Edith Falls

Visited: dry season

Recommendation: Nitmiluk National Park is stunning and is has something to offer everyone. From stunning scenery to cultural significance or incredible wildlife, the area is a real gem. Edith Falls is within the park and while it is not as well known as Katherine Gorge itself, it is my favourite place. In particular, the campsite enables you to explore after dark with ease.

Edith Falls, also known as Leliyn in the Aboriginal Jawoyn language, is a series of cascading waterfalls and pools located on the Edith River in Nitmiluk National Park, approximately 60 kim north of Katherine. The falls descend from an elevation of 176 meters above sea level and range in height between 8.7-12 metres and there are several pools, including the Main Pool, Upper Pool, and Sweetwater Pool, where you can swim and relax.  

Leliyn Campground offers landscaped campsites with unpowered sites and amenities like a kiosk, gas barbecues, toilets, and showers.  It also gives easy access to the trails. I spent my time exploring the Leliyn Trail, a 2.6 km loop that offers a challenging walk along a steep, rocky path. There is also a longer trail but it was too hot to attempt that in the heat.  

Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus) 

Making the most noise during the day was always the Blue-winged Kookaburra. There were a lot of them here around the campsite and they tended to call earlier the mornings. They were not very cooperative and didn't stick around long if you got anywhere near them. I only got this shot using using a long lens. There was a lot of noise in general from the birds and one of my favourites was the Rufous Whistler. They always sound so cheerful and happy and I quite liked seeing this juvenile bird sitting up after having a bath 

Dusky Myzomela (Myzomela obscura) 

In the mornings on the campsite they run several sprinklers dotted around the campsite close to my campervan. I spent quite a lot of time just sitting and watching the activity around it. There was a a tree with branches overhanging the edge of the sprinkler's range and as I watched I would see the birds coming in sitting on these branches just checking out everything was safe. Then they would either duck down to ground to get wet or just wait for the sprinkler to reach them. Sitting in the trees having a shower without having to move was a wonderful young Dusky Myzomela. It was most entertaining. The bird just relished the water generally looked like it was having a very nice time. 

Also at the back of my van were a pair (well I loosely call them a pair) of dragons. They were a Gilbert's Dragon and a Centralian Lashtail Dragon who were squaring off for territory and it was with much amusement that I watched them chasing each other around for several hours before I think they retreated to opposite sides and gave up because even they were just too hot. 

I did see things along the walks in the area and it was very, very beautiful. The longer walk up into the pools, I have to check that. It was much quieter up there but it was a fantastic place to watch the sun go down. Absolutely stunning. And there are also lots of recreation here. You can particularly bathe safely in the pool at the bottom of the falls which a lot of people did. This is truly a magical place.