Car Rental Tennant Creek Airport

Tennant Creek is a rural town located in the Northern Territory. With a population of just over 3,000 people, it is the seventh-largest town in the Northern Territory. Situated close to the centre of the NT, it is around 1,000 kilometres south of Darwin and Kakadu National Park and 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs and Uluru. This location leads it to be a stop on many road trips between Darwin and Alice Springs. With a strong Aboriginal history, around half the population of Tennant Creek is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. You will find all the amenities you need in town, with a supermarket, stores, bank, bars, restaurants, pubs and a regional hospital and airport. The Tennant Creek Regional Airport is just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of town.

Tennant Creek is located in the Barkly Tableland, known for its vast plains of black soil and Mitchell Grass that cover over 240,000 square kilometres and is home to some of the largest cattle stations on earth. This, along with the continuing mining history of the town, play a major part in Tennant Creek’s tourism. For comparison of just how vast the grazing land is, the Barkly Tableland is slightly larger than the United Kingdom. Summer temperatures can reach above 45 degrees Celsius (114 Fahrenheit) in the region, with the average summer temperature around 35 degrees. 

Surrounded by nature both near and far, Tennant Creek is full of classic outback scenery. From Marry-Ann Lake to the Devils Marbles and more, there are so many stunning locations around town to explore in your car hire.  

Enjoy the Top Spots in Town with a Rental Car

As you might expect in regional Northern Territory, you need a rental car to get around. With so many stunning locations accessible by road, you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to drive first. Mary Ann Dam is a popular spot, located a short, 5-kilometre drive north of town and accessible by road. The man-made dam has a range of water activities such as swimming and canoeing available. Enjoy a walk around the lake and take in the grassy landscape or stop at a picnic spot and enjoy the sun. 

The most iconic and popular natural attraction of the area is the Devils Marbles. These ancient granite boulders sit 95 kilometres south of Tennant Creek or an hour’s drive along the Stuart Highway. The Marbles were formed over millions of years as the sandstone around them eroded, leaving the granite deposits exposed. The Marbles are spread across a large field. Known as Karlu Karlu in the local Warumungu language, these marbles are large in size, and some perched precariously on ledges, and cliff faces as if deliberately placed there to see if they would balance. The boulders continue to crack and erode slowly in interesting ways.

While you’re in the area south of Tennant Creek, head to the Davenport Ranges National Park, slightly further south and around 40 minutes from the Devils Marbles. A remote area suited to 4WDs, the park is filled with unique nature, from flora and fauna to native animals. With walking trails and swimming holes, this is the place to be if you want to feel a million miles away from the rest of the world.

Tour the Best of Tennant Creek in a Car Hire

Tennant Creek has a few attractions of its own to see. The Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre is the place to go to learn about Aboriginal art and history. See stunning artefacts and artworks in a white wall gallery while learning about the history of the region from one of the local tour guides. The Battery Hill Mining Centre takes visitors underground and through a local mining museum with mineral and machinery displays. The Mining Centre is also on the same site as the Visitor Information Centre and offers a great view of Tennant Creek.