Tennant Creek and Surrounds, Northern Territory

The Pebbles - Tennant Creek and surrounds The Tennant Creek region is centred on the junction of two great highways, the Barkly Highway and the Stuart Highway. It encompasses the sprawling Barkly Tablelands and has a rich gold mining history. With a population of 4,000, Tennant Creek is an important supply and service centre for outlying cattle stations on the Barkly Tablelands. Located some 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs and around 1,000 kilometres south of Darwin, the town has a diverse history shaped by Aboriginal culture, pastoralism and gold mining.

About 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek is the region's most spectacular landmark, the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve. The Devils Marbles are made up of thousands of huge, precariously balanced boulders. Local indigenous people believe these mysterious rock spheres are the eggs of the Dreamtime’s Rainbow Serpent. The Pebbles, a miniature version of the Marbles, is a short drive north of Tennant Creek and are worth a visit also.

There is much to explore in the Tennant Creek region. Small towns, such as Wycliffe Well (which is famous for numerous UFO sightings), Ti Tree (servicing several Aboriginal communities), Newcastle Waters (a historic settlement that is now virtually a ghost town) and Elliott (established during World War II as a camp for troops) provide an opportunity to enjoy the unique character of the outback. The Davenport Ranges, accessed via the Barkly Highway, are an ideal spot for camping, bushwalking and four wheel driving. A great way to explore the region is via the Overlander’s Way tourism drive, which links Tennant Creek and Townsville through the Barkly Tablelands. The Overlander’s Way follows the footsteps of pioneering cattlemen, and provides a unique insight into a bygone era.

Articles

Connell

Connell's Lagoon Conservation, lying east of the Brunette Downs, has beautiful black soil supporting a wealth of wildlife. Red kangaroos, shy native rodents and dingoes dwell in this land, established to protect Mitchell grassland fauna communities.

Devils Marbles

An hour south of Tennant Creek is a dramatic Australian outback icon, the Devils Marbles, or Karlu Karlu, where giant granite boulders perch impossibly atop each other. In Aboriginal mythology these are the eggs of Dreamtime's rainbow serpent. more

The beauty of isolation

Try the remote serenity of the Davenport Ranges, a harsh land softened by a proliferation of waterholes which are fonts of life for the abundant wildlife. A three hour drive from Tennant Creek, it can be accessed by four-wheel drive. more

Visit the old telegraph station

In 1874 an overland telegraph station was established at the original Tennant Creek, 11 kilometres to the north of the present town. You can still visit the old stone buildings which once provided an island of comfort for early pioneers.

Experiences

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander:

Tennant Creek and Surrounds, Northern Territory

Articles

Connell

Devils Marbles

The beauty of isolation

Visit the old telegraph station

Experiences

Tennant Creek region directory

Northern Territory link directory

Quick links

Region Information

Travel Information

Tennant Creek Weather

The Tennant Creek region is centred on the junction of two great highways, the Barkly Highway and the Stuart Highway. It encompasses the sprawling Barkly Tablelands and has a rich gold mining history. With a population of 4,000, Tennant Creek is an important supply and service centre for outlying cattle stations on the Barkly Tablelands. Located some 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs and around 1,000 kilometres south of Darwin, the town has a diverse history shaped by Aboriginal culture, pastoralism and gold mining. About 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek is the region's most spectacular landmark, the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve. The Devils Marbles are made up of thousands of huge, precariously balanced boulders. Local indigenous people believe these mysterious rock spheres are the eggs of the Dreamtime’s Rainbow Serpent. The Pebbles, a miniature version of the Marbles, is a short drive north of Tennant Creek and are worth a visit also. There is much to explore in the Tennant Creek region. Small towns, such as Wycliffe Well (which is famous for numerous UFO sightings), Ti Tree (servicing several Aboriginal communities), Newcastle Waters (a historic settlement that is now virtually a ghost town) and Elliott (established during World War II as a camp for troops) provide an opportunity to enjoy the unique character of the outback. The Davenport Ranges, accessed via the Barkly Highway, are an ideal spot for camping, bushwalking and four wheel driving. A great way to explore the region is via the Overlander’s Way tourism drive, which links Tennant Creek and Townsville through the Barkly Tablelands. The Overlander’s Way follows the footsteps of pioneering cattlemen, and provides a unique insight into a bygone era.
Articles Connell Connell's Lagoon Conservation, lying east of the Brunette Downs, has beautiful black soil supporting a wealth of wildlife. Red kangaroos, shy native rodents and dingoes dwell in this land, established to protect Mitchell grassland fauna communities. Devils Marbles An hour south of Tennant Creek is a dramatic Australian outback icon, the Devils Marbles, or Karlu Karlu, where giant granite boulders perch impossibly atop each other. In Aboriginal mythology these are the eggs of Dreamtime's rainbow serpent. more The beauty of isolation Try the remote serenity of the Davenport Ranges, a harsh land softened by a proliferation of waterholes which are fonts of life for the abundant wildlife. A three hour drive from Tennant Creek, it can be accessed by four-wheel drive. more Visit the old telegraph station In 1874 an overland telegraph station was established at the original Tennant Creek, 11 kilometres to the north of the present town. You can still visit the old stone buildings which once provided an island of comfort for early pioneers.
Experiences
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander: