Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu)
Giant Granite Boulders of the Outback
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Hundreds of enormous granite boulders scattered across a shallow valley beside the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory's dry heart. Sacred to the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri peoples, who call the site Karlu Karlu.
Karlu Karlu, also known as the Devils Marbles, are a collection of giant granite boulders scattered across a shallow valley beside the Stuart Highway in the central Northern Territory. The boulders are the remains of a granite mass that solidified deep underground roughly 1.7 billion years ago. As the surface above weathered away over hundreds of millions of years, the granite was exposed and then split apart by repeated thermal expansion and contraction.
The site is sacred to four Traditional Owner groups: the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarre, and Warlpiri. "Karlu Karlu" means "round boulders" in the Warumungu language. The traditional creation story attributes the boulders to the Rainbow Serpent's eggs. The site was returned to its Traditional Owners in 2008 and is now jointly managed.
The Karlu Karlu Conservation Reserve is a 105 kilometre drive south of Tennant Creek. There are short walking tracks between the largest boulder clusters, and basic camping is available on site. The boulders glow deep red at sunrise and sunset, which are the best times to visit.
Tourist locations
Places to visit in Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu).
6 locations to explore
Battery Hill Gold Mining and Heritage Centre
Gold rush history underground
Museum: $14 adult, $12 senior, under 16 free; underground mine tour $39 adult, $35 senior, $18 child (7-16)
Full guide arrow_forwardKarlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
Ancient boulders, sacred country
NT Parks Visitor Pass required: $10 adult (1-day), $5 child (5-17); NT residents exempt
Full guide arrow_forwardKunjarra / The Pebbles
Granite dreaming, women's sacred country
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardNyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre
Warumungu stories, art and country
Gardens, cafe and shop free; museum/gallery entry fee applies; guided tour $15 adult
Full guide arrow_forwardTennant Creek Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
Colonial history in stone and wire
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardTingkkarli / Lake Mary Ann
Cool oasis in the red centre
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardOn the itinerary
Trip plans that include Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu).
Scenic views
Lookouts near Devils Marbles (Karlu Karlu).
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Attribution
Sources & credits
Content (1)
Images (3)
- Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) - Northern Territory - Australi... · Martinis41 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Karlu Karlu - Devil's Marbles, Australia.JPG · Namiac · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Karlu Karlu 1.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0
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