Australia is recognised as having some of the “best” rock art in the world: “It is the diversity of styles and the longevity of the stylistic traditions of rock painting and engraving, rather than their density, that makes Australia the rock art capital of the world” (Morwood).
It’s estimated that there are more than 100,000 significant rock art sites around Australia, with over 5,000 located in the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park (Australian National Museum). Only seven rock art sites are currently on Australia’s National Heritage List: the Dampier Archipelago, Grampians National Park, Kakadu National Park, Koonalda Cave, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the Tasmanian Wilderness and the West Kimberley.
Rock art in Australia comprises two main forms: engravings (petroglyphs) and paintings or drawings (pictographs). The art has been identified or classified into a series of rock art style ‘regions’ based on language areas or geographic regions, which have shared stylistic characteristics. This mapping was first done in 1936 by Daniel S. Davidson, and further refined over time with one of the more recent maps (Tacon, right) identifying 30 regions.
Many of the rock art sites are protected by the remoteness of their location – the list of Aboriginal rock art sites below are either officially signposted or already in the public domain.
- Aboriginal Rock Art around Sydney covers the rock art sites in the greater Sydney area, with a more comprehensive list of sites.
- Aboriginal Rock Art in Queensland provides an overview of Aboriginal rock art in Queensland.
Akurra Adnya (Arkaroo Rock) is a culturally significant Aboriginal rock art site, which is considered one of the best examples of Adnyamathanha rock art. The shelter is reached by a 3.2km loop bushwalk.
- Australia, Central Flinders Ranges, South Australia (SA)
- Number of motifs: 100
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
An engraving of a whale around six metres in length, within the tail of which there is faded, but just-visible man.
- Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Sydney Harbour National Park
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
An enormous Aboriginal engraving site, which was the first to be visited by Europeans in 1788. There are over 100 figures representing different scenes.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Garigal National Park
- Number of motifs: 116
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
The Basin Aboriginal Site is a significant, signposted rock engraving site along the Basin Track. It has 53 figures, and interpretative signage.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Number of motifs: 53
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
A signposted site on Kings Tableland, Battleship Tops is known for its unusual rock formations - but is also an Aboriginal rock art site. Although badly damaged, traces of red ochre figures can be seen.
- Australia, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Blue Mountains National Park
- Number of motifs: 5
- Quality: 1.5/5
- Condition of art: Fire damage, Graffiti damage, Vandalised
An Aboriginal engraving of a turtle at Ben Buckler Point - the only remaining figure from a small site which had five carvings.
- Australia, NSW, Sydney - East
- Number of motifs: 5
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good, Partially Destroyed, Re-grooved
- View site sketch
The Berry Island Aboriginal engraving features a large sea creature, likely from Dreamtime stories, and other smaller motifs.
- Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Sydney - North
- Number of motifs: 4
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
A well-preserved and significant Aboriginal rock art site, the Blackfellows Hands Cave (Maiyingu Marragu) has over 50 stencils of hands and weapons. It's reached by a short walk.
- Australia, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Black Fellows Hands Reserve, Gardens of Stone SCA
- Number of motifs: 50
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
A short side-track off the Bobbin Head Trail to a signposted Aboriginal engraving site, which has a broad range of motifs.
- Australia, Ku-ring-gai, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Bobbin Head, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
- Number of motifs: 37
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
A small but sigificant Aboriginal engraving site in Bondi, these engravings are located within the Bondi Golf Course. Controversial re-grooving of the site in the 196os means that most of the engravings are still very distinct.
- Australia, NSW, Sydney - East
- Number of motifs: 66
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good, Re-grooved
- View site sketch
The Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place is one of the most-visited engraving sites around Sydney. It's named after the prominent Bulgandry Man engraving.
- Australia, Central Coast, Kariong, NSW
- National Park: Brisbane Water National Park
- Number of motifs: 28
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch (main site)
Over 40 Aboriginal axe grinding grooves in the bedrock of Camp Fire Creek, along the Red Hand Cave Circuit in the lower Blue Mountains.
- Australia, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Blue Mountains National Park
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
The spectacular Art Gallery Aboriginal art site in Carnarvon Gorge contains almost 2,000 motifs. They include ochre stencils, freehand paintings and rock engravings.
- Australia, Central Queensland, Queensland
- National Park: Carnarvon National Park
- Number of motifs: 1989
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
Cathedral Cave is an immense and spectacular Aboriginal rock art site along the Carnarvon Gorge Main Track. It has over 1,500 motifs including stencils, paintings, engravings and a drawing of a human or spirit figure.
- Australia, Central Queensland, Queensland
- National Park: Carnarvon National Park
- Number of motifs: 1669
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good, Graffiti damage
- View site sketch
Cathedral Rock is better known for its weathered and fractured sandstone surface, but also has Aboriginal hand strencils at its base.
