Nourlangie Rock

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Nourlangie Rock

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Burrunggui, often called Nourlangie Rock, is a large sandstone outcrop in northern Australia known for its ancient Aboriginal rock art and escarpment views. Visitors come for the painted shelters, short walks and to learn about local Dreaming stories.

Nourlangie Rock Darwin, Northern TerritoryAlice SpringsKatherine, Northern TerritoryNourlangie Rock

Nourlangie Rock essentials

Address: Burrunggui (Nourlangie), Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Burrunggui sits on an outlying sandstone formation of the Arnhem Land Escarpment inside Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. The site is part of the park’s World Heritage values for both its cultural and natural significance and occupies the traditional Country of the Gun-djeihmi-speaking people.

There are several rock shelters and panels across the outcrop that contain paintings in Mimi and x-ray styles, hand stencils and depictions of ancestral beings, animals and some introduced European items. Famous shelters include Anbangbang and Nangawulurr, and important artists such as Nayombolmi contributed many of the images now interpreted in the park.

Visiting Burrungui is a mix of short walks between shelters, sheltered viewing areas and interpretive signs that explain motifs and Dreaming stories; some panels are fragile and protected with fences or restricted access. The rock art faces natural and human threats, so visitors are asked to stick to paths, obey signage and treat the site as a living cultural place.

  • Anbangbang Shelter: One of the best-known shelters with intricate paintings by local artists, including works attributed to Nayombolmi.
  • Nangawulurr Shelter: A northern-side shelter that contains a mix of styles, hand stencils and a rare white sailing-ship image among the panels.
  • Mimi and x-ray panels: Paintings showing ancestral Mimi figures and x-ray depictions of animals that reveal internal anatomy and Dreaming subjects.
  • Escarpment views: Lookouts around the outcrop give broad views across the Kakadu landscape and the Arnhem Land Escarpment.
  • Short interpretive walks: Marked paths link the main shelters and include signage that explains the art, its materials and cultural meanings.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Nourlangie Rock#

Burrunggui is best visited in the dry season when walks and viewpoints are reliably accessible; the wet season brings heavy rain, high humidity and possible site closures.

Dry season (best)
May - September · 18°C - 34°C (64°F - 93°F)
Stable, sunny weather makes walking between shelters comfortable and park roads are usually open, making it the most reliable time for visiting.
Shoulder season
April and October · 23°C - 36°C (73°F - 97°F)
Transitional months can offer fewer visitors and dramatic skies, but short storms or building humidity may appear as the wet season approaches or wanes.
Wet season
November - March · 24°C - 35°C (75°F - 95°F)
Heavy rainfall, high humidity and flood-prone roads can limit access to some sites and can obscure or damage fragile panels, so check local conditions and closures.

Weather & Climate near Nourlangie Rock#

Climate

Nourlangie Rock's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in November) and warm winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 18°C to 36°C. Abundant rainfall (1477 mm/year), wettest in February with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 32 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
44°
Warmest Month
8°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 25° - 33° 35° 332 mm overcast 85% 1.8 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.6h
February Acceptable 24° - 32° 34° 341 mm overcast 87% 1.6 m/s 2.6 extreme 12.4h
March Acceptable 24° - 32° 33° 305 mm partly cloudy 85% 1.5 m/s 2.6 extreme 12.1h
April Very Good 23° - 33° 32° 70 mm some cloud 78% 1.8 m/s 2.4 extreme 11.7h
May Ideal 21° - 32° 27° 14 mm mostly sunny 64% 2.0 m/s 2.0 very high 11.4h
June Ideal 19° - 31° 25° 1 mm clear 51% 2.1 m/s 1.7 very high 11.3h
July Ideal 18° - 31° 24° 2 mm clear 44% 2.1 m/s 1.8 very high 11.3h
August Ideal 18° - 32° 25° 2 mm clear 39% 2.1 m/s 2.2 extreme 11.6h
September Ideal 21° - 34° 27° 8 mm mostly sunny 40% 1.9 m/s 2.6 extreme 11.9h
October Excellent 23° - 36° 29° 44 mm mostly sunny 44% 1.9 m/s 2.8 extreme 12.3h
November Good 24° - 35° 32° 140 mm partly cloudy 56% 1.7 m/s 2.7 extreme 12.6h
December Acceptable 25° - 34° 34° 218 mm overcast 73% 1.7 m/s 2.6 extreme 12.7h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Nourlangie Rock#

The nearest local service centre is Jabiru inside Kakadu National Park; the nearest major city and air gateway is Darwin where most visitors begin their journey into the park. Access to Burrungui is via the park road network from the Kakadu Highway and the site is reached on short footpaths from a nearby car park.

Visitors typically drive, join a guided tour or use park-based transport options to cover the last stretch; check park entry requirements and seasonal access before departure as some roads and sites can be affected by seasonal conditions.

Tips for Visiting Nourlangie Rock#

  • Treat the art with respect: do not touch panels, keep to marked paths and follow all interpretive signage and restrictions.
  • Avoid camera flash on rock art and photograph only where permitted to help preserve pigments.
  • Carry sun protection, water and sturdy shoes even for short walks, because conditions are exposed and hot in the Top End.
  • Expect seasonal access changes in the wet months and check Kakadu National Park advice locally before travel.