Wild North Australia

Kakadu National Park houses one of the world's greatest concentrations of rock art, with some paintings dating back more than 20,000 years. These galleries provide an extraordinary visual record of Aboriginal life through the ages, depicting everything from the megafauna that once roamed the continent to first contact with European ships. The X-ray style of painting, showing the internal organs of animals, is unique to this region and demonstrates the deep ecological knowledge held by traditional owners.

The tropical savannas of Northern Australia cover nearly one-quarter of the continent. This distinctive ecosystem is characterized by a patchwork of eucalyptus woodlands and grasslands shaped by seasonal extremes – torrential monsoon rains followed by months of bone-dry conditions. Aboriginal people have managed these landscapes with fire for millennia, creating a mosaic pattern that promotes biodiversity. Today, scientists are studying these traditional burning practices to develop better approaches to landscape management in the face of climate change.

The northern coastline of Australia is bordered by some of the most pristine and biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet. From the Great Barrier Reef in the east to Ningaloo Reef in the west, these waters host an astonishing array of life. The remote Kimberley coast features the world's largest tidal range, creating unique intertidal habitats where ancient fish species like the primitive mudskipper have evolved remarkable adaptations. The northern waters also provide critical habitat for endangered species including dugongs, multiple sea turtle species, and the elusive sawfish.