Mitchell Plateau Aboriginal Rock Art

The Mitchell Plateau is home to some of the finest examples of the Kimberley rock art traditions, located within Wunambul country.

Two rock art sites at Munurru close to the King Edward River on the Port Warrender Road (the track to the Mitchell River National Park) contain art in both the Gwion Gwion or Bradshaw style and the Wandjina style of art, and depict Wandjina deities, human figures and plants and animals occurring in the landscape. One rock in the Wandjina complex in particular is known as the Thylacine rock and depicts Tasmanian tigers, extinct on mainland Australia for 3,000 years.

The first rock cluster, known as the Wandjina Complex is approximately 700 metres past the King Edward River Crossing and the second, the Warnmarri or Brolga complex is a further 4.5 kilometres to the west. Each of these complexes contains a number of rock art sites. The art is found on overhangs on large sandstone boulders, with roughly marked tracks to follow around both sites. 

People walking along the track to the Mitchell Falls will also come across some rock art sites, including under the waterfall at Little Mertens Falls. Trail and park notes available at the start of the walk trail help to identify the rock art sites and their significance.

Rock art sites around the community of Kalumburu are also accessible. Take the short Anscar and Monster Rock Art Nature Walk just outside the community, or visit the Community Resource and Visitor Centre to book a tour.

Visitors to Kimberley rock art sites are requested to respect these sacred and historically important sites. Please keep to any marked walkways and take nothing away but memories.  If in a confined space at a rock art site, please take particular care not to wear a backpack, bag or carry any solid item such as a camera tripod or walking stick that may brush against a painting.

A number of books about Kimberley rock art have been published, visitors will find useful insight and art locations within these books.