Tennant Creek
Town
Population 2922
Tennant Creek is midway between Alice Springs and Katherine and according to legend, emerged when a beer truck broke down here. Gold was found in the area in the early 1930s and the town grew rapidly in the wake of Australia's last great gold rush. Gold exploration still continues in the Barkly Tableland, an area larger than Victoria.
Visitor Information
Battery Hill Mining Centre, Peko Rd; (08) 8962 1281 or 1800 500 879
Nearby national parks
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Davenport Range National Park
The network of permanent waterholes in Davenport Range National Park has provided a refuge for animals and birds and Aboriginal people for...more
Nearby towns
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Wauchope
Wauchope (pronounced 'walk-up') was established to cater for the wolfram-mining and cattle-farming communities nearby. Today it is a...more -
Barrow Creek - Introduction
Although its appearance today is that of a small wayside stop on the highway, Barrow Creek was originally an important telegraph station....more -
Elliott
Elliott is a shady one-street town that is used as a cattle service stop. Stock being transported from the north are given a chemical tick...more
In Town
Nyinkka Nyunyu Cultural Centre This centre was built near a Warumungu sacred site and its name means 'home of the spiky-tailed goanna'. Dioramas illustrate the history of the area, an Aboriginal art gallery showcases the Tennant Creek art movement, and bush tucker, dance performances and displays explain the Aboriginal people's relationship with the land. The centre is set in landscaped gardens, featuring plants used for bush tucker and medicine. Paterson St; (08) 8962 2221.
Tuxworth Fullwood Museum: housed in an old WWII army hospital (1942) and listed by the National Trust, this museum has a photographic collection and displays of early mine buildings and equipment, a 1930s police cell and a steam tractor engine; open May–Sept, check times with the visitor centre; Schmidt St. Purkiss Reserve: pleasant picnic area with swimming pool nearby; Ambrose St. Julalikari Arts: Aboriginal art centre; (08) 8962 2163. Winanjjikari Music Centre: resident Aboriginal musicians; (08) 8962 3282. Self-guided tours: scenic drives and heritage walks including an old Australian Inland Mission built in 1934 of prefabricated corrugated iron and the catholic church, built in 1911 and relocated from Pine Creek in 1936. Brochures and maps from the visitor centre.
Nearby
Battery Hill This comprises of an underground mine, a 10-head stamp battery and two museums. There are daily tours of the underground mine with working machinery highlighting gold extraction. Bill Allen Lookout, just past the battery, offers panoramic views, with plaques identifying significant sites. Off Peko Rd; 3.5 km E.
Tennant Creek Cemetery: pioneer graves with plaques reminding us of the hardships of pioneer life; 2 km S. Lake Mary Ann: man-made dam ideal for swimming, canoeing, windsurfing and picnics; 6 km NE. Juno Bush Camp: bush camping; contact visitor centre for details; 10 km E. Telegraph Station: restored stone buildings (1872), once the domain of telegraph workers, whose isolated lives are revealed by interpretive signs; key is available from Tennant Creek Visitor Centre; 11 km N. The Pebbles: spectacular in their quantity, these are miniature versions of the Devils Marbles (huge balancing boulders found north of Wauchope). The site is sacred to the Munga Munga women; 16 km NW (6 km of unsealed road). Memorial Attack Creek Historical Reserve: memorial marks the encounter between John McDouall Stuart and local Aboriginal people; 72 km N. Karlu Karlu Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve: a must-see phenomenon of huge red granite boulders; bush camping is available. 106 km S and a 2 km sealed loop.
