Forty years on, we're still living in Crocodile Dundee's outback dream

Few movies can claim to have reshaped a nation's tourism industry, but four decades later, Crocodile Dundee is still luring travellers to the Northern Territory.

After its 1986 international debut, tourism to Australia more than doubled within a decade, jumping from 904,000 visitors in 1980 to 2.1 million in 1990.

Kakadu Tourism chair Lauren Ganley said Crocodile Dundee introduced some of Australia's most spectacular outback locations, such as the Gunlom waterfall and the Nourlangie and Ubirr rock art sites, to the world.

"[The movie] created such a positive impression of the country that it helped transform Australian tourism to one of our most dynamic industries," Ms Ganley said.

"The fact that these filming locations sit within a UNESCO World Heritage-listed national park means they are being preserved so that visitors from around the world can appreciate the unique destination."

The film celebrates the 40th anniversary of its premiere in the United States on September 26, which sparked an international interest in the Northern Territory.

Putting the Northern Territory on the world stage changed Kakadu from an out-of-the-way spot into a must-see destination.

Even the fearsome saltwater crocodile had earned fans.

Its curvaceous form became the blueprint for the famous Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru, built by the local Indigenous Gagudju group and opened in 1988.

Boat tours also emerged on the Yellow Water Billabong, happy to take visitors within safe distance of the saltwater crocodiles.

Crocodile Dundee second assistant director Craig Bolles said he was hired to scout locations because of his knowledge of the Northern Territory.

"The location was terribly important for the success of the film," he said.

"It showcased a part of Australia that I don't think had been seen by most Australians, let alone foreigners, and it was inherent with Paul's nature.

"He seemed to fit into the landscape perfectly."

Forty years on and tourists from around the world continue to visit the Northern Territory to walk in the footsteps of Mick Dundee.

Ubirr is a rock formation in Kakadu National Park, about three hours' drive from Darwin.

It's a significant rock art site, with sweeping panoramic views and drawings ranging from the thylacine to the arrival of Europeans.

In the film, Mick Dundee climbs to the top and points towards the horizon saying, "This is my backyard and over there is the Never Never."

Visitors can climb Ubirr for most of the year, with guided tours available during the dry season.

About four hours' drive from Darwin, visitors find Gunlom Falls, known as Echo Lake in the film.

In this memorable scene, Dundee spear a fish and cooks a goanna on a campfire before the pair go swimming in the rock pools.

This swimming hole is now a beloved tourist location in Kakadu.