All the walks and waterholes open across the Top End this dry season

A popular water hole has reopened following a croc sighting, joining a growing list of open locations across the Top End. SEE OUR FULL UPDATED LIST.

POPULAR swimming hole and water sports spot Manton Dam has reopened to in-water activities.

The park was closed earlier in the month after a croc was sighted in the region.

The popular spot is well-known to water sports enthusiasts in the Top End attracting wakeboarders and water-skiers most weekends in the dry.

The Department advised people to check its website before visiting any Top End swimming hole and to be CrocWise.

Popular swimming hole opens

ONE of the Territory’s most popular swimming holes Wangi Falls is ready to reopen, after unprecedented levels of rain saw much of Litchfield closed.

Wangi Falls is one of the Territory’s most popular destinations offering campgrounds and water holes galore for locals and tourists to wade into.

Recent cold weather and rain fall forced the zone to be shut off but from Saturday, July 9 it was ready to reopen once more.

Litchfield National Park ranger Norm Greenfield said the gates were ready to open with a record number of tourists expected to wade into the waters.

“We’re on schedule to open Wangi and once that happens the gates are open and happy days,” Mr Greenfield said.

“This is an unprecedented year, our usual visitor expectations are about 260,000 people a year, but we’re seeing a marked increase which could suggest 10 to 20 percent more on top of that.

“What we’re seeing is campgrounds are full, as is the commercial space so we’re just opening up as many areas as we can as soon as we can.

“Wangi is a great place to take the family for a picnic and have a look around. It’s just a really nice place to come down for the weekend and get out of town.”

Wangi Falls, Litchfield National Park.

However, much of Butterfly Gorge and the Reynolds Track remain closed with more than 40mm of rain falling in the flood plains.

While some portions of the Reynolds Track have been opened, Mr Greenfield expects it will take at least a couple more weeks for a straight run along the track.

“It’s unprecedented weather this year. Last week we had about 40mm of rain, which equates to a lot of rain in flood plain country,” Mr Greenfield said.

“Butterfly Gorge is actually still inaccessible because of the rain at this stage, we’ve done our crocodile surveys and are ready to open, but unfortunately the rain came in.

“That is the same with the Reynolds River Track, we have opened up the northern side of it from Litchfield Park to Sandy Creek and the southern part from Daly River into Surprise Creek.

“But the middle part is inaccessible. We do hope to get machinery out there in the next week or two to have that finished and open to the public to go all the way through.”

DARWIN REGION PARKS STATUS

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK

MAIN ROADS

Arnhem Highway - Open

Kakadu Highway - Open

Old Jim Jim Road - Open

SOUTH ALLIGATOR REGION

South Alligator boat ramp and picnic area - Open

Mamukala wetlands - Open

Kungarre walk - Open

Red Lily Billabong (Djunda) - Open

Bucket Billabong (Ngarrababa) - Open

Alligator Billabong (Gurdurunguranjdju) - Open

Two Mile Hole Billabong - Open 4WD access only

Four Mile Hole Billabong - Closed

Waldak Irrmbal (West Alligator Head) - Closed

JABIRU REGION

Bowali Visitor Centre - Open

Bowali track - Open

Yilikadjarr walk - Open

Malabanjbanjdju campground - Open

Burdulba campground - Open

EAST ALLIGATOR REGION

Ubirr rock art site - Open

Oenpelli Road (at Magela Creek) - Open

Cahills Crossing - Open for vehicle traffic only. Viewing platform closed for infrastructure upgrade, no pedestrian access

Manngarre rainforest walk - Closed

Bardedjilidji walk - Open

Merl campground - Open

Upstream boat ramp - Open

Downstream boat ramp - Open

BURRUNGKUY REGION

Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art site - Open

Nawurlandja lookout walk - Open

Anbangbang Billabong walk - Open

Kubara pools walk (Gubara pools walk) - Open

Nanguluwurr art site walk - Open

Barrk sandstone walk - Open

Sandy Billabong (Djirrilba) campground - Open 4WD only

Bubba wetlands walk - Open. Partially open, follow track markers.

