Murujuga Cultural Landscape

Murujuga Cultural Landscape on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia is a cultural heritage site composed of extensive rock-art engravings and associated places that document long-standing Indigenous presence. The rock art panels form part of a larger cultural landscape with continuing significance to Traditional Owner groups.

The principal attraction is the dense distribution of petroglyphs engraved on intertidal and inland rock surfaces, depicting animals, human figures, tools and other motifs created over many millennia. These panels are complemented by archaeological evidence and living cultural practices that link landscape features to ritual and social life.

The rock art assemblage developed over an extended time scale and is considered one of the world’s most significant concentrations of engravings in terms of density and thematic breadth. Contemporary Indigenous guardianship and site management play a central role in preserving and interpreting the cultural landscape.

Murujuga lies on the Pilbara coast near the towns of Karratha and Dampier in northwest Western Australia, occupying a rocky peninsula and adjacent islands within a coastal-industrial setting.

• Rock art concentration: Murujuga contains one of the largest known concentrations of petroglyphs in the world, with rock art panels spanning a long temporal sequence and wide thematic range.
• Access and management: Access and management are influenced by Indigenous custodianship and nearby industrial developments; guided visits from regional centres such as Karratha and Dampier are the usual means for the public to view major panels.

What to See#

• Murujuga rock art panels: Extensive rock-art panels and engraved motifs distributed across the peninsula and nearby islands, representing human figures, animals, tools and symbolic scenes created over many millennia.
• Cultural and landscape sites: Coastal and inland archaeological places associated with Indigenous occupation and ceremonial activity, forming a broader cultural landscape beyond the petroglyphs themselves.

• Visit Murujuga with an Indigenous‑led or licensed guided tour - much of the Burrup Peninsula is on industrial or restricted land and guides provide access permissions, cultural context and best viewing spots for petroglyphs.
• Plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon (low, raking light) to make the shallow engravings stand out; avoid midday when high sun washes out the rock art and coastal heat is strongest.
• Respect site boundaries and requests from Traditional Owners: many rock art panels are fragile and viewing is regulated, so follow guides' instructions and stick to designated paths to avoid accidental damage.