Stuart Highway surprises are wrapped around Tennant Creek. An Aussie settlement located on the Alice Springs and Darwin road trip offers visitors wide blue skies, gold mining stories and Aboriginal culture tales. Visit the Battery Hill Mining Centre on an underground tour. Explore the town’s past as a telegraph station or spend time finding out more about the Top End and cattle country.
TENNANT CREEK HIGHLIGHTS & PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY
- Battery Hill Mining Centre offers underground mining tours of the Territory’s ‘heart of gold’. An operating ten head gold stamp battery could send a thunder through the mine. Fossicking for gold is a tourist favourite attraction.
- Linger in the former camp hospital now the Tuxworth-Fullwood Museum wondering about the people who left gold mining memorabilia.
- Walk through the Tennant Creek Telegraph Station (1872). Another link in the Overland Telegraph Line that connected the outback with the rest of the world. A fascinating glimpse into the Australian story of communications. Check beforehand opening hours to avoid disappointment. You pick up a key from the Battery Hill Mining Centre.
- Relax, swim in the Lake Mary Ann dam reserve, toilets and shade facilities.
- Excitement as stockmen & stockwomen hit town. Bull and bronco riding, barrel riding are part of the annual Barkly Gold Rush Campdraft Challenge in October.
- Desert Harmony Festival (AUGUST) music, street theatre, workshops, cultural events offers visitors opportunities to view emerging artists marketing their wares.
Memorial acknowledges John McDouall Stuart and his companions William Kekwich and Benjamin Head’s initial attempt to cross Australia. Monument is 11 km from Tennant Creek settlement at Attack Creek.
WHAT TO DO NEARBY TENNANT CREEK, NORTHERN TERRITORY?
Nearby Tennant Creek is Karlu Karlu, Devils Marbles. Boulders perched on top of each other with the characteristic red tinted hue that lights up in the sunset. An extraordinary sight and popular instagram location. The DEVILS MARBLES are approximately 1 hour drive from Tennant Creek.
KARLU KARLU DEVILS MARBLES CONSERVATION RESERVE
- Toilets, picnic tables and walking trails around the massive boulders
- There is little shade be prepared with sunscreen and carry water
- Free entry, the reserve is managed by Northern Territory Parks and Reserves
- Devils Marbles Hotel offers cabins or caravan park accommodation, food and refreshments
TENNANT CREEK LOCATION
Tennant Creek is 25 km south of where the Stuart and Barkly Highways meet. It is 508 km north of Alice Springs and 989 km south of Darwin.
BARKLY REGION & DAVENPORT RANGE NATIONAL PARK
- Adventure, 4WD ride through a remote outback landscape. Black footed rock wallaby, majestic emus with permanent rock pools offering basic campgrounds.
CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING, TENNANT CREEK
The first church to be built between Alice Springs and Katherine illustrates the can-do attitude of THE OUTBACK. Church materials include corrugated iron and and recycled telegraph poles for support stumps.
The Tennant Creek Visitor Information Centre is located at Battery Hill Mine Centre.
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