What’s on: Kate Dinning’s guide on the best NT waterfalls to cool off in this wet season

It’s about that time, where you’re back into the swing of the year, you’ve got back into your routine … and now you’re ready to just go for a drive to somewhere without phone reception and dive into a waterfall. Kate Dinning knows all the best spots to cool off.

Kate Dinning on wet season walks to Southern Rockhole.

It’s about that time, where you’re back into the swing of the year, you’ve got back into your

routine … and now you’re ready to just go for a drive to somewhere without phone reception and dive into a waterfall.

When the steadfast daytrip waterfalls like Florence and Buley are closed for swimming – you

might find yourself wondering where you can actually cool off.

I’ve got the answers for you this week.

Sometimes the wet can be unpredictable, so I do always recommend checking the parks access reports before you head off.

Closest to home, the best place to swim in Litchfield currently is the Upper Cascades.

For this journey, make sure you have your walking shoes on – reaching this one is slightly more difficult than many other hotspots in Litchfield.

It’s actually quicker to go the ‘back way’ past Berry Springs, and it’s the next major carpark after Walker Creek – but if you reach Wangi, you’ve gone too far.

The walk is 3.8km return, but takes you across open plains, through a small patch of

monsoonal rainforest, and up some rocks to the tabletop plateau.

Just as you’re wondering how much further you have to go, you’ll start to hear the trickling of water in the distance – and the cascades have mini rock pools and a mostly sandy bottom, the perfect natural jacuzzi.

Kate Dinning at Motorcar falls, Northern Territory.

If you’re up for a bit more of a drive, or maybe even an overnight, consider checking out the

Yurmikmik Walks in Kakadu National Park. One of the longer walks on this track is the Motor Car Falls walk.

It’s a bit more of a mission as the road is unsealed, so taking your 4wd is recommended.

It’s a 7.5km round trip to walk in and out – but the trek takes you winding through monsoon forest and across open plains, looking up to the escarpment – then once you hit the huge waterfall it is well worth it.

This one is best seen right now, in the wet, when it’s at its full power.

The Yurmikmik walks are accessed off the Gimbat road, just past the Mary River Ranger Station.

Further down the Stuart Highway, you can hit the road to Leliyn/Edith Falls for a refreshing

dip in what I think is some of the coldest water in the Top End.

You’ll find this one about 60km north of Katherine, and while the plunge pool at the bottom is currently closed – venture to the Upper Pools via the short but occasionally steep hike, and set yourself up there for a couple of hours.

If you’re keen to make a weekend of it – pack your bathers and some clothes for a wet

season walk, and head out Gorge Road to Nitmiluk Gorge.

Embark on the walk to another waterfall that’s best seen at this time of the year – Southern Rockhole.

It’s a 4km walk in, and is relatively flat until you descend over rocks to get into the plunge pool.

There are water stops on the way so you can bring a reusable bottle, and there are some great vantage points.

If you’ve never done the Baruwei lookout before, I think it’s worth doing that at the start – it

only adds an extra few hundred metres.

My hottest tip of this whole article is to book the ferry back either online or from the visitor

centre, before you start your hike – it leaves at either 12.30 or 3.30, and it means you only

have to do the walk once and can relax after all the swimming! Thank me later.