Ubirr, Kakadu National Park: Aboriginal rock art and floodplain views

Ubirr is the best attraction in Kakadu National Park, due to the Aboriginal rock art and views over the East Alligator River floodplain. But the whole point of exploring Kakadu is that you don’t limit yourself to just one attraction.

Perhaps more than any other national park in Australia, Kakadu in the Top End is about overall vibe rather than specific sights. It’s Australia’s biggest national park, covering almost 200,000 square kilometres of the Northern Territory and an entire river system. Within that are several different ecosystems, and understanding how it all links together is a key part of the magic.

Lookout at Ubirr, Kakadu National Park — Looking out over the East Alligator River floodplains from Ubirr in the Kakadu National Park. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions.

If the question is “what is the best attraction in Kakadu National Park?”, then you should probably think about why you’re asking it. If it’s to get a taster by seeing one great thing, then heading back out again, you’ve got it all wrong. Kakadu is best explored over two or three days.

4 Kakadu experiences worth booking in advance

Full day Kakadu tour from Darwin.

Corroboree Billabong wetland cruises.

Full day Arnhem Land tour from Jabiru.

The Yellow Water crocodile cruise in Cooinda.

Things to do in Kakadu National Park

Top spots include Burrungkuy (also known as Nourlangie) for the ancient Aboriginal rock art. The nearby Nawurlandja lookout offers supreme views over Burrungkuy and the Anbangbang billabong.

Then there’s the crocodile-spotting cruise on the Yellow Water billabong. Or bird-watching at the Mamukala Wetlands. Or learning about indigenous culture at the Bowali Visitor Centre.

During the dry season when the roads are accessible, the Gunlom Falls, Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls waterfalls are contenders too.

Ubirr rock art galleries

But nowhere else has quite the impact of Ubirr. Around 40km from Kakadu’s main settlement, Jabiru, Ubirr is a rocky outcrop overlooking the East Alligator River. At the lower levels are several caves and overhangs, which over the centuries have been decorated with rock art. The rock faces have been painted and repainted for around 40,000 years, with many telling important Dreaming tales.

Ubirr climb

From the Ubirr rock art galleries, it’s a steep 250 metre climb to one of the most impressive lookouts in Australia. From the top of the outcrop, the great green floodplain of the East Alligator River unfolds. Behind it is the escarpment that signals the beginning of the Arnhem Land.

This is a truly remote part of Australia inhabited by outback Aboriginal communities. A special permit is required to head over Cahills Crossing and visit the Arnhem Land. Therefore, looking out over it has a tangible, almost spiritual sense of mystery.

To stay near Ubirr, the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru is the highest quality accommodation in the national park. World Heritage-listed Kakadu is a major part of the Nature’s Way driving route through the Top End.