Florence Falls 2WD Campground

This is the campground you want if the swimming hole under Florence Falls is the reason you came. A walking track runs straight from the sites to the falls, so you can be in the water early or late in the day without driving anywhere. It is also the easier of the two Florence camping options: the access road is fine for all vehicles, including caravans, camper trailers, campervans and tents, and the facilities are a step up from rougher bush sites in the park. Buley Rockhole shares the same access road, which makes this a sensible base for the northern end of the park.

Sites sit along a single road through dry tropical woodland, with red-brown earth underfoot and foliage between many of them for shade and a bit of privacy. Expect a fire pit at your site, picnic tables, and a nearby block with toilets and showers that is noticeably better kept than most bush amenities. Sites here are generally roomier than the smaller 4WD spaces elsewhere at Florence. There is no power, so bring your own battery or solar setup.

Two routes lead down to the plunge pool:

For a longer leg-stretch, the Florence Creek walk is 3.2 km and takes around 1.5 hours, linking the upstream picnic area and Buley Rockhole. Parking at Buley is tight, so walk from the Florence side rather than driving over.

• The short way: a descent of 160 steps. Quick, but hard work on the way back up, and not the option to choose if stairs are a problem for you or you are carrying a lot of gear.
• The monsoon forest walk: about 1 km one way on an uneven cobble path with some steps, shaded and much more interesting to look at.

• Book and pay online before you arrive. Camping is not paid for in the park.
• Boil all water before drinking it. Carry drinking water if you would rather not.
• Bring your own rubbish bags. There are no bins, so everything leaves with you.
• Collect fallen timber for firewood along the main park road, and burn it only in the designated fire pits.
• Stock up in Batchelor on the way in for food, ice and camping supplies.
• Keep wash water 50 m from waterways. No pets, generators or fireworks.
• Camp only in marked sites. A campground host is on site through the peak months of May to September.

Some sites have uneven ground, so a level spot may take a bit of hunting and you will want levelling blocks for a van. The stair-heavy short track wears thin after a few trips up and down. Mosquitoes are a fact of life, and leeches can turn up around the wet edges of the creek walks, so bring repellent and check yourself after walking. This is a campground with a track to the falls, not a spot with a waterfall view from your site.