- Australia, Central Highlands, Queensland
- National Park: Carnarvon National Park
- Number of motifs: 10
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
Aboriginal rock carving of a kangaroo in the middle of the Centre Trail at West Head.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
A publicly accessible (but not signposted) Aboriginal rock art site in Carnarvon Gorge, the Clematis Ridge site has over 100 stencils.
- Australia, Central Queensland, Queensland
- National Park: Carnarvon National Park
- Number of motifs: 109
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
The Daleys Point Aboriginal Site is signposted site with over 20 rock engavings (incuding five shales), cave paintings and axe grinding grooves.
- Australia, Bouddi area, Central Coast, NSW
- National Park: Bouddi National Park
- Number of motifs: 28
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- View site sketch
Accessible by four-wheel drive (or by walking), this deeply spiritual site is located along the Boree track and includes the spirit footprints of Biame.
- Australia, Hunter, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Yengo National Park
- Number of motifs: 113
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
The Elvina Aboriginal Site is easily accessed from the Elvina Bay Track at West Head. This significant site contains over 50 figures, including an enormous six metre high deity figure.
- Australia, Ku-ring-gai, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Number of motifs: 56
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
The signposted Finchley cultural walk provides access to the Finchley Aboriginal Site, considered one of the best Aboriginal engraving sites in Australia.
- Australia, Hunter, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Yengo National Park
- Number of motifs: 137
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good, Vandalised, Re-grooved
- View site sketch
A signposted Aboriginal rock art site in Blackdown National Park, the Ghungalu Art Site is along the Goon Goon Dhina Trail. It has mostly hand stencils in red ochre.
- Australia, Central Queensland, Queensland
- National Park: Blackdown Tableland National Park
- Number of motifs: 20
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Gibberagong Track has a signposted site with an Aboriginal engraving (of a single human figure, fish ane shield) and a number of axe-sharpening grooves.
- Australia, Ku-ring-gai, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Bobbin Head, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View of site sketch
The Girrakool Aboriginal site has a carving of a man located on a rock platform along the Girrakool Loop walking track.
- Australia, Central Coast, NSW, Somersby & Narara
- National Park: Brisbane Water National Park
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
A signposted Aboriginal engraving site at Glades Bay, which has eleven figures (two of which can be easily seen). Nearby are some grinding grooves.
- Australia, NSW, Ryde, Sydney - North
- Number of motifs: 11
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- View site sketch
Located along the popular Spit to Manly bushwalk, the Grotto Point Aboriginal Site included boomerangs, fish, sharks and a large kangaroo. The engravings are about 1,000 years old and have interpretative signage.
- Australia, Mosman, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Sydney Harbour National Park
- Number of motifs: 17
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
A significant Aboriginal rock engraving site in Allambie Heights, Gumbooya Reserve has 70 figures (many very weathered or no longer visible) in three groups.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Gumbooya Reserve
- Number of motifs: 70
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good, Weathered
- View site sketch
The Howe Aboriginal Area is one of the most important ceremonial Aboriginal rock engraving sites in the Sydney area. Figures includes an enormous Daramulan and three Rainbow-Serpents.
- Australia, Central Coast, NSW, Somersby & Narara
- National Park: Howe Aboriginal Area
- Number of motifs: 24
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
A significant, signposted Aboriginal engraving site in the Royal National Park, the Jibbon Head Engravings are a short walk from Bundeena. The carvings can be seen from an elevated boardwalk with interpretive signage.
- Australia, NSW, Sydney - South
- National Park: Royal National Park
- Number of motifs: 11
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
The ledges along Keep River were a wet season shelter for the Miriwoong people, with the rock art remaining as evidence of their presence.
- Australia, Northern Territory
- National Park: Keep River National Park
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Kings Tableland Aboriginal Place is a significant Aboriginal site in the Blue Mountains, which has a large number of grinding grooves and a shelter with carvings on the wall of animal tracks.
- Australia, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Blue Mountains National Park
- Number of motifs: 8
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
An Aboriginal rock engraving of a single kangaroo in Lawson in the Blue Mountains, on Kangaroo St.
- Australia, Lawson, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Longueville Park Aboriginal engraving site has an unusually-drawn emu and an oval figure; it may represent an emu hunt.,
- Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Sydney - North
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
- View site sketch
Traversed by the Milyerra Road Fire Trail, a large, tesselated rock platform contains a number of weathered engravings
- Australia, Central Coast, Kariong, NSW
- National Park: Brisbane Water National Park
- Number of motifs: 44
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
Minerva Pool in the Dharawal National Park is a sacred women's place for the Aboriginal Dharawal People.
- Australia, Illawarra, NSW
- National Park: Dharawal National Park
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
A significant Aboriginal cultural site, the Moon Rock Aboriginal Site was declared an Aboriginal Place in 2016. The site has over 50 engravings, including tools and weapons used and to catch animals that were eaten in the area.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Garigal National Park
- Number of motifs: 86
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
An extensive group of engravings, the Mooney Mooney Aboriginal Area includes many kangaroos, two rainbow serpents and many other figures.
