Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) Campground

Karlu Karlu is one of those places that photos simply cannot prepare you for. Massive granite boulders, some balanced impossibly on top of each other, scatter across the red outback landscape for as far as you can see. This is a sacred site for the Warumungu Aboriginal people, and the spiritual weight of the place is palpable, especially at sunrise and sunset when the rocks glow deep orange and the sky puts on a show.

The campground has around 20 sites right among the boulders, with pit toilets and not much else. No showers, no drinking water, no bins, no reception. At $6.60 per adult per night, you’re essentially paying for the privilege of sleeping in one of Australia’s most surreal landscapes. Campfires are allowed in designated areas, which is a genuine highlight because the night sky out here is extraordinary. No light pollution for hundreds of kilometres in any direction.

Summer days are punishingly hot and winter nights drop close to freezing, so pack for both extremes. Snakes are common among the rocks during warmer months. The walking trails wind between and around the boulders and are well worth exploring in the cooler hours. It’s about 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek on the Stuart Highway, making it a natural stop for anyone driving between Alice Springs and Darwin.