Devils Marbles Northern Territory

Devils Marbles Northern Territory

About 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek, you will come across another of the Northern Territory’s many natural wonders – a pile of huge granite boulders scattered across a wide valley, known as the Devils Marbles. If you are driving between Darwin and Alice Springs, you will drive right through the middle of them.

The Marbles are located in the traditional country of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. Traditionally, the Devils Marbles are called Karlu Karlu, which translates literally as ‘round boulders’. They vary in size, from 50 centimetres up to six metres across and many of them are balanced precariously on top of one another.

Karlu Karlu have great significance for the Aboriginal people and are protected under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, so please ensure you are respectful when visiting them.

There are no official walks at the Devils Marbles but there is a network of informal tracks on the eastern side of the reserve for you to explore yourself.

At sunset and sunrise, you will notice the boulders change colour and appear to glow. You will need to stay the night to see them at sunset, and as this is recommended, we also suggest that you stay in the Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve. There are no powered sites, so make sure your batteries are fully charged.

Between May and October each year, there is a program of live events at the site as part of their Territory Parks Alive Program, and are well worth including in your trip.