- Australia, Central Coast, NSW, Somersby & Narara
- National Park: Brisbane Water National Park
- Number of motifs: 45
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch [PDF]
An impressive collection of motifs in red, white and black at the Mungana Rock Art site (one of two publicly accessible Aboriginal art sites in the Chillagoe area). The art surrounded by high limestone cliffs.
- Australia, Far North Queensland (FNQ), Queensland
- National Park: Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park
- Number of motifs: 40
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
A signposted rock engraving site in Bouddi National Park, the North West Ridge Aboriginal Site has four figures - but only a 4m orca is still visible.
- Australia, Bouddi area, Central Coast, NSW
- National Park: Bouddi National Park
- Number of motifs: 4
- Quality: 2/5
- Condition of art: Weathered
A large whale engraving next to the Peats Crater Trail in Muogamarra Nature Reserve. Nearby is a wallaby and two circles (which may represent squid or food for the whale).
- Australia, Hornsby, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Muogamarra Nature Reserve
- Number of motifs: 5
- Quality: 4/5
- View site sketch
A signposted site next to Quarter Sessions Road has an Aboriginal engraving depicting a pair of leaping kangaroos.
- Australia, Hornsby, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Berowra Valley National Park
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 2.5/5
- Condition of art: Partially Destroyed, Re-located
- View site sketch
One of the best showcases of Aboriginal art in the area, the singposted Red Hands Cave at West Head has multiple red ochre handprints.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Number of motifs: 3
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
An impressive display of red, yellow and white Aboriginal hand stencils in a long shelter. The Red Hands Cave is reached via a 1km return walk from the end of the Red Hands Firetrail or a longer 8.2km bushwalk along Campfire Creek.
- Australia, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Blue Mountains National Park
- Number of motifs: 76
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
The signposted Resolute Track Aboriginal Engraving Site is a short walk from the Resolute Picnic Area. It has several figures, including a man with a club across his waist.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Number of motifs: 9
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
Sacred Canyon in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park has Aboriginal engraving on the walls of the gorge representing camp sites, springs and water holes.
- Australia, Central Flinders Ranges, South Australia (SA)
- National Park: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
- Number of motifs: 15
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
Shaws Creek Aboriginal Place contains a small Aboriginal engraving, which has two kangaroos and five kangaroo tracks - and an additional carving likely to be European. There are also multiple axe grinding grooves.
- Australia, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Yellomundee Regional Park
- Number of motifs: 7
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
At the end of the Slade Lookout Track is "fake" engraving of an emu or waterfowl, and a lizard that is almost directly underneath the bird.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Duffys Forest & Terrey Hills, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
- Number of motifs: 2
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
Spirits Rock is a signposted Aboriginal engraving site at the end of the Cowan Trail, which has a number of figures, including a large and detailed engraving of the Baiame deity.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Duffys Forest & Terrey Hills, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
- Number of motifs: 24
- Quality: 3/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
Tesselate Hill (or Tesselated Pavements) has an Aboriginal engraving and many grinding grooves over the large rock surface.
- Australia, Mount Irvine, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Wollemi National Park
- Number of motifs: 1
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
A spectacular Aboriginal rock art site, The Tombs in the Mount Moffat section of Carnarvon National Park has over 400 stencils. The site has the only full adult body stencil known to exist in the world.
- Australia, Central Queensland, Queensland
- National Park: Carnarvon National Park
- Number of motifs: 400
- Quality: 5/5
- Condition of art: Good
Most likely representing an emu hunt, the Ticehurst Park Aboriginal engraving site in Faulconbridge has three very distinct emu carvings, as well as six mundoes (footprints) and a number of axe grinding grooves.
- Australia, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
- National Park: Blue Mountains National Park
- Number of motifs: 7
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
The Wheeler Heights Aboriginal Site is large site documented by W.D. Campbell in 1899, who described it as “one of the finest groups the Writer has come across”. The scenes include two men fighting and a successful kangaroo hunt.
- Australia, Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney - North
- National Park: Red Hill Reserve
- Number of motifs: 142
- Quality: 4/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch
The Wullumba Rock Art site is one of two publicly accessible Aboriginal art sites in the Chillagoe area. The art is on the base of a high limestone outcrop.
- Australia, Far North Queensland (FNQ), Queensland
- National Park: Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park
- Number of motifs: 8
- Quality: 3.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
The Yankee Hat Rock Art Site in Namadgi National Park consists of 18 motifs, in white and red ochre, representing a range of animals as well human-like forms. It's reached by a 6km return bushwalk.
- ACT, Australia
- National Park: Namadgi National Park
- Number of motifs: 18
- Quality: 4.5/5
- Condition of art: Good
- View site sketch