Nourlangie Rock In Kakadu National Park – Visitor’s Guide

Nourlangie Rock (also known as Burrungkuy Rock Art Site) is located in the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.

With rock art, walking trails, and viewing platforms, this is one hotspot not to be missed on your Northern Territory itinerary.

I have put together this complete guide to Nourlangie Rock including where it’s located, the best time to visit, and what to expect when you arrive.

WHERE IS NOURLANGIE ROCK?

Nourlangie Rock is located in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia.

Situated 282 kilometers away from Darwin in Kakadu National Park, Nourlangie is a remote and very spectacular place to visit.

Click here to see the location on Google Maps.

Sealed roads will take you from Darwin all the way through to Kakadu National Park and you should allow 2-3 hours.

Access to the Kakadu National Park is available all year round and an entry pass is required to reach Nourlangie.

To save time on this already quite long journey, I would recommend purchasing a pass online before you leave.

GET IT HERE → KAKADU NATIONAL PARK PASS

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK TOUR

If you happen to be in Darwin and planning to visit Kakadu National Park, there is one tour that I can highly recommend that covers all the highlights on a full-day trip from Darwin.

The Kakadu National Park Explorer Full Day Tour is the most top-rated tour with great reviews and hundreds of bookings.

This tour covers the top attractions in Kakadu National Park such as the Yellow Water Billabong Cruise, Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and Nourlangie.

With a hassle-free pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Darwin, a hearty lunch, and an English-speaking guide.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

With this part of Australia being a very dry climate, and with Nourlangie being open all year round, you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to planning your trip and deciding what time is best to visit.

I would recommend visiting in the spring/summer, to make sure you stay dry, so you can do the walking trails, and so you have the chance to capture the incredible sunrise or sunset from Nawurlandja Lookout.

Bear in mind, during the day it’s far too hot to visit with the intense sun beaming down. So the best time of day to check out the rock art will definitely be morning or afternoon.

Whichever time of day you plan to visit, you know you’re going to be in for an epic adventure, and make sure you pack your camera as the sunrise and sunsets at Nourlangie are pretty hard to beat!

ARRIVING AT NOURLANGIE ROCK

Once you have turned off the freeway and taken the road 19 kilometers south of the Bowali Visitor Centre, along the sealed road, and through Kakadu National Park, you will reach a large car park that is signposted.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted with plenty of free parking spaces for cars, coaches, and other vehicles. There are also electric BBQs, picnic areas, and public toilets available for all visitors.

From the car park, simply follow the sealed pathway that leads to the historical Nourlangie Rock art sites.

RELATED ARTICLE → 2 WEEK NT ITINERARY

WHAT TO EXPECT AT NOURLANGIE ROCK

One of the best things about this attraction is that entry is completely free once you’re inside Kakadu National Park.

This world-heritage-accredited site is one hell of a sight for sore eyes. Towering above the landscape, you will certainly be blown away by the sheer volume of this incredible landmark.

Spend time sitting around the picnic area taking it all in or embark on the walking trails and learn more about the incredible site.

The walking trails around the rock are around a 45-minute return journey.

These self-guided walks are paved by wooden boardwalks to guide you on your way, with staircases rising between the rocks and viewing platforms dotted around, this walking trail is certainly not to be missed.

The circuit trail is around 1.5 kilometers in total and is suitable for people of all ages.

Burrungkuy is famed for its rock art, which plays an important cultural part in Aboriginal life in Kakadu.

Whilst art takes on many roles, its primary role is for the sharing of knowledge. Famed for its art, it offers more than just a good picture.

It was here to teach the children about the culture and kinship and even nowadays, it’s still teaching tourists who visit the site every day.

As you take on the walking trails, you will pass many of the rock faces covered in art. You have the opportunity to read a little about each piece of art and learn a little more about the history of this incredible site.

Some of the newer pieces of art are believed to have been created within the last 1000 years.

NAWURLANDJA LOOKOUT

When you’ve finished exploring this beautiful Aboriginal art site, be sure to continue the adventure to the Nawurlandja Lookout, a short 10-minute drive from Nourlangie.

Nawurlandja Lookout in Kakadu National Park offers breathtaking views across Anbangbang Billabong and also boasts sweeping views of Arnhem Land escarpment.

FULL BLOG POST → NAWURLANDJA LOOKOUT

WHAT TO PACK FOR NORTHERN TERRITORY

When visiting NT, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS – BURRUNGKUY ROCK ART SITE

Overall, this stunning attraction is more than just a stop-off on your Northern Territory itinerary. It’s an educational site, a cultural point of interest, and a pretty epic backdrop for your pictures.

Checking it out from the Nawurlandja Lookout is one thing, but actually approaching the rock itself and absorbing all it has to offer up close, is something entirely different.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

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Many thanks!

This trip was in association with NT Tourism and Backyard Bandits.