New campgrounds, a Ferris wheel, popular swimming hole all open as the Dry sets in

New campgrounds, a Ferris wheel, popular swimming hole and plenty of nature attractions are back for the Dry season. SEE WHAT IS OPEN.

NEW campgrounds are open for tourists visiting Litchfield National Park.

Visitors are now being welcomed at 32 different campsites across three campgrounds as part of the completion of the $17.5m Turbo Changing Tourism.

The new campgrounds have drop toilets, an information shelter and are accessible by 4WD vehicles only.

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said the grounds would prove an invaluable tourism asset.

“Litchfield National Park is a huge drawcard for the Top End and these new camp grounds are a great excuse to get out and explore one of our iconic national parks,” she said.

Litchfield National Park has more than 300,000 people visit every year.

Campground One had 99 per cent of bookings coming from Territorians who wanted to explore their backyard.

Each campground offers a unique experience for visitors across the three sites and can be booked online.

A popular Stokes Hill Wharf attraction has returned for the dry season

A POPULAR Darwin attraction is set to make its return for the 2022 dry season, joined by two exciting new attractions.

The Skyline Attractions Ferris Wheel will return to Stokes Hill Wharf and this year will be joined by a 9-hole Australiana themed minigolf course and a pop-up pizza bar.

The 35m observation wheel provides a complete 360 degree view of Darwin’s harbour and skyline giving both tourists and locals a chance to see the city from above.

Darwin Waterfront Corporation general manager Sam Burke said the new attraction would be a sure draw to the area when it opened to the public on May 27.

“The Skyline Precinct will be a hole-in-one for tourists and visitors to the area,” Mr Burke said.

“The Ferris wheel proved incredibly popular in its first year and we are excited to see the attraction return.

“The expanded precinct will further enhance the iconic Stokes Hill Wharf and complement our existing harbour cruises and Royal Flying Doctors Service, Bombing of Darwin experience.”

Skyline Attractions owner Jane Jones said the company was thrilled to be back in Darwin for another season.

“We are thrilled to be back in Darwin for another season,” Ms Jones said.

“We had such positive feedback last year, it made sense to expand the precinct and add new attractions.”

Installation of the Skyline Precinct will commence this coming week and will mean a number of carparks at Stokes Hill Wharf will be used until early October.

Three hour car parking will still be available at the Wharf along with the free Waterfront shuttle which operates every 15 minutes.

Tickets are available at www.skylineattractions.com.au

Popular Top End waterholes reopen for the Dry

POPULAR swimming hole Berry Springs has finally reopened just in time for the Dry Season.

The park closed in October of last year, as it does for every wet season as water quality levels deteriorate.

In preparation for opening the park this dry season rangers at Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife have completed water quality testing.

Berry Springs reopened at 9am.

The well-loved swimming hole is the first of many to open, see our up to date list of what parks are open below.

DARWIN REGION PARKS STATUS

BERRY SPRINGS NATURE PARK

Berry Springs Nature Park:OPEN

Pools:OPEN

All picnic areas: OPEN

Walking track – Loop – Boardwalk: OPEN

BUTTERFLY GORGE NATURE PARK

Status: OPEN

CASUARINA COASTAL RESERVE

Walk from Rocklands Drive to Free Beach carpark: OPEN

Walk from Royal Darwin Hospital to Free Beach: OPEN

Sandy Creek Boardwalk: OPEN

Mountain bike trails: OPEN

Lee Point beach picnic area: OPEN

Lee Point walking trail: open

Shared path – Lee Point to Buffalo Creek bird hide: OPEN, with caution, uneven surface along path due to storm damage.

CHANNEL POINT COASTAL RESERVE

Status:OPEN

Bookings required to visit Channel Point Coastal Reserve, even if you don’t stay overnight. You must make a booking online before you travel.

Read more about Channel Point bookings, rules and obtaining the access key.

CHARLES DARWIN NATIONAL PARK

Status:OPEN, Gates are locked at 7pm each day.

Mountain bike trails: Open

DJUKBINJ NATIONAL PARK

Status:OPEN

Douglas River/Daly River Esplanade Conservation Area

Status: Check access with tourist park.

Access via Douglas caravan park. 4WD recommended as only camps one to seven are 2WD. Camps eight to nine are 4WD only. Bookings to camp can be made at Douglas Daly Tourist Park: 08 8978 2479.

FOGG DAM CONSERVATION RESERVE

Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve: OPEN

Monsoon Walk: OPEN

Woodlands to Water Lilies Walk: CLOSED, for bridge repairs and maintenance.

Damn Wall Walk: No walking along the dam wall. Vehicle access only.

GARIG GUNAK BARLU NATIONAL PARK

Garig Gunak Barlu National Park: CLOSED, out of respect for the passing of a senior Traditional Owner of the area.

Coburg Marine Park: OPEN

GEORGE BROWN BOTANIC GARDENS

George Brown Botanic Gardens:OPEN

Visitor and Events Centre and gift shop: OPEN

Children’s playground: OPEN

HARRISON DAM CONSERVATION AREA

Harrison Dam Conservation Area: OPEN

Harrison Dam Wall Track: OPEN

HOLMES JUNGLE NATURE PARK

Holmes Jungle Nature Park:Open, Upcoming controlled burn off activity within the park – Thursday 19 May from 9:30am to 3pm. Follow all signage and ranger directions.

