Devils Marbles - NT

Travellers on the Stuart Highway can experience a range of the Territory's amazing natural landscapes, especially the impressive sight of the Devils Marbles or Karlu Karlu.

These gigantic boulders have become an internationally recognised symbol of Australia's outback and are spectacular when the light of the morning and evening sun highlights their deep red colour.

Karlu Karlu translates to 'round boulders'.

This name is shared by the Kaytete, Warumungu, Warlpiri and Alyawarra traditional owners of the area. Traditional owners ask that the karlu (marbles) are not climbed.

In a historic ceremony held here on 27 October 2008, ownership of the Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve was officially given back to the site's traditional owners.

The reserve is now jointly managed with the traditional owners and Parks and Wildlife rangers.

The rocks are a cooler, sheltered environment for plants and animals.

Keep an eye out for small black-headed goannas in boulder crevices.

You may also see zebra finch and painted finch throughout the reserve. Fairy martins create bottle-shaped mud nests on the underside of overhanging boulders.