Nourlangie (Burrungkuy)
Kakadu National Park, Kakadu, Northern Territory, 0822
Nourlangie (Burrungkuy) is an escarpment in the Kakadu National Park that displays 20,000 years of Aboriginal history and culture. It’s one of the most significant Aboriginal rock art sites in the area; you can see paintings of a European sailing ship and white men, which represent the first contact between cultures.
The basics
Nourlangie is one of the best places to learn about Aboriginal culture and art in the Northern Territory. The 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) circuit track takes you to the Anbangbang and Incline rock art galleries and two lookout points. You can also spot rare chestnut-quilled rock pigeons and black wallaroos, a small animal related to the kangaroo. Many travelers visit Nourlangie independently while staying in Jabiru or elsewhere in the national park. Some Kakadu day trips from Darwin and multi-day tours of the Top End stop at Nourlangie.
Things to know before you go
Allow around two hours for your visit to Nourlangie as there are several rock art galleries and lookouts to visit.
It’s essential to carry water when visiting, as none is available here and temperatures can get very hot.
Part of the track to the rock art galleries is suitable for wheelchair users, although the paths to the lookouts are not.
There are public toilets in the parking lot.
How to get there
Nourlangie is 22 miles (36 kilometers) south of Jabiru, the main town of Kakadu National Park. It takes about 30 minutes to drive and it’s an easy journey along the Kakadu Highway, turning off at Nourlangie Road. Alternatively, some tours of Kakadu stop at Nourlangie.
When to get there
Most people visit the Kakadu National Park and Nourlangie in the dry season (May-October). In the wet season, the plains flood and many places are cut off from road access. However, those who brave the wet season can access Nourlangie year-round, though it can sometimes be cut off by flooding. It’s open from early morning until sunset.
Where to watch the sunset at Ubirr
Nourlangie is one of two famous rock art sites in Kakadu National Park; the other is at Ubirr. The track to the rock art site and lookout is a bit shorter than at Nourlangie, so this is a good option if you don’t want to walk too far. The lookout over the Nadab floodplain is also a prime spot from which to see the sun go down.
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