The Ultimate Guide To Namadgi National Park

Taking up almost half of the Australian Capital Territory, Namadgi National Park is one of Australia’s greatest natural wonders.

Namadgi National Park represents 46 per cent of the ACT, lying just 40 minutes southwest of Canberra City with more than 106,000 hectares of alpine, sub-alpine and mountain areas.

Since it was first declared a national park in 1984, this immensely diverse region has been a source of great inspiration for nature lovers, offering an incredible range of landscapes from grassy pains and snow gum woodlands to sub-alpine meadows and hidden fern gullies.

It’s often unexplored because visitors are unsure of what to do with something so wonderfully vast. To help, we’ve rounded up some of the top things to do in Namadgi National Park so you can make the most of your visit to this important, largely underappreciated, part of Australia’s geographically diverse east coast.

1. Search the national park for historic huts

a man sitting outside a homestead, Orroral — The Orroral homestead was built in the 1860s and has stood the test of time. (Image: Michael Maconachie)

Several historic homesteads lie across Namadgi National Park, retelling the story of colonial pastoralists and early recreational skiers. Filled with character, these homes are not only great photo opportunities but they tell the story of this region with every crack and crevice.

Gudgenby, for example, is a timber slab hut built in 1845. After serving time in a shipping container, it’s been beautifully restored and reconstructed near the Namadgi National Park visitors’ centre and can be viewed anytime. Audio features retelling tales of early settlers help contextualise the park before you set off to explore.

You’ll also want to look for Orroral, the park’s oldest original homestead which was built in the 1860s and can be found near the Orroral campground.

2. Walk to Booroomba Rocks

a couple standing atop Booroomba Rocks, Namadgi National Park — One of Namadgi’s best walks, hiking to Booroomba Rocks affords spectacular views. (Image: Visit Canberra)

If you’ve only got time for one hiking trail in Namadgi National Park, take the short 2.5 Booroomba Rocks tail up to the park’s most cinematic section. The 40-minute walk will take you through tall forests up to sweeping granite cliffs surrounded by big, beautiful boulders.

With great views of the Brindabella Range, this is one of the most scenic walks in the state, starting from Booroomba Park Park with clear markings along the way.

The walk is best done in spring when the area is blanketed in beautiful multi-coloured wildflowers like yellow and orange peas, daisies and flax lilies. Keep an eye out for Canberra’s signature royal bluebells along some of the wetter areas of the trail.

3. See Australia’s tallest mountain range

a woman walking along the Mount Tennent Trail, Canberra — Mount Tennent Trail is one of Canberra’s hardest walking trails. (Image: We Are Explorers for VisitCanberra)

Namadgi National Park is notable for many reasons, though mostly because it forms the northern tip of the Australian Alps. The various microclimates created by Australia’s tallest mountain range mean the park has an incredible diversity of environments, from steep slopes and open plateaus to dramatic alpine meadows strewn with natural beauty.

The best way to experience this end of the Australian Alps is by walking the 13.7-kilometre Mount Tennent Trail. Challenging as it may be, this is one of the most rewarding walks in Australia, taking you through many of these landscapes across five hours.

4. Pitch a tent

kangaroos grazing on the field, Orroral — Spot kangaroos grazing on lush green grass. (Image: Visit Canberra)

Camping in Namadgi National Park is allowed at either of three designated campgrounds – Orroral, Mt Clear, or Honeysuckle. And each offers a remarkably different experience for those who want to really give themselves over to this cinematic slice of Australia.

Orroral Campgrounds is ideal for anyone wanting easy access to the picturesque Orroral Heritage Walking Track, which is around 6 kilometres one-way and should take around 2.5 hours to complete. Mt Clear is preferred for its bounty of historic huts nearby. Meanwhile, Honeysuckle is frequented by history buffs, keen to camp at the actual spot where the world’s first vision of the moon landing was transmitted.

If you don’t want to camp, hire out the historic Ready-Cut Cottage instead. The heritage cottage can sleep up to seven and is positioned in one of the most beautiful areas of the park near the Gudgenby River.

