Karlu Karlu, Australia
About
Karlu Karlu, also known as the Devil’s Marbles, is situated in the southern half of the Northern Territory, Australia, within the expansive Barkly Region, which spans 322,713 square kilometers (124,600 square miles). The area is renowned for its striking, round boulders and cultural significance. “Karlu Karlu” translates to ‘round boulders’, a name shared among the Kaytetye, Warumungu, Warlpiri, and Alyawarra language groups. Recognized by Traditional Owners, the cultural landscape of Karlu Karlu extends well beyond the geological features most visitors associate with the site. Nearly the entire area is a registered sacred site under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act and is significant to the Kaytetye, Warumungu, Warlpiri, and Alyawarra peoples, whose ancestors have cared for this land since creation time. Its national importance is further emphasized by its listing on the Register of the National Estate for extraordinary geological formations.
The Reserve is jointly managed by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory and Traditional Owners and is the largest reserve between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. It supports a wide range of wildlife, including over 80 bird species, 116 plant species, 10 mammal species, and 30 reptile species.
While there is no permanent lighting at the Karlu Karlu Conservation Reserve, site management has committed to a Lighting Management Plan that will regulate outdoor lighting within the reserve in the future. With no artificial lighting at the site or nearby, Karlu Karlu provides an excellent location for dark sky viewing. Uninterrupted views of the Milky Way, planets, and constellations are visible from all parts of the reserve. As part of the Territory Parks Alive program, the Parks and Wildlife Commission hosts a campfire talk for visitors during the winter months, focusing on night sky viewing and the importance of preserving dark skies.
The Reserve is easily accessible by two-wheel-drive vehicle, with on-site camping facilities. It is located on the Stuart Highway, 100 kilometers south of Tennant Creek and approximately 400 kilometers north of Alice Springs. Several easy short walks are located within the Reserve, and a large campground allows visitors to stay the night, to experience the site at all stages from the dramatic sunset illuminating the boulders, to a star studded, Milky Way sky.
Area
18.02 km2
Designated
2026
Category
International Dark Sky Sanctuary
Address
PO Box 1120
Alice Springs, NT, 0871
Australia
Google Maps
Contact
Philip Cowan, Senior Director,
NT Parks and Wildlife Operations
[email protected]
