Get to the very heart of local history and Aboriginal culture in Tennant Creek on a guided tour through the town and its surrounding area.
Tennant Creek forms an important meeting point for Aboriginal people, and the town once marked a vital link in the historic Overland Telegraph Line running from South Australia through to Darwin.
Step back into history
Walk back in time at the Overland Telegraph Station just north of the town centre. Tour the buildings for a taste of what life was like at a remote outstation in the late 19th century. Guided tours can be arranged during the dry season through the Visitor Centre or Parks & Wildlife. Relive Tennant Creek’s gold-mining past at the Battery Hill Mining Centre, where a guided tour highlights the gold stamp battery, the only operating ten-head stamp in Australia.
A taste of culture
Let the locals lead you at Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre. Learn about the centre as the sacred creation site of Nyinkka (spiky tailed goanna), enjoy museum exhibits, and head out into the landscaped gardens to learn about bush tucker. Take their Bush Tour for a fantastic half-day exploration of the surrounding area, including stunning Kunjarra (the Pebbles). Tours are available from May to September.
Into the wild
Plenty of private companies offer guided day and overnight 4WD drive tours around the region and beyond, including a stop at magnificent Karlu Karlu (the Devils Marbles), camping outdoors in swags and cooking around open fires.