Central Valley Campground 2

Central Valley Campground 2 is one of three small campgrounds beside the East Reynolds River in Litchfield National Park. It combines a remote four-wheel-drive approach with designated creek swimming, but it is not an improvised bush camp: NT Parks allocates 12 numbered sites and sets firm vehicle, group and booking limits.

Sites and facilities#

The official Central Valley page lists 12 unpowered, drive-in sites at Campground 2. Each booking covers one campsite, one vehicle and trailer, and no more than six people. The maximum stay is 14 nights and departure is required by 11am on the final day.

Pit toilets are provided. There are no showers and no water supply at any Central Valley campground, so bring every litre needed for drinking, cooking, washing and emergencies. The sites are unpowered and generators are prohibited. A fuel stove and a self-contained lighting and refrigeration plan are safer than depending on a fire.

Swimming is restricted to designated areas. Check that the site and swimming area are open before departure, follow signs and keep children within reach around slippery rock and changing water. General Litchfield warnings about seasonal conditions and crocodile risk still apply.

High-clearance 4WD and the locked gate#

Campgrounds 1 and 2 require a high-clearance 4WD; NT Parks says AWD vehicles are not recommended. Camper trailers are allowed, but caravans are not. The route uses a locked gate, so book first and follow the access instructions attached to the reservation. Do not leave the gate code or directions until you are outside reception.

The remote track can be affected by wet-season weather even when the sealed parts of Litchfield are open. Check the park status page immediately before driving in, travel in daylight and be prepared to turn around. One vehicle and trailer per site means a second support car should not be assumed to fit the booking.

Booking and pass#

Reservations open six months before the month of travel. Book and pay through the NT Parks system before leaving; camping fees and the NT Parks Visitor Pass are separate. Non-NT residents need the pass as well as the campsite reservation.

Save the booking, gate instructions, site map and park alerts offline. Central Valley is deliberately quieter than Litchfield's easy-access campgrounds, but that also means fewer opportunities to solve a forgotten-water, vehicle or access problem after arrival.

What campers say#

Recent public discussion is useful for choosing among the three Central Valley areas. A public camping-group thread, a 2025 touring feature and a local trip report suggest these recurring patterns:

• Campground 2 sites are generally described as spacious, separated by vegetation and more private than a large open camping field.
• Campers like the nearby shallow creek sections, though water depth and suitability vary and official signs control.
• The lack of water and showers is easy to underestimate; visitors repeatedly recommend arriving fully supplied.
• The rough approach is part of the experience and should not be treated as a shortcut for an AWD.
• Mobile reception is commonly treated as unreliable, making offline access instructions essential.

Individual site shade, creek access and ground conditions vary. Review photos can help orient you, but use the current official map for the booked site.

Pack for insects as well as heat, keep food sealed and use only established paths between the campsite and designated swimming access. Quiet voices and low lighting help preserve the seclusion that draws campers to Central Valley.

If Campground 2 is full#

Campgrounds 1 and 3 have different site numbers and vehicle requirements, so compare the official details rather than assuming a like-for-like alternative. CampWatch can monitor supported Central Valley dates for a cancellation while you keep an accessible backup elsewhere in Litchfield.