Top Road, including front gate access: Open

Woodland Walking Tracks: Open

Jungle Walk in Monsoon Forest: Open

Hilltop Picnic Area: Open

Bottom Road (dirt road): Closed, due to seasonal weather conditions.

Anticipated reopening May 2022 dependent on weather.

HOWARD SPRINGS HUNTING RESERVE

Howard Springs Nature Park: OPEN

Rainforest Walk (Howard Creek Walk): OPEN

Springs walking track: OPEN

East Picnic Area: OPEN

Western Picnic Area: OPEN

Rock pools: OPEN

Toddler pool: OPEN

KNUCKEY LAGOONS CONSERVATION RESERVE

Knuckey Lagoons Conservation Reserve: OPEN

LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK

All roads into the national park are open.

BAMBOO CREEK TIN MINE

Bamboo Creek Tin Mine: CLOSED, for seasonal weather conditionsAnticipated reopening May 2022, dependent on weather.

BULEY ROCKHOLE

Buley Rockhole: OPEN for swimming.

CASCADES

Lower section swimming: CLOSED

Upper section swimming: OPEN

Cascades Loop Walk: OPEN

CENTRAL VALLEY

Campground 1: OPEN

Campgrounds 2 and 3: CLOSED, Under construction.

FLORENCE FALLS

Florence Falls Lookout: OPEN

Swimming: OPEN

Shady Creek Walk: OPEN

Florence Creek Walk: OPEN

2WD campground: OPEN

4WD campground: OPEN

GREENANT CREEK

Greenant Creek walk: OPEN

REYNOLDS RIVER TRACK

4WD track access only.

Reynolds River track: CLOSED, due to seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening May 2022, dependent on weather conditions.

Blyth Homestead: CLOSED

Sandy (Camp) Creek Falls: CLOSED

Surprise Creek Falls: CLOSED

THE LOST CITY

4WD track access only.

The Lost City: CLOSED, due to seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening June 2022, dependent on weather conditions

TABLETOP TRACK

Tabletop track access: CLOSED, for seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening June 2022, dependent on weather.

TOLMER FALLS

Tolmer Falls access: OPEN

WALKER CREEK

Walker Creek: OPEN

WANGI FALLS

Campground: OPEN

Loop walk: OPEN

Picnic area: OPEN

Cafe: OPEN, Cafe is open for takeaway only, 11am to 2pm daily – for information about the cafe, go to the Wangi Falls Cafe website.

Swimming: CLOSED, for seasonal weather conditions

Anticipated reopening late-May 2022, dependent on weather.

MANTON DAM RECREATION AREA

Manton Dam Recreation Area: OPEN

Dam: OPEN

MARY RIVER NATIONAL PARK

Mary River National Park: OPEN

Mary River Billabong: CLOSED, due to seasonal weather conditionsAnticipated reopening May 2022, dependent on weather conditions.

Bird Billabong Day Use Area: OPEN

Bird Billabong Walking Track:OPEN, Return walk to bird hide only. Loop walk remains closed.

Brian’s Creek Monsoon Forest Walk: OPEN

Hardies 4WD Track: CLOSED, due to seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening May 2022, dependent on weather conditions.

Jimmy’s Creek Monsoon Forest Walk: OPEN

Mistake Billabong: OPEN-

Rockhole Road: OPEN

Couzens Lookout and Campground: OPEN

North (Wildman) Rockhole: OPEN

Wildman 4WD Track: CLOSED, due to seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening April 2022, dependent on weather conditions.

Shady Camp Campground: OPEN

Shady Camp crocodile viewing platform: CLOSED, due to seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening May 2022, dependent on weather conditions.

Point Stuart Coastal Reserve: CLOSED, Due to seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening May 2022, dependent on weather conditions.

Point Stuart Coastal Reserve Walking Track: CLOSED, due to seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening May 2022, dependent on weather conditions.

Stuarts Tree walking track: CLOSED, due to seasonal weather conditions – Anticipated reopening May 2022, dependent on weather conditions.

SHOAL BAY COASTAL RESERVE

Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve: OPEN

TERRITORY WILDLIFE PARK

Territory Wildlife Park: OPEN

Cafe: OPEN

TJUWALIYN (DOUGLAS) HOT SPRINGS PARK

Tjuwaliyn (Douglas) Hot Springs Park: CLOSED, his park is closed due to water supply issues. We are working with Traditional Owners and the Northern Land Council to resolve these issues. To find out more about this, go to the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security website.

Swimming: CLOSED

Campground: CLOSED

TREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA

Tree Point Conservation Area: OPEN.

UMBRAWARRA GORGE NATURE PARK

Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park: OPEN

Swimming: OPEN

Campground: OPEN

Originally published as New campgrounds, a Ferris wheel, popular swimming hole all open as the Dry sets in