Parking
Park at the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) car park; toilets are available there. Follow the lookout track to the Barrk junction; the route returns to the car-park area.
Overview
About Barrk Sandstone Walk
Why go
- Spectacular views across Burrungkuy sandstone country and the surrounding lowlands
- Nanguluwurr rock art adds major cultural depth to the route
- A marked circuit through distinctive stone-country and woodland habitats
Heads up
- Rough, steep and exposed terrain with sections that have no formed path
- Route finding can be tricky when orange markers are obscured by vegetation
- Seasonal access and cultural closures can affect the walk; check the Kakadu road report
This is a difficult Grade 4 walk for fit, well-prepared hikers who are comfortable with steep slopes, exposed sandstone, loose rocks and sections without a formed path. Keep the orange markers in sight; if you cannot find the next one, return to the last marker and look again.
Parkwolf’s verdictDifficulty and who it\'s forMap & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Kakadu alerts
- ClosureBarrk sandstone walk closedMentions this trailBarrk sandstone walk is closed at the request of Traditional Owners; do not enter. Check the current Kakadu access report before travelling.Official details
- 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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Kakadu Tour Guide
Your drive to Barrk Sandstone Walk, 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 tourRecorded for this trailhead
Burrungkuy (Nourlangie): A 20,000-Year-Old Art GalleryListen
“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 this trailhead in the Parkwolf Kakadu Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Leichhardt's Grasshopper
- Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) Rock Art and Lookout
- Nawurlandja Lookout: A Top Sunset Spot
- Djarradjin Billabong and Muirella Park
- 111 audio storiesacross Kakadu’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Saltwater Crocodile, Water Buffalo, Frilled Dragon, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 35 trails, 54 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Barrk Sandstone Walk
What to expectBarrk Sandstone Walk is Kakadu\'s difficult 12 km loop around Burrungkuy (Nourlangie).
Barrk Sandstone Walk is Kakadu\'s difficult 12 km loop around Burrungkuy (Nourlangie). From the Nourlangie car park, follow the marked Burrungkuy lookout track to the Barrk junction and Gunwarde-warde Lookout, then climb onto the sandstone outlier and cross its heathland, rocky slabs and ridges. The route descends on the far side and returns through woodland to the car-park area. Allow about 6 hours.
Route and highlightsThe initial climb is steep and rough, with orange triangular markers on trees and rocks.
The initial climb is steep and rough, with orange triangular markers on trees and rocks. The top brings wide views across the lowlands and escarpment. Midway around the walk, a short marked detour reaches the Nanguluwurr art site, where paintings depict spirits, animals, ships and people from different periods. The route then continues through the transition from sandstone outcrops and spinifex to open woodland before finishing by the western cliffs and the car park.
Nature notesBurrungkuy\'s stone country supports habitats and species that differ from the lowlands.
Burrungkuy\'s stone country supports habitats and species that differ from the lowlands. Watch for the namesake barrk (male black wallaroo), distinctive rock-country birds and seasonal sandstone-country flowers, while respecting the Nanguluwurr cultural site.
Access and practical tipsAccess is seasonal; the current Kakadu page lists January through October, so check the Kakadu…
Access is seasonal; the current Kakadu page lists January through October, so check the Kakadu road report before setting out. Start early, wear sturdy footwear and carry 4–6 litres of water per person, food and a first-aid kit. Toilets are available at the car park, but there are none on the route; mobile coverage may be poor. Keep a safe distance from snakes and other wildlife, and tell a responsible adult when you start and finish.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Kakadu
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 mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Kakadu. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
