Litchfield National Park to Expand by 30,000 Hectares, Adding Robin Falls in Largest Growth in 25 Years
The Northern Territory’s iconic Litchfield National Park is set for its biggest expansion in more than two decades, with the NT government purchasing a 30,000-hectare property known as Silkwood, located southeast of the park near Adelaide River. The $7.5 million acquisition will extend the park’s footprint by 20 per cent and bring popular swimming spot Robin Falls into public hands.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the expansion would preserve the natural beauty of the Top End while opening up new recreational opportunities for locals and tourists.
“This is exactly what restoring the Territory lifestyle looks like — protecting our wide-open spaces while making sure Territorians have more places to enjoy the activities we love,” she said.
The newly acquired land includes untouched waterfalls, gorges, hot springs, wetlands, and 4WD tracks. Once developed, the expansion will offer additional sites for camping, swimming, four-wheel driving, and even a proposed hunting reserve.
Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne described the move as a long-term investment in the environment and the Territory lifestyle.
“This isn’t just a map change — this is a transformational and visionary investment in our lifestyle, livability, and landscape,” he said.
A Boost for Tourism and the Local Economy
Litchfield already draws more than 250,000 visitors annually to sites like Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Buley Rockhole. The government hopes the southern expansion — which adds an area equivalent in size to 15,000 TIO Stadiums — will increase those numbers further, delivering new tourism and economic opportunities for nearby towns like Adelaide River.
The announcement comes amid signs of a tourism rebound in the NT. While most other states saw a drop in domestic travel in the March 2025 quarter, the NT recorded a 34 per cent increase, adding 45,000 trips compared to the same period last year.
Local business owners in Adelaide River have welcomed the move. Tim Carter, owner of the Adelaide River Inn Tourist Park, called it a “huge win” for locals and visitors alike.
“It’ll be very welcome to get [the land] back into government’s hands… It should be huge for the area,” he said.
Market stallholder Marty Bishop agreed, saying she was pleased the area would be protected from private development.
“It’ll be a good thing. It will stop any nasty developments over there,” she said.
The NT government says planning is now underway to identify infrastructure and access opportunities across the newly acquired area.
