Nourlangie Rock Art Site (Burrungkuy)

Overview

About Nourlangie Rock Art Site (Burrungkuy)

Burrungkuy—often called Nourlangie—is Kakadu’s headline rock art complex. A sandstone outcrop shelters the Anbangbang Gallery, where superimposed paintings layer stories from deep time right through first European contact. It’s a compact, easy visit that delivers on both culture and scenery.

Why stop

World-class Aboriginal rock art spanning tens of thousands of years
Short, well-signed loop with an optional lookout for big views
Dry-season ranger talks add invaluable context

Heads up

Gets busy in the peak dry season
Hot and exposed at midday

This is one of the richest concentrations of rock art in the park, with works dating up to 20,000–30,000 years. The layers show continuous cultural expression—painting over painting—as stories, species, and history changed. It’s a place where you can feel the timescale.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy It’s Special

Map

Where it is

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SightNourlangie Rock Art Site (Burrungkuy)-12.86699, 132.81118

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Nourlangie Rock Art Site (Burrungkuy)

Arrive early or late to beat the heat and the tour crowds.
Plan your visit in the dry season to catch ranger-led talks.
Bring plenty of water, sun protection, and take your time reading the signs.
Add the lookout spur for big views; it’s a short but worthwhile climb.
Combine with Anbangbang Billabong for wildlife and a quieter loop.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Time of year: Dry season for the most reliable access and ranger activities.
Time of day: Early morning or late afternoon for softer light, cooler temps, fewer crowds, and better wildlife activity.
Photography: Side-lit panels pop in early/late light; the lookout shines near golden hour.
Note: Some areas may close seasonally—check current park notices before you go.

How to Visit

The main circuit is about 1.5 km, with clear signage and side paths to shelters and viewpoints. Allow 60–90 minutes if you like to linger with the art, longer if you add the lookout.
Dry-season ranger talks are a standout—plan around them if you can.
Respect the art: never touch rock surfaces and stay on marked paths.
A Kakadu National Park pass is required; buy ahead to save time.

8 active Kakadu alerts

ClosureJim Jim and Twin Falls area closed for 2026The Jim Jim and Twin Falls area is closed for 2026; do not visit the closed sites.Official details
ClosureBarrk sandstone walk closedBarrk sandstone walk is closed at the request of Traditional Owners; do not enter. Check the current Kakadu access report before travelling.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Kakadu Tour Guide

Your drive to Nourlangie Rock Art Site (Burrungkuy), narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Kakadu National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Kakadu audio tour

Recorded for this place

Burrungkuy (Nourlangie): A 20,000-Year-Old Art Gallery

Listen

“Coming up is the turn for Burrungkuy, which you might know as Nourlangie, one of the most significant rock art sites in Australia.”

Plays as you drive up to Nourlangie Rock Art Site (Burrungkuy) in the Parkwolf Kakadu Tour Guide.

More about Nourlangie Rock Art Site (Burrungkuy)

What You’ll SeeAnbangbang Gallery: x-ray style fish and animals, creation beings like Namarrkon (Lightning…

Anbangbang Gallery: x-ray style fish and animals, creation beings like Namarrkon (Lightning Man), and rare first-contact imagery such as European sailing ships.
Multiple rock shelters with excellent interpretive signage that explains techniques, eras, and meanings.
A short climb to a lookout with sweeping views of the Arnhem Land escarpment and surrounding woodlands.

WildlifeKeep an eye out in the cooler hours for the chestnut‑quilled rock pigeon and, if you’re lucky,…

Keep an eye out in the cooler hours for the chestnut‑quilled rock pigeon and, if you’re lucky, the elusive black wallaroo (barrk). Nearby woodlands and billabongs support diverse birdlife.

Nearby Add-onsPair your visit with the Anbangbang Billabong walk or another nearby art site like Nanguluwurr…

Pair your visit with the Anbangbang Billabong walk or another nearby art site like Nanguluwurr for a deeper dive into styles and stories.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Kakadu

All Kakadu wildlife maps

1,079 sightingsSaltwater CrocodileMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

121 sightingsWater BuffaloMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

76 sightingsFrilled DragonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

116 sightingsRed-tailed Black CockatooMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

101 sightingsBrolgaMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

299 sightingsMagpie GooseMost seen around 5 PMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Kakadu. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.