Australia has been granted another World Heritage Site - here's how to visit
Australia has officially been granted another UNESCO World Heritage Site, bringing our total to 21.
Murujuga Cultural Landscape has joined the ranks of other Aussie sites like the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, and the Daintree.
The site, in northwestern WA, is an area of ancient Aboriginal rock art that is older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza.
DEAL: Save hundreds on a Queensland holiday with Discovery Parks
Murujuga Cultural Landscape has been recognised by UNESCO. Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, Pilbara
There are more than a million examples of rock art in Murujuga. Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation
Murujuga Cultural Landscape is an area of ancient rocks in north-west WA stretching across the Burrup Peninsula and 42 islands on the Dampier archipelago, over 100,000 hectares.
It has over one million petroglyphs, some of which date back 50,000 years. It is also home to the world's oldest depiction of a human face.
READ MORE: Aussie beach crowned 'best in the world' for 2025
Visitors can see some of the rock art on a visit to Murujuga National Park, which is 30 minutes outside of Karratha.
READ MORE: Solo travel might be booming - but this is who Aussies actually want to holiday with
Murujuga National Park is just outside Karratha. Tourism WA
Guided tours run by Traditional Custodians provide an in-depth understanding of the staggering history and cultural relevance of the art.
The Nganjarli (Deep Gorge) trail also offers a self-guided walk for those who want to go it alone.
"Our rock art tells the stories of our people, and maintains our songlines and bloodline connection to our ngurra (Country)," said Raelene Cooper, a Murujuga custodian of the Mardudhunera people.
The WA coastline is pristine. Tourism Western Australia
Karratha, a small city in the Pilbara region, isn't high on many people's 'must-travel' lists, but has a lot to offer adventurous travellers - including Murujuga.
It is surrounded by National Park, and just a short drive from the stunning WA coastline, one of the most untouched and pristine areas of Australia.
The Dampier Archipelago is reason enough to take the flight (or long drive) to the area. Snorkellers and divers can explore a vibrant underwater world teeming with marine life: dugongs, dolphins, turtles and humpback whales all hang out in these waters.
Even just camping by the beach or taking a stroll along the sand is a beautiful way to explore the region.
READ MORE: The best places to visit in Japan - besides Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
You can take guided tours of Murujuga National Park. Tourism WA
Western Australia is now home to five UNESCO sites: the Ningaloo Coast, Purnululu National Park, Fremantle Prison, Shark Bay, and Murujuga.
At the annual gathering, UNESCO member states unanimously voted to inscribe Murujuga on the World Heritage List, which designates sites that should be protected "for future generations to appreciate and enjoy".
Of Australia's 21 sites, five are cultural, 12 are natural, and four are mixed, listed for both cultural and natural properties.
The Ningaloo Reef has been heritage-listed. Tourism Western Australia
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia
- Great Barrier Reef
- Greater Blue Mountains Area
- Kakadu National Park
- Australian Convict Sites
- Lord Howe Island Group
- Sydney Opera House
- Willandra Lakes Region
- Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte)
- Shark Bay, Western Australia
- Tasmanian Wilderness
- Wet Tropics of Queensland
- Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
- Ningaloo Coast
- Purnululu National Park
- Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
- Heard and McDonald Islands
- Fraser Island
- Macquarie Island
- Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
- Murujuga Cultural Landscape
