Tennant Creek
Why go there?
The Devils Marbles, 100kms south of the town of Tennant Creek, have eroded into formation over millions of years and are known to the local Aboriginal people as Karlu Karlu. This is a sacred site for the traditional land owners, the Warumungu, who believe the gigantic ochre rocks are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent, an important dreamtime figure in Aboriginal culture.
Access to the Devils Marbles is fantastic, with numerous walking tracks marked with information panels to guide you. The best photography opportunities are presented at sunrise and sunset, where you can witness the palette of ochre colours evolve across the outback landscape. For some local history, continue on to the township of Tennant Creek, where you can visit the award winning Nyinkka Nyunyu Culture Centre, an Aboriginal culture attraction that showcases the local people’s stories and art.
In more recent history, Australia’s last gold rush took place here in the 1930s, and local Tennant Creek attractions provide opportunities to learn about the era and fossick for your fortune! Prior to the gold rush era, Tennant Creek’s first European residents were workers on the Overland Telegraph Line, which established a communication link between Australia’s outback and the rest of the world. The Telegraph Station was built in 1872, and this historical collection of stone buildings can still be explored today.
Don't Miss...
Exploring the Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu) at sunrise
Fossicking for gold (apparently still plenty to be found!)
4WDing the dirt tracks of the Davenport Range National Park
Trying your luck at spotting UFOs at Wycliffe Well