Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve (Karlu Karlu), Tennant Creek : At sunrise and sunset the boulders appear to glow and change colour from pink to bright red similar to the other geological wonders in the Northern Territoory Uluru and Kata T juta. To see the Devils Marvbles at sunset you will need to stay the night. The only accommodation in the Karlu Karlu Devils Marbles Conservation reserve is a simple camping area with fireplaces. Campers should be well equipped and carry their own fuel and water. The Devils Marvbles Conservation Reserve extends along both sides of the Stuart Highway approximately 244 miles (393 kilometres) north of Alice Springs and 63 miles ( 100 kilometres) south of Tennant Creek. The marbles are scattered through the valley on both sides of the highway. The nearest settlement is Wauchope 6 milesto the south. If you are going north or south between Darwin and Alice Springs you will drive right through the middle of the Devils Marbles.
The Devils Marbles have great significance for the Aboriginal people. Most of the conservation reserve is protected under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act. Ancient creation legends surrounding Karlu Karlu are passed from generation to generation by the traditional owners. Many of these stories are secret and only a few can be shared with visitors. One of the main Dreaming stories for the area which can be told to non Aboriginal people relates to how the Devils Marbles were made. This tradition tells of Arrange an ancient ancestor who walked through the area.
He made a hair string belt a type of traditional adornment worn only by intiated Aboriginal men. As he was twirling the hair to make strings he dropped clusters of hair on the ground which turned into the big red boulders. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin a hill called Ayleparrarntenhe where the legend says he still lives today. There are no official walks at the Devils Marbles just a network of informal self guided tracks on the eastern side of the reserve. Follow the network of walkways and learn how the geological marvel was formed and has withstood the elements of nature. Every marble looks different. You can walk around for a long time and find new and interesting views.
