Camp at the entrance to the Litchfield National Park to cool off at watering holes and falls.
Less than an hour’s drive from Darwin and just east of the popular Litchfield National Park, little Batchelor is a handy base for exploring the Top End. In a lush part of the Northern Territory, where rivers and waterfalls tumble from the sandstone plateau of the Tabletop Range, the area’s monsoonal forests provide respite from the parched deserts further south. Campers can stay in well-equipped holiday parks in town, in the quaintly named Rum Jungle, and along the B30 highway, as well as in the national park, which should be booked in advance—seek out a site with waterfall access for a refreshing stay. Batchelor campsites and caravan parks tend to cater to campers of all varieties, from those with a simple swag sack and backpack to well-equipped, self-contained caravans.