5. Look for Indigenous rock art

a couple admiring ancient Aboriginal paintings at Yankee Hat rock art site — See ancient Aboriginal paintings at Yankee Hat rock art site. (Image: Tourism Australia)

There are plenty of things that make Namadgi National Park one of the most historically significant regions in Australia. Although the primary reason would be more than 200 recorded Aboriginal sites, not only covered with fascinating rock art but plenty of other details best showcased by Dhawura Tours on one of their custodian-led itineraries.

6. Spot the incredible flora and fauna

a Corroboree Frog in Namadgi National Park — Only hundreds are left of the Critically Endangered Northern Corroboree Frogs (NCF) in the wild. (Image: Visit Canberra)

Namadgi National Park is also one of the most bountiful regions of on Australia’s east coast, rivalling Western Australia when it comes to beautiful, multi-coloured wildflowers. Search the park and you might even spot the reddish-purple Brindabella midge orchid, found nowhere else on Earth.

You’ll almost certainly bump into kangaroos and wallabies but Namadgi is home to 13 threatened species so wildlife encounters are pretty much a given. This also includes wombats, gliders, lyrebirds, wedge-tail eagles and the critically endangered Northern Corroboree Frog.

Discover the best things to do in Canberra.

Summer transforms the Northern Territory into a lush paradise of colour and life, as a visit during the ‘low-season’ reveals secrets the locals willingly share.

Waterlilies bloom, floodplains are alive with birdlife, waterfalls are gushing, and everywhere the green is dazzling. Summer in the Top End and the Red Centre is a kaleidoscope of unexpected wonders that delight and surprise visitors. Of course, the locals know only too well that the Northern Territory low season is often the best time to see and experience this amazing part of Australia.

Here are some of the reasons why savvy travellers – avoiding the crowds – are discovering a new dimension to the Territory. Remember that you’ll need a Parks Pass to visit national parks.

1. Take a dip in the Florence Falls waterhole

Wander through savanna woodland and monsoon forest to discover the perfect place to cool off – the waterhole at the base of spectacular Florence Falls in the magnificent Litchfield National Park , just 90 minutes’ drive from Darwin. The falls flow year-round but are most spectacular during the summer. Camping is available nearby but bookings are essential and must be made online before you visit.

Surrounded by lush forest, a woman cools off in Florence Falls, just one of many incredible things to do in the Northern Territory. — Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls. (Image: Joshua Griffin)

2. Wind down at Buley Rock Hole

Another popular local swimming spot in Litchfield National Park is Buley Rock Hole , open year-round. This is a great place to wind down after exploring everything the park has to offer, including towering termite mounds. Wade through the rock pools, soak up the scenic bush or just lie back and relax as the cool water rolls over you.

Buley Rockhole, Litchfield National Park — Let the cool water wash over you. (Image: Tourism Australia)

3. Tour the Tiwi Islands

The Tiwi Islands , a scenic 80km flight from Darwin across the narrow Clarence and Dundas Straits, reveal a different side to the Territory, with their own distinctive culture. Take a day tour with Tiwi by Design to visit Bathurst Island and learn about creation stories, the Mission days, World War II history and the islanders’ obsession with AFL!

Take a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of Tiwi Design’s screen-printing workshop and pick up a great souvenir in the form of art. Choose from contemporary or traditional Tiwi designs and a wide range of work including carvings, paintings, pottery, printmaking, bark paintings and tunga (bark baskets).

A creative moment shared inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing space. — Take a peek inside Tiwi Design’s screen-printing studio. (Image: Tourism NT)

4. Dine in Darwin

Foodies are spoilt for choice in multi-cultural Darwin. Try Sri Lankan flavours at Ella by Minoli, where Masterchef contestant Minoli De Silva creates delectable dishes, or head to Charlie’s of Darwin for gin-tasting, cocktails and more. Bowls of fragrant laksa, excellent coffee, fresh vegetables and authentic crafts are all part of a weekend visit to Darwin’s Parap Markets , Rapid Creek Markets and the Nightcliff Markets .

