World heritage listed Kakadu National Park is the gateway to Arnhem Land. Kakadu National Park is Australia's largest national park covering almost 20,000 square kms and is an Australian icon. This diverse and fascinating wildlife, along with the exceptional Aboriginal art sites, gained Kakadu its World Heritage listing in 1984.

It is only 250 kms east of Darwin, an easy three hour drive on the Arnhem Highway. It is famous for its diverse environment from towering escarpment containing aboriginal rock art to the floodplains of the South Alligator River with its amazing array of birds and wildlife. Depending on the season you may see crocodiles, wallabies, dingoes, goannas, and many of the myriad of bird species that live in the national park. The flora is also spectacular and changes dramatically from the tropical summer season to the dry season in May to November.

A number of different Aboriginal clans, who now share joint management with Parks Australia, an Australian Federal Government body, have called Kakadu home for some 50,000 years. Evidence of their culture can be seen in many rock art galleries.

There are many things to see and do in Kakadu National Park, so you need to allow several days to experience the best of what is on offer. You can take a Yellow Waters Billabong or a Guluyambi Cruise, visit Nourlangie Rock and Ubirr Rock art and habitat sites, fly on a Kakadu Scenic Flight over Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls, visit Gunlom or Barramundi Gorge. You can also stop at the Bark Hutt Inn and stand next to the towering cathedral termite mounds that abound along the road.

Rarely do Aboriginal people in the Kakadu area paint rock images now. Among the reasons for this are the fact that Aboriginal people no longer live in rock shelters and there are fewer people with the necessary knowledge to allow them to paint at certain sites.

Nevertheless, Aboriginal artists continue to paint on bark, paper, and other materials. In recent years, particularly among women, printing traditional designs onto fabric has become a popular art form. In spite of this, rock art remains relevant to Bininj/Mungguy: the works show objects still used, animals still hunted, and activities people still do. The rock art in Kakadu was painted for a number of reasons:

• Hunting - animals were often painted to increase their abundance and to ensure a successful hunt by placing people in touch with the spirit of the animal;
• Religious significance - at some sites paintings depict aspects of particular ceremonies;
• Stories and learning - stories associated with the Creation Ancestors, who gave shape to the world were painted;
• Sorcery and magic - paintings could be used to manipulate events and influence people's lives; fun-for play and practice.