The Devils Marbles

Located ~ 110km south of Tennant Creek, these are the big brother version of The Pebbles;  While The Pebbles are the baby version, they are not necessarily cuter.  There is not much in between the two areas other than flat scrubby or grassy plain.  Trying  to imagine travelling through it as the early explorers and settlers had to is difficult, as it is so vast and featureless.  The Telegraph Station near Tennant Creek was a 'must see', being one of the oldest buildings in the Northern Territory.  It was a centre in the early days for travelers and Aborigines, as well as providing communication with the outside world in those days.

The Devils Marbles are scattered over a wide area, with a couple of outstanding outcrops, the main one next to the campsite.  They are the weathered remnant of a granite extrusion, formed by water seeping into the granite, dissolving the feldspar along fault lines mainly, resulting in the current striking phenomena.

The Devils Marbles is a very popular campsite, though many only stay for a single night and some wheel in, take a quick look and are gone again!  It has been lovely to afford the time to stay a few days and wander around the greater area (spinifex poking & stabbing legs not-withstanding).  There is a resident dingo that would have to be amongst the most photographed dingo in Australia!  He won't let anyone get within 2 metres, but he's pretty nonchalant otherwise.

The night sky is the billion star display the Outback is noted for and satellite spotting is popular.  The best night was three in the space of about an hour.

The last nite was spent with a fellow from Malta, a chap from Austria and myself - we chatted until after midnight!  And had a drop or two of red.  Onward toward Alice next.