Prefer to catch your own dinner? Book a Top End fishing charter to bag a barramundi – and from October register for the annual Million Dollar Fish competition. Hooking one of the tagged barra released each year in waterways across the Territory could win you up to $1 million.

A bowl of Laksa. — Eat your way through multicultural Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT)

5. Up close with Uluṟu

The magnificent monolith Uluṟu is even more magical when the summer rains fall. When it rains on The Rock, the locals come out to watch – consider yourself lucky if that happens when you visit. Waterfalls cascading off the sides of Uluṟu is a sight that relatively few tourists see.

There’s so much to do at Uluṟu, from guided walks to learn the stories of the Aṉangu people and the ancient landscape they live in to scenic flights for a bird’s-eye view or a leisurely walk around the base of Uluṟu. Book ahead to spend the evening wandering through the Field of Light installation by Bruce Munro.

A closer look at Uluru and uncover its ancient stories, sacred sites, and striking natural beauty – one of the most iconic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Discover the details that make Uluṟu truly sacred. (Image: Tourism NT)

6. Drive the Red Centre Way

From Alice Springs, take an epic road trip along the Red Centre Way, taking in Uluru and Watarrka National Park, home to the magnificent Kings Canyon. Allow at least a week to drive through the red heart of Australia by 4WD, a little longer on the sealed road by 2WD vehicle, travelling through ochre deserts, palm-lined valleys and dramatic gorges. Stop off at waterholes for a refreshing dip along the way.

Kings Canyon offers hiking options for all levels of fitness, from the three-hour Rim Walk atop soaring sandstone walls to the gentler Kings Creek Walk. Either way, you’ll have breathtaking views.

SEIT Outback Australia is a small group touring specialist offering exciting, adventurous, exclusive and specialised iconic, pioneering and cultural touring in the Red Centre of Australia, giving you the time to learn, absorb and relax in the heart of Australia.<br /><br />This innovative tour company focuses on providing clients with the ultimate interpretive touring experiences with a range of products and customised touring itineraries for small groups and bespoke private charters.<br /><br />The company bases its philosophies from the key words of Spirit, Emotion, Intellect and Task (SEIT). — Drive through Australia’s heart. (Image: Outback Australia Tours)

7. Take a walk at Kata Tjuṯa

Head out early to tackle the Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuṯa . This natural wonder, also known as The Olgas, is a labyrinth of soaring ochre domes that glow golden at sunrise and sunset (the walk may be closed during the middle of the day as temperatures rise).

Walking trails range from easy to longer, more difficult tracks. At the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area, take in the panoramic view of the domes. The longest of the trails is the Valley of the Winds Walk, a 7.4km circuit that winds between the domes and through creek beds. It’s moderately difficult and steep in places, but offers stunning views – and occasional encounters with kangaroos.

The Valley of the Winds Walk at Kata Tjuta is one of the most awe-inspiring things to do in the Northern Territory, especially at sunrise when the domes glow golden. — Step into the golden light of Kata Tjuṯa. (Image: Tourism NT)

8. Explore Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges

Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park lies 135km west of Alice Springs, with many fascinating natural features to beguile visitors. The ‘West Macs’ formations include chasms, gorges and waterholes – take your swimsuit for a dip at Ormiston Gorge waterhole, open year-round. The Ormiston Pound Walk is a three to four-hour circuit that leaves from the visitor centre and loops back along the gorge via the main waterhole. Other places of interest in the park include Simpsons Gap , Standley Chasm , Ellery Creek Big Hole and Glen Helen .

Soaking in the serenity of Ormiston Gorge, these two travellers enjoy one of the most scenic things to do in the Northern Territory. — Take the plunge at Ormiston Gorge waterhole. (Image: Joshua Griffin Litchfield)

Start planning the NT road trip of a lifetime at northernterritory.com

The ultimate guide to Namadgi National Park