Destinations / Tennant Creek / Tennant Creek Travel Guide
Tennant Creek
Travel Guide
Tennant Creek in Central Australia sits on the Explorer’s Way, 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs and 1000 kilometres south of Darwin.
To the east of town is the Barkly Tablelands - an expanse of land that supports some of Australia’s premier outback cattle stations.
Tennant Creek’s history is shaped by gold mining, Aboriginal culture and pastoralism. The region's rich mining history can be explored at Battery Hill Mining Centre, the site of Australia's last major gold rush in the 1930s. Visitors can even try fossicking for their own gold.
Aboriginal culture is strong in Tennant Creek. The award-winning Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre offers visitors the opportunity to learn about Aboriginal life, history and land. The mysterious rock spheres of nearby Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) are said to be the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent - a creature of a Dreamtime story.
Adventure lovers have plenty of options in the Tennant Creek area. Four-wheel-drivers in particular are spoilt for choice with moderate to challenging four-wheel drive tracks available to test skills and vehicles. Stop at character-filled outback pubs, explore the historic Overland Telegraph Line, or experience star-filled nights in a swag.
Things to See and Do
Plan your Trip
Discover Tennant Creek & surrounds
Tennant Creek the township
Tennant Creek is a small township of about 3500 people. It’s a place shaped by Aboriginal culture, gold mining and pastoralism.
South of Tennant - Devils Marbles
The south of Tennant Creek is not a desert landscape as many expect, but sweeping plains of golden grasslands, gum trees and red sandstone rock formations such as Devils Marbles.
North of Tennant
Along the Explorer’s Way are reminders of the past - of the region’s unforgiving pioneering, pastoral and WWII history.
Barkly Tablelands
The Barkly tablelands run east from Tennant Creek towards the Queensland border and are among the most important cattle grazing areas in the Northern Territory.
Explorer's Way
Follow the same route of Australian explorer John McDouall Stuart and travel through the real Australian outback to the lush northern tropics.
Binns Track
This 4WD track covers 2191km and winds through many of the NT’s lesser-known nature reserves and National Parks.
Experience Tennant Creek & surrounds
Tennant Creek Aboriginal Art
Explore the rich diversity of Aboriginal arts and crafts, from paintings and sculptures to bush foods and artefacts, there’s a treasure in store for all.
Daly Waters Outback Story
Lindsay Carmichael welcomes travellers for a cold beer and a tall tale in his outback pub. The well known Daly Waters is a crossroads of outback history.
Tennant Creek Adventure
Compass in one hand, map in the other, discover the pioneering landscape of Tennant Creek abd plot your very own adventure in this famous cattle country.
