Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek Falls)

Litchfield National Park / Batchelor, Northern Territory, Australia

About Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek Falls)

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek Falls) is one of Litchfield National Park’s more elusive waterfalls primarily because it involved driving a pretty scary 4wd road to reach.

That makes it a little off the beaten path compared to the park’s other main waterfalls like Florence Falls, Tolmer Falls, and Wangi Falls.

Tjaynera_Falls_106_06152022 - Tjaynera Falls or Sandy Creek Falls
Tjaynera Falls or Sandy Creek Falls

As you can see from the photo above, this is indeed an impressive waterfall worth the trouble to get to, especially when you consider that it’s one of Litchfield’s bigger waterfalls.

I haven’t seen any legitimate height figures concerning this waterfall, but from trying to extrapolate the heights of people who swam up to the falls, I estimate that this waterfall probably is in the neighborhood of 40m tall.

Why Is Tjaynera Falls Tricky To Access?

We’ve actually been aware of this waterfall ever since our first trip to the Northern Territory in June 2006, but unfortunately the road to get to the Sandy Creek Trailhead was closed.

This reflected the conflicting requirements so common in other Top End waterfalls where on the one hand you want more water so the waterfall will put on a show.

Tjaynera_Falls_050_iPhone_06162022 - Traversing scary-looking Tolmer Creek on the Reynolds River Road, which is a 90m stretch that must be crossed in order to access the Sandy Creek (Tjaynera) Trailhead
Traversing scary-looking Tolmer Creek on the Reynolds River Road, which is a 90m stretch that must be crossed in order to access the Sandy Creek (Tjaynera) Trailhead

However, on the flip side, too much water means access closure due to flooding and saltwater crocodiles.

It wasn’t until 16 years later that we finally had a chance to try again, and that was when we experienced a rather scary and murky creek crossing on the Reynolds River 4wd Road (see directions below).

Indeed, this firsthand taste of why the road was closed on our first trip definitely was one of those moments where we took a “leap of faith” with our 4wd rental vehicle, so to speak.

Fortunately, there were depth indicators on this creek crossing (which I think is Tolmer Creek) to help put some numbers to the crossing, especially since we couldn’t see the bottom of the water!

Tjaynera_Falls_002_iPhone_06162022 - Beyond the crossing of Tolmer Creek, the Reynolds River Road remained narrow and rough with the odd potholes and puddles along the way.  This is definitely a drive that only well-equipped 4wd vehicles should even bother with
Beyond the crossing of Tolmer Creek, the Reynolds River Road remained narrow and rough with the odd potholes and puddles along the way. This is definitely a drive that only well-equipped 4wd vehicles should even bother with

This crossing was on the order of about 90m long so a high clearance vehicle is definitely necessary.

Moreover, the 4wd (or at least 4-wheel lock capability) is necessary to keep the wheels moving in case a pair of them get stuck in mud or on a slippery rock.

Only once we got past the scary crossing did we continue driving the narrow 4wd road passing by the Blythe Homestead (which we didn’t do) and eventually reaching the Sandy Creek (Tjaynera) car park and campground.

From there, we then did a pretty straightforward 1.7km walk (3.4km return) on a combination of rocky terrain through monsoonal rainforest before following a sandy surface alongside the aptly-named Sandy Creek.

Trail Description for the Tjaynera Falls Hike

Tjaynera_Falls_018_06152022 - On the Sandy Creek Trail to Tjaynera Falls as it went through a monsoonal rainforest in the early part of its 1.7km length
On the Sandy Creek Trail to Tjaynera Falls as it went through a monsoonal rainforest in the early part of its 1.7km length

From the car park at the Sandy Creek Falls, we went on a pretty straightforward track that skirted a monsoonal rainforest supported by Sandy Creek while clinging to an escarpment ledge within a small canyon.

This scenery lasted for the better part of the first half of the hike, but then the scenery started to widen a bit as the surface got sandier alongside the banks of Sandy Creek.

The track passed through what appeared to be a burned area that might have been treated with prescribed burns during our June 2022 visit.

Shortly after the sandy stretch, the track passed through another well-vegetated area where we crossed a side creek (unbridged) and then continued along the northern banks of Sandy Creek for the final stretch to the falls.

Tjaynera_Falls_048_06152022 - The family traversing a sandy stretch flanked by trees and shrubs burned by what I think was a prescribed burn on the Sandy Creek Trail to Tjaynera Falls
The family traversing a sandy stretch flanked by trees and shrubs burned by what I think was a prescribed burn on the Sandy Creek Trail to Tjaynera Falls

In that final stretch of about 300m or so, the track eventually descended to the plunge pool fronting Tjaynera Falls.

Right at the end of the track, there were flat rocks to make it easier to wade into the water before committing to the swim.

This area was wild enough that there were some pretty sizable fish in the plunge pool, and one other visitor there even spotted a (monitor?) lizard.

Overall, this 3.4km return hike took us a little over an hour (closer to 75 minutes) though we also spent another 45 minutes just chilling out and enjoying the plunge pool before Tjaynera Falls.

Timing A Visit For Tjaynera Falls (Sandy Creek Falls)

Tjaynera_Falls_012_iPhone_06162022 - Tjaynera Falls or Sandy Creek Falls with real-time postprocessing by the iPhone (whereas it would look much harsher on the Sony or other DSLR)
Tjaynera Falls or Sandy Creek Falls with real-time postprocessing by the iPhone (whereas it would look much harsher on the Sony or other DSLR)

As for witnessing Tjaynera Falls, we showed up in the late morning when the falls was still mostly in shadow with the harsh sun cutting across its top.

It didn’t make for the greatest lighting, but I’d imagine since this was a west-facing waterfall, then afternoon would be when the falls would be bathed in sunlight and the surrounding rocks and cliffs could glow more orange.

As for the seasonality of Tjaynera Falls, we already touched on the fact that Wet Season access (when the falls would have the most volume) would not be feasible due to the Reynolds River Road’s crossing of Tolmer Creek being too deep and unsafe.

However, if you wait too long into the Dry Season, then Sandy Creek may not have very good flow.

Tjaynera_Falls_115_06152022 - Framed look at Tjaynera Falls with someone swimming in the large plunge pool flanked by some tall shrubs and grass against the harsh morning sun
Framed look at Tjaynera Falls with someone swimming in the large plunge pool flanked by some tall shrubs and grass against the harsh morning sun

I believe it may go dry or at least trickle deep into the Dry Season (think August or later).

So to make the best of both worlds, you’ll want to pursue Tjaynera Falls shortly after the road is open for the season (which could be as early as late May though we managed to be successful in mid-June 2022).

Of course, under these circumstances, you’ll definitely want a high clearance vehicle that can clear at least 0.2m of water depth on Tolmer Creek (which would be about half-way up a 4wd wheel.

Authorities

Tjaynera Falls or Sandy Creek Falls resides in Litchfield National Park near Batchelor in the Northern Territory. It is administered by the Northern Territory Government. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: litchfield, batchelor, rum jungle, darwin, northern territory, australia, waterfall, outback, reynolds river



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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