Nourlangie Rock in Kakadu Australia

Where Is Nourlangie Rock

Turn off the kakadu Highway 19km south of the Bowali Visitor Centre and travel a further 12 km. Nourlangie Rock: a 1.5km circular walk will take you past an ancient Aboriginal shelter and several outstanding art sites. For the adventurous, there is also a moderately steep climb to Gunwarddehwardde lookout, which provides impressive views of Kakadu's escarpment and Nourlangie Rock. Open all year round, entry is free. Continuing on from the Nourlangie car park, the road provides access to several interesting walks and Aboriginal art areas including Anbangbang Billabong, the Nanguluwur art site, and Gubara Pools.

How Get To Nourlangie Rock

Kakadu National Park an Australian Natural Icon covers almost 20,000 square kms and is 253 kms East of Darwin the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia.

Kakadu National Park is a World Heritage listed, Kakadu National Park is the gateway to Arnhemland. The sealed roads from Darwin to Kakadu is via the Arnhem Highway and from Katherine to Kakadu National Park via the Kakadu Highway. The Bowali Visitor Centre near Jabiru in Kakadu National Park is located 253 km from Darwin in Northern Territory Australia via the Arnhem Highway entrance. If travelling by road, you should allow 3 hours travelling time from Darwin.

Access To Nourlangie Rock

Over 5,000 recorded and identified Aboriginal art sites, Kakadu contains an uniqueartistical living cultural landscape of Aboriginal art. Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock are two of the most pristine public sites that feature Aboriginal Cultural Rock Art and previous dwelling shelters.

The dry season which is approximatley which is classed generally as May - October each year. Though in current year the wet has not set in till late December or January and then finishes mid April.

Walking:

A 1.5km circular walk takes you past an ancient Aboriginal shelter and several outstanding art sites. A moderately steep climb to Gunwarddehwardde lookout provides impressive views of Kakadu's escarpment and Nourlangie Rock.

If you have more time

Anbangbang (Arn-barng-barng) Billabong (Check wet season access)
Where: After leaving the Nourlangie carpark, take the first road to the left.
Features: Several picnic tables and a 2.5km dry season circular walk. With Nourlangie Rock forming an impressive backdrop, this is one of Kakadu's most attractive billabongs. Allow 1 hour.
Notes: Anbangbang Billabong walk (dry season only) Distance: 2.5 km Time: 1 hour return Grade: Easy Start: Nawurlandja parking area or Anbangbang Billabong parking area Follow the yellow-tipped posts around Anbangbang Billabong to see lilies, waterbirds and stunning views of Burrunggui (Nourlangie Rock).

Nawurlandja (Now-oo-larn-ja) Lookout walk
Where: After leaving Nourlangie carpark, take the second road to the left.
Features: A 600m climb up a moderately steep slope offers good views of the escarpment and Anbangbang Billabong. Allow 40 minutes.

Nanguluwur (Narng-oo-loo-war) art site walk
Where: After leaving the Nourlangie carpark, take the first road to the right.
Features: An easy 3.4km return walk through woodlands leads to a quiet art site with some interesting Aboriginal rock art. Allow 2 hours.

Gubara (Goo-bar-rar) Pools walk (check wet season access)
Where: After leaving the Nourlangie carpark, take the first road to the right and travel a further 9km.
Features: A 6km return walk past sandstone cliffs to shady monsoon forest pools. A pleasant place to spend the heat of the day. Allow 4 hours.

Bubba (Boop-bar) walk (dry season only)
Where: Starts at the entrance of the Muirella Park Camping Area.
Features: A 3.5km circular walk through several wetland habitats. Allow 2 hours.

Mirrai (Mirr-eye) Lookout walk
Where: Turn south-east off the kakadu Highway 30km south of the Bowali Visitor Centre.
Features: A moderately difficult 3.6km return walk to a platform lookout on top of Mount Cahill. It is a steep climb. Allow 1.5 hours.

Sanstone platea Nawurlandja is a sandstone outlier with species typical of stone country. This habitat is home to endemic species, like the chestnut-quilled rock-pigeon and the elusive short-eared rock wallaby. Resurrection grass (Micraira sp) grows in hollows where soil collects. This plant appears dead in the dry season, but comes to life at the start of the wet season, forming a thick green mat. The sandstone pandanus (Pandanus basedowii) has distinctive prop roots and a growth habit quite different to the two lowland pandanus species. Figs (Ficus spp.) send their roots spreading all over the rocks as they seek moisture and provide support. During the wet season, the stone country provided Bininj with shelter and painting sites. Bininj also hunt and gather stone country foods when the lowlands are flooded. Bush currants (Buchanania arborescens), rock and sandpaper figs (Ficus spp.) are collected and eaten along with nectar from Dryander’s grevillea (Grevillea dryandri).

Talks At Nourlangie Rock

During the dry season, rangers provide informative talks about Aboriginal art and culture several times a day.

Talks: During the dry season, rangers provide informative talks about Aboriginal art and culture several times a day

Where to stay

Muirella Park Camping Area (check wet season access)
Access to showers, toilets and a generator is available. Camping fees (adults only) are collected on site during the dry season. Please pay at the Bowali Visitor Centre during the wet season.

