This
1,802 hectare Reserve extends along both sides of the
Stuart Highway approximately 393 km north of Alice Springs.
The nearest settlement is Wauchope, 9km to the south,
where fuel and limited stores can be obtained.
The Devils Marbles are known as Karlu Karlu in all
four local Aboriginal languages. This remarkable site
is a sacred place to Aboriginal traditional owners.
An enigmatic place of breathtaking scenic beauty, the
precarious piles of huge granite boulders wide open
skies and golden sunlight make Karlu Karlu an unforgettable
place to visit.
Traditional
Owners maintain their responsibilities for the site,
an unbroken tradition that has continued since creation
time. In a historic ceremony held here on the 27th October
2008 ownership of the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
was officially given back to the sites Traditional
Owners. The Reserve will now be leased back the Territory
Government under a 99 year lease agreement. Public access
to the Marbles will continue to be provided as before.
A new and exciting era of Joint Management of this Reserve
has begun with Traditional Owners and Park Rangers now
working together in partnership to manage the Reserve
for the future. Further information about the Joint
Management.
How
to Get There
This 1,802 hectare Reserve extends along both sides
of the Stuart Highway approximately 393 km north of
Alice Springs. The nearest settlement is Wauchope, 9km
to the south, where fuel and limited stores can be obtained.
Camping:
Camping - A simple bush camping area with fire places
and pit toilets is located at the southern end of the
Reserve. No water or firewood is provided and you should
therefore bring your own supplies. Camp only in designated
camping areas and camping fees are payable onsite.
When
to Visit
Access is available all year round.
What to See and Do
An easy short (15 minutes return) self guided walk commences
from the carpark on the western side of the road (the
day use area) with signs explaining the formation of
the 'marbles'. Visitors can wander around the site along
a network of informal walking tracks.
Tennant
Creek Ranger Station
Ph: (08) 8962 4599
Fax: (08) 8962 4388
http://www.nt.gov.au/
Recreational
Activities
Recreational activities within the Reserve include:
Camping Permitted
Caravans Permitted
Picnic Tables
Walking Tracks
Plants & Animals
Plants and animals found in the Reserve are those generally
encountered in the arid centre of Australia. The large
clumps of rocks, however, create a variety of miniature
refuges and cooler, more sheltered environments.
Attached to the underside of overhanging boulders,
clusters of the bottle-shaped mud nests of Fairy Martins
(Petrochelidon ariel) may be found. Occasionally the
small Spiny-tailed Goanna is seen in the crevices, while
the larger Sand Goanna is more often found among the
thick clumps of Spinifex (Triodia spp.) growing in the
spaces between the boulders. Flocks of finches including
Zebra and Painted Finches are often found in the Reserve.
Ranger
Guided Activities
http://www.nt.gov.au/
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