Florence Falls

Two routes lead to the water. The short one is 160 steps down from the lookout, quick on the way in and honest work on the way out. The alternative is a 1 km monsoon walk on an uneven cobble path with some steps, gentler in gradient but not smooth underfoot. Either way, treat this as a moderate walk, not a stroll, and factor the climb back up into your plans if you are travelling with kids or anyone unsteady on stairs.

You can enter from the rocky edge or take the steps that lead into deeper water, and it does get deep quickly, so it suits confident swimmers best. There is also swimming in Florence Creek at the top of the falls if you want a change from the pool below the cascade.

The Shady Creek and Florence Falls walk is a Grade 3 moderate route that can be started at the picnic area or the plunge pool, taking in the 160 steps, the 1 km cobble path, monsoon forest and open woodland. Walking in one way and out the other is the easiest way to see both sides of the creek without doubling back on the same steps.

You need a NT Visitor Park Pass. Facilities such as public toilets, showers, wood barbecues, information signs and an emergency call device are provided in the wider Florence Falls area rather than at the pool itself, so carry everything you want at the water. Any water here must be boiled before drinking, so bring plenty of your own. Wear footwear suited to an uneven cobble path and steps. The 2WD and 4WD campgrounds nearby are separate facilities with their own access, so do not count on them for anything at the falls.

It is a popular stop, so expect company at both the lookout and the pool in peak season. There is no easy level path to the water, the return climb is genuinely sweaty in the heat, and the rocky entry plus quick drop into depth will not suit everyone in a group.