Bush Camping Area (Dry season only, 4WD recommended)
A free camping area with composting toilet is available beyond Muirella Park at Sandy Billabong. Drinking water is not available

http://www.environment.gov.au/

Head Office - Goyder Centre 25 Chung Wah Tce Palmerston, NT 0830
PO Box 496 Palmerston NT 0831
Ph: +61 (0) 8 8999 5511

  Crocodile Safety Information

Northern Australia is crocodile country. Therefore it is important to put awareness of crocodiles and safety at the top of your priority list when living in, working in or simply visiting crocodile habitat. Living with crocodiles is not difficult so long as you bear the following points in mind.

• Always be aware that crocodiles may be present anywhere that there is water.
• Unless there is clear signage that it is safe to swim, assume that crocodiles may be present.
• Warning signs are there for your benefit! Ignoring them is foolish.
• Always check with local authorities and rangers whether an area is likely to contain crocodiles.
• If in doubt, always swim in designated swimming areas only.
• If there's no sign, don't go swimming.
• A spotlight or LED head-torch is strongly recommended at night so that any eyeshines can be seen, but a lack of eyeshines does not mean that it's safe to swim - crocodiles may be underwater.

© We suggest you also visit a website called http://www.nt.gov.au/becrocwise

 

Kakadu General Information

There are many interesting places to discover in the area, but some things to remember too:
• Saltwater crocodiles inhabit the South Alligator River and are extremely dangerous. Do not risk your life, keep away from the waters edge.
• Freshwater crocodiles inhabit the area. Do not approach or interfere with them.
• Do not jump off rocks or cliffs as there are unseen dangers and accidents have resulted in death.
• Jim Jim Plunge Pool can be hazardous as the shallow water suddenly becomes deep.
• Use the toilets provided.
• Observe and enjoy the native animals, but do not disturb or feed them. Fishing is prohibited.
• Use fuel stoves in preference to open fires.
• If lighting open fires, collect firewood along the access road into Gunlom and use it sparingly. Use the fireplaces provided, attend fires at all times and extinguish them before you leave.
• Use the recycling facilities supplied and place all other rubbish in the bins. Remember, cigarette butts, orange peel and tissues are rubbish too.
• Sunscreen and insect repellent pollute waterways. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and hat as alternative protection.
• The mornings and evenings are the best times to walk and observe wildlife. For your own comfort and safety please keep to the marked tracks, wear a hat and sturdy shoes, and carry plenty of drinking water.

 

Kakadu National Park - Seasons

But Australia's Kakadu sees seasons of varied extremes -- so varied, in fact, that the park's longtime aboriginal inhabitants have divided the year into six distinct seasons.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gunumeleng Pre-Monsoon Storm Season - Gunumeleng, from mid-October to late December, may in fact last from a few weeks to several months.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gudjewg - Monsoon Season - Gudjewg, from January to March, can be described as the 'true' wet season.
• Kakadu Seasons - Banggereng - Knock 'em down storm Season - Banggerreng, in April, is the season when the rain clouds have dispersed and clear skies prevail.
• Kakadu Seasons - Yegge - Cooler but still humid Season - Yegge, from May to mid-June, is relatively cool with low humidity.
• Kakadu Seasons - Wurrgeng - Cold Weather Season - Wurrgeng, from mid-June to mid-August, is the 'cold weather' time; humidity is low, daytime temperatures are around 30°C and night-time temperatures are around 17°C.
• Kakadu Seasons - Gurrung - Hot Dry Weather - Gurrung, from mid-August to mid-October, is hot and dry.

Seasons

The dry season which is approximatley which is classed generally as May - October each year.Though in current year the wet has not set in till late December or January and then finishes mid April.

Access To Jim Jim Gorge
The dry season which is approximatley which is classed generally as late June - October/November each year. We recommend you contact the offical Bowali Vistors Centre for more information.

 

Kakadu National Park - Swimming

Are there certain times of the year that I can’t swim?
The seasonality of waterholes across the Northern Territory depend on the amount of rain throughout the year. NT Parks and Wildlife monitor water levels and erect signs advising visitors when it is safe to swim. Always obey sign posts.

How can you identify if a water-hole is safe to swim in?
Salt and freshwater crocodiles are found in most Top End billabongs and rivers, and are occasionally seen on remote beaches. The accessible rivers and billabongs are generally sign-posted if saltwater crocodiles are known to inhabit the area, but if you are not sure, don’t swim. Swim only where recommended and always observe and read the crocodile warning signs.

Aren’t swimming spots hard to get to or only acesible as part of a tour?
All the swimming spots in Darwin, Litchfield National Park, Katherine, Mataranka and the MacDonnell Ranges are accessible by self-drive. A few locations are only accessible by four wheel-drive, such as Butterfly Gorge Nature Park and Tjaynera Falls in Litchfield National Park. Tour operators with swimming options include Adventure Tours Australia, Australian Pacific Touring, Connections Safaris, Odyssey Tours and Safaris and many more'.

Resources Links
• parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au/
• environment.gov.au/parks/
• facebook.com/RoadReportNT
• roadreport.nt.gov.au/
• ntlis.nt.gov.au/roadreport/
• toiletmap.gov.au/
• travelnt.com/
• kakadu.com.au/access

• © source | courtesy of kakadunationalparkaustralia.com
• © source | courtesy of litchfieldnationalpark.com
• © source | courtesy of tropicaldarwin.com
• © source | courtesy of australia4tours.com
• © source | courtesy of darwin4tours.com