One of the world’s most significant living cultural landscapes, Murujuga National Park is a place where ancient Aboriginal knowledge, rugged Pilbara scenery and the natural environment come together.
Located on Murujuga (the Burrup Peninsula), around 35 kilometres from Karratha, the park forms part of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. Here, one of the world’s most significant living cultural landscapes exists alongside one of Australia’s largest industrial regions, creating a place where ancient connections to Country and the modern Pilbara meet.
The landscape records tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal culture, with thousands of petroglyphs, archaeological sites and cultural places reflecting the enduring relationship between people, land and sea.
Explore an ancient cultural landscape
A visit to Murujuga is a journey through a landscape where stories are written into stone. Follow the roads through rugged red rock formations, sheltered valleys and coastal landscapes overlooking the islands of the Dampier Archipelago, discovering ancient engravings along the way.
The petroglyphs depict people, animals, marine life and extinct creatures, reflecting the environment, experiences and stories that have shaped this Country over thousands of years. Deep Gorge (Ngajarli) is one of the most accessible places to experience Murujuga’s cultural heritage, with an accessible walking trail lleading through a landscape of ancient rock formations and significant engravings that reveal stories of people, animals and the changing environment.
Discover the connection between culture and nature
Murujuga’s significance comes from the relationship between people and the environment. The peninsula’s rocky hills, coastal habitats and islands have shaped the lives, stories and traditions of its Traditional Custodians, while continuing to provide habitat for a remarkable range of plants and wildlife.
Despite its relatively small size, Murujuga supports a remarkable diversity of life, including northern quolls, Rothschild’s rock-wallabies and the Pilbara olive python. After seasonal rains, wildflowers add colour to the landscape, while scenic viewpoints reveal the contrast between red earth, turquoise waters and the islands of the Dampier Archipelago.
Murujuga remains a living cultural landscape of deep significance to its Traditional Custodians. Visitors are encouraged to explore respectfully by staying on designated paths, avoiding walking on engraved rock surfaces and following cultural signage.
Aboriginal-guided tours provide a deeper understanding of the stories, knowledge and continuing connection to Country that make Murujuga such a special place.
Plan your visit
Murujuga National Park is an easy day trip from Karratha, located approximately 35 kilometres away (around 40 minutes’ drive) via the Dampier Highway and Burrup Road.
Allow half a day to experience the highlights of the peninsula. Begin at Deep Gorge (Ngajarli) to explore ancient rock engravings and walk through one of Murujuga’s most significant cultural sites. Continue along the Burrup Peninsula, taking in the dramatic landscape and coastal views before finishing at nearby Hearson Cove, where red pindan cliffs meet turquoise waters along the Dampier Archipelago.
For a deeper understanding of Murujuga’s stories and significance, join an Aboriginal-guided cultural tour and discover the knowledge and perspectives that bring this extraordinary landscape to life.
