Ubirr Rock Art

Art found in Kakadu is some of the oldest records of groups of people found in the world. The Ubirr site was once densely populated by groups of aborigines due to the plethora of food made available by the various landforms and rivers surrounding the site and the shelters provided by overhanging rocks of the site itself.

The site consists of several areas which are home to the art of aboriginal ancestors giving great insight into the history of the site and indeed Australia. The galleries are all accessible on foot via a 1 km circuit.

At the site there are 3 main areas

• Main gallery
  This gallery is housed underneath an overhanging rock which could have accommodated a family. On the back walls are paintings of a number of animals which would have been hunted and eaten. These are animals which are still hunted and eaten today such as barramundi, goanna and wallabies. Much of the paintings are X-Ray which are the paintings that show internal organs of the animals, probably less then 1500 years old. There are also paintings of people that depict Europeans, suggested they were painted around 1880. Nearby there is a painting of a Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) which are believed to have become extent between 2 and 3 thousand years ago.
• Rainbow Serpent
  This gallery contains a painting of the rainbow serpent. The rainbow serpent is one of the oldest symbols in the world and the most powerful and significant to the aboriginal people. Any where the rainbow serpent is painted is a place of great value and different sites and communities may have varied stories about the rainbow serpent. At Ubirr, there is a strong connection between the rainbow serpent and the need to comfort a crying child to appease the serpent.
• Namarrgarn Sisters
  These paintings are based on the legendary story of the Namarrgarn sisters who had the ability to change into crocodiles. They did so to trick each other initially then decided to change permanently so they could eat whatever they wanted. Their spirits now live in the stars where they can throw pieces of string down to peoples organs, travel down and make them ill.

Hours

• 1 April - 30 November
  8.30 am - sunset daily
• 1 December - 31 March
  2.00 pm - sunset daily

Contact

• Address: 
  Kakadu National Park
  Bowali Visitor Centre
  P.O. Box 71, Jabiru 0886 N.T.
• Phone: 08 8938 1120
• Fax: 08 8938 1123
• Email: kakadunationalpark@deh.gov.au
• Website: www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu

Fees

• There are no fees to enter Kakadu park or the Ubirr Art site

Facilities

• Some lower sections of the track have wheelchair access
• There is an elevated lookout over the Ubirr site which is a 30 minute hike from the 1km circuit

How Long Might You Spend Here?

• It takes roughly an hour to walk the 1km circuit
• The hike up to the lookout will take approximately 30 minutes

Location and Directions

• The site is found in the East Alligator area of Kakadu National Park closer to the Northern entranceDirections to Kakadu

Rock Art Photos