Cafes & restaurants around town
This intimate, family-run restaurant, a block from the main street, specialises in Mediterranean cuisine. Unusually located in the Tennant Creek squash courts, the venue has been used as a restaurant for many years and... Find out more
This cafe is a standout, not so much for its food or ambience but for its location in the Nyinkka Nyunyu cultural centre and art gallery. In the main street of Tennant Creek, the cutting-edge building is a terrific art... Find out more
Part of the Tennant Creek Memorial Club, two blocks back from the main street. There are specials every day but it is the roasts that are most popular here. The kitchen produces good home-style cooking with large... Find out more
Campsites around town
Outback Caravan Park 1 km
Explore the region’s 4WD tracks, and Aboriginal and European history from a base in this park, which is renowned for its tropical gardens, shaded swimming pool and spa. The park has cabins as well as powered and... Find out moreThree Ways Roadhouse camping area 23 km
Three Ways was the winner of the NT 2008 Roadhouse of the Year. From the roadhouse it’s just a 3-minute walk to a memorial commemorating the Reverend John Flynn, legend of the outback and founder of the Royal... Find out moreDevils Marbles camping area 102 km
The simple camping area is 1 km east of the highway, with signposted access 9 km north of Wauchope. No generators are allowed, bring in your own firewood and water, and note that dogs are only permitted in the campground... Find out moreWauchope Hotel camping area 110 km
Just 8 km from the Devils Marbles, 114 km south of Tennant Creek, this historic pub and roadhouse dates back to the 1930s. You can hire bikes and ride to the Devils Marbles, lounge around the pool, or enjoy the other... Find out moreWhistleduck Creek camping area 126 km
A 4WD is not essential but recommended to reach this site, and the road may be unsuitable in wet weather. Camping facilities are limited and you’ll need to bring your own firewood and drinking water. From the... Find out moreWycliffe Well Holiday Park 127 km
One wonders if the fact that this is one of the highest ranking sites for reported UFO activity in the world has anything to do with the huge range of beers on offer. This well-catered park, with 24 ha of parkland, has... Find out moreRenner Springs Roadhouse camping area 153 km
Camp beside a bird-filled lagoon at the Renner Springs Roadhouse, on the Stuart Hwy, 160 km north of Tennant Creek. You can take a 4 km return walk to the lookout at Labyrinth Point, which will give you a view over the... Find out moreOld Police Station Waterhole camping area 161 km
This waterhole is great for swimming if the water levels are up, but beware of submerged logs and rocks. A 4WD is recommended to reach the campsite, and the road may be unsuitable in wet weather. Campsites here are... Find out moreFrew River camping area 162 km
This isolated spot is on the 4WD rough-and-ready 17 km Frew River Loop, and is recommended for dry weather only. The campsite is 5 km from the Old Police Station Waterhole camping area.... Find out moreBarkly Homestead camping area 171 km
The last fuel stop before crossing over into Queensland on the Barkly Hwy, the homestead is about 210 km east of Tennant Creek. There isn’t much to do in the area – the Devils Marbles are probably the... Find out moreCaravan parks around town
Outback Caravan Park 1 km
This large, well-appointed park is just 1 km from the town centre in a convenient off-thehighway position. We find it an ideal base for a few days while exploring this interesting area. The extensive facilities include a... Find out moreWycliffe Well Holiday Park 127 km
This park is 130 km south of Tennant Creek and an ideal stopover on this highway. The quality of the park, complete with a restaurant and a dam stocked with fish, is greater than one would expect here. There are also the... Find out moreBarkly Homestead Caravan Park 172 km
Forming part of the Barkly Roadhouse complex, this park is an overnight stop 210 km east of Tennant Creek and some 275 km west of the state border with Queensland. We have previously experienced poor service and attitude... Find out moreHotels, motels & B&Bs around town
A short walk from the centre of Tennant Creek, this is a good place to relax when travelling or exploring the region. The rooms are spacious, air-conditioned and modern, and the motor inn boasts Anna’s Restaurant,... Find out more
Eldorado Motor Inn
On the northern side of town, the Eldorado has a range of rooms, a refreshing pool, a licensed restaurant and free wireless internet. It’s close to MaryAnn Dam, the largest body of water in the region and an ideal... Find out moreAn institution in the Northern Territory, this roadhouse at the junction of the Stuart and Barkly highways has been fuelling up and feeding travellers for 50 years. It is 15 minutes’ drive north of Tennant Creek,... Find out more
Rest areas around town
Attack Creek Rest Area 69 km
47 km N of Three Ways (R) or 89 km S of Renner Springs (L) Large area just off the highway at the Stuart Memorial. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S19 01.382 E134 08.453... Find out more41 Mile Bore Rest Area 78 km
116 km W of Barkly (L) or 71 km E of Three Ways (R) Secluded area well off the highway surrounded by scrub. Limited shade. GPS: S19 19.10 E134 51.10... Find out moreBonney Well Rest Area 87 km
24 km N of Wauchope (L) or 90 km S of Tennant Creek (R) Large area adjacent to the highway at a windmill site. Limited shade. GPS: S20 25.763 E134 14.786... Find out moreBanka Banka Homestead Camp Area 96 km
76 km N of Three Ways (L) or 60 km S of Renner Springs (R) Large grassed camp area adjacent to the highway near the homestead. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S18 47.578 E134 01.885 ... Find out moreDevils Marbles Camp Area 102 km
T/O 9 km N of Wauchope (R) or 105 km S of Tennant Creek (L) Large secluded area located 1 kilometre east of the highway among unusual granite boulder formations in Devils Marbles Conservation Park. Good facilities. ... Find out moreT and W Bore Rest Area 132 km
54 km W of Barkly (R) or 133 km E of Three Ways (L) Large area well off the highway around a few trees. Limited shade. GPS: S19 25.57 E135 24.90... Find out moreWhat's on around town
Drag Racing: May.
Show: cooking, craft, exhibitions and a big dog show; July.
Cup Day: horseracing; May.
Desert Harmony Festival: arts and culture; Aug/Sept.
Brunette Downs Races: campdrafting, bronco branding and more; June. 360 kms NE.