Mirray (Mirrai) lookout walk - Open

YELLOW WATER REGION

Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) boardwalk - Open

Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) Boat Cruise - Open

Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) boat ramp - Open

Home Billabong walk - Closed

Home Billabong boat ramp - Open

Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre - Open

Mardukal (Mardugal) campground one (caravans) - Open

Mardukal (Mardugal) campground two (tents) - Open

Mardukal (Mardugal) Billabong walk - Open

Mardukal Billabong boat ramp - Open

Kungardun (Gungardun) walk - Open

Jim Jim Billabong (Djim Djim Anlabbarl) campground - Open

Jim Jim Billabong boat ramp - Open

JIM JIM AND TWIN FALLS REGION

Karnamarr (Garnamarr) campground - Open Currently high clearance 4WD only

Budjmi lookout walk - Open Currently high clearance 4WD only

Jim Jim Falls (Barrkmallam) - Open Currently high clearance 4WD only

Barrk Marlam walk - Open Currently high clearance 4WD only

Twin Falls gorge - Closed until further notice for infrastructure upgrades

Twin Falls plateau (escarpment) walk - Open Currently high clearance 4WD only

Bilkbilkmi (Graveside Gorge) - Open Currently high clearance 4WD only

MARY RIVER REGION

Gunlom - Closed Cultural closure until further notice

Maguk - Open Unsealed road, 4WD only

Yurmikmik walks - Open Rough surface, 4WD recommended

Kambolgie campground - Open Rough surface, 4WD recommended

Bukbukluk lookout - Open

Gungurul campground - Open

Gungurul lookout and river walk - Open

Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge) - Open Access by permit only. Currently high clearance 4WD access only

Guratba/Gimbat day use area - Open Currently high clearance 4WD access only

Igoymarrwa (Ikoymarrawa) rock holes - Open 4WD essential. Camping prohibited

Giyamungkurr (Black Jungle Springs) - Closed

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: Closed - due to unseasonal rainfall

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: OPEN

Damn Wall Walk: OPEN

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: CLOSED

HOLMES JUNGLE NATURE PARK

Holmes Jungle Nature Park: Open

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): Open

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

LEANING TREE LAGOON NATURE PARK

Leaning Tree Lagoon Nature Park: OPEN

LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK

All roads into the national park are open.

BAMBOO CREEK TIN MINE

Bamboo Creek Tin Mine: CLOSED

BULEY ROCKHOLE

Buley Rockhole: OPEN for swimming.

CASCADES

Lower section swimming: OPEN

Upper section swimming: OPEN

Cascades Loop Walk: OPEN

CENTRAL VALLEY

Campground 1: OPEN

Campgrounds 2: OPEN

Campgrounds 3: OPEN

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, between Sandy Creek Falls sand Suprise Creek Falls

Blyth Homestead: OPEN

Sandy (Camp) Creek Falls: OPEN

Surprise Creek Falls: OPEN

THE LOST CITY

4WD track access only.

The Lost City: OPEN

TABLETOP TRACK

Tabletop track access: Partly Open

TOLMER FALLS

Tolmer Falls access: OPEN

WALKER CREEK

Walker Creek: OPEN

WANGI FALLS

Campground: OPEN

Loop walk: CLOSED, due to wildfire

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: OPEN

MANTON DAM RECREATION AREA

Manton Dam Recreation Area: OPEN

Dam: OPEN

MARY RIVER NATIONAL PARK

Mary River National Park: OPEN

Mary River Billabong: OPEN

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: Partially Open

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: OPEN

Shady Camp Campground: OPEN

Shady Camp crocodile viewing platform: OPEN

Point Stuart Coastal Reserve: CLOSED, road works

Point Stuart Coastal Reserve Walking Track: CLOSED

Stuarts Tree walking track: CLOSED, road works

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 All the walks and waterholes open across the Top End this dry season