Devils Marbles

The Devils Marbles are a unique rock formation located close to the Stuart Highway about 100km south of Tennant Creek and 393km north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. They are the most spectacular landmark in the Barkly region. Known as Karlu Karlu to the local Warumungu people, aboriginal legend refers to the often boulders of the Devil's Marbles as being the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent.

Scattered across a wide, shallow valley, the Devils Marbles consist of thousands of granite boulders precariously balanced on top of one another. Geological evidence exists that molten lava from deep within the earth's crust was squeezed into huge domes just below the surface and the rocky overlay was worn away over an estimated 1500 million years to expose the boulders. The Devils Marbles range in size from tiny to massive to tiny, and often glow with a dramatic fiery colour at sunset. They are on average about 4m high and from 13m to 33m wide.

Clusters of the bottle-shaped mud nests of Fairy Martins (Petrochedlldon ariel) may by found attached to the underside of overhanging boulders. Occasionally the Pigmy Spiny-tailed Goanna can be seen in crevices, while the larger Sand Goanna is often found among the thick clumps of Spinifex (Triodiaspp.) growing between the boulders. A number of Finches including the Zebra and Painted Finches are also found in the Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve.

The 1,827 hectare Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is located on both sides of the Stuart Highway. A simple bush camping area with fireplaces and pit toilets is located at the southern end of the Devils Marbles Reserve. No water is provided. An easy short (30 minute return) self guided walk commences from the carpark on the western side of the Stuart Highway with interpretative signs explaining the formation of the boulders. Visitors often wander around the site along a network of informal walking tracks.

The nearest settlement to the Devils Marbles is Wauchope, 9 km to the south. Wauchope is a service town which operates as a centre for people wishing to visit Devils Marbles, and fuel and limited stores can be obtained there. Accommodation facilities are available in both Wauchope and Wycliffe Well, about 25km south of the Devils Marbles:

Wauchope Well Hotel
Wauchope Well Caravan Park
Wycliffe Well Motel
Wycliffe Well Caravan Park