter … so the waterfalls, the hiking, the adventure and nature-based sector – we’re going to hand that to them on a plate.”

The CLP Government has secured the stunning Silkwood property - a 30,000-hectare parcel of land, equivalent to around 15,000 TIO Stadiums. The landmark $7.5 million deal will see Litchfield National Park expanded by 20 per cent, making it bigger and better than ever.

Environment Centre NT said Litchfield’s expansion was “fantastic news”, but the government needed to go further to protect the Territory from deforestation.

“This purchase is good news for the flying foxes, water monitors, bats and quolls that live in Litchfield,” nature campaigner Amy Russell said.

“Expanding one national park is a win, but we need to see more of this across the Territory.

“Currently, thousands of hectares are being approved for bulldozing every week. The CLP has

approved more deforestation in six months than has been approved in any one year in the last

decade.”

Originally published as Litchfield National Park expansion welcomed as a win for tourism, lifestyle and the environment