Take in the beauty of MurujugaPilbara, Australia

Out in the rugged red expanse of Western Australia’s Pilbara, there’s a place where the rocks tell stories older than just about anything else on Earth. And now the rest of the world is officially paying attention.

The Murujuga Cultural Landscape has just landed a coveted spot on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places for 2026; a global roll call of destinations that are genuinely worth getting on a plane for.

Not that Murujuga needed the validation.

The sprawling cultural landscape, perched on the Burrup Peninsula near Karratha, is already home to one of the largest collections of ancient rock art anywhere on the planet. We’re talking hundreds of thousands of petroglyphs etched into the iron-rich rock, some dating back tens of thousands of years. Think animals, human figures, hunting scenes and symbols that capture stories, traditions and knowledge passed down through countless generations.
This place will make you feel small in the best possible way.

The recognition follows Murujuga’s addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025, cementing its status as a site of extraordinary cultural importance. But the real magic isn’t just in seeing the carvings, it’s in understanding them.

That’s where guided tours with Traditional Owners come in. These experiences offer a rare chance to explore the landscape with the people who have lived with and cared for this Country for thousands of generations, sharing stories and cultural insight that bring the ancient artwork to life.

And getting there is surprisingly simple (phew); fly from Perth to Karratha, hire a car and head out toward the peninsula.

Just don’t expect a quick photo stop. Murujuga will ask you to slow down, listen and take it all in. And it’s just best that you do exactly that.

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