Karlu Karlu Conservation Reserve has been named the Northern Territory’s first – and Australia’s third – International Dark Sky Sanctuary.
At 1800 hectares and sitting just 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek, Karlu Karlu is one of the Outback’s most recognisable landscapes, famous for the renowned Devil’s Marbles, as well as its unbeatable night skies.
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality and Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Marie-Clare Boothby, said the recognition by DarkSky International was another huge opportunity for the Barkly.
“This is an absolutely stellar achievement, it’s a big deal for tourism in the Barkly,” she said. “And it’s yet another reason why the Northern Territory truly is a one-of-a-kind destination … our night skies are some of the darkest in the world, with a practically uninterrupted view of the Milky Way – a stargazer’s dream!”
It's not just the NT where the Outback night skies are stunning. This photo was taken at Queensland's Bullara Station: PIC: Australia’s Coral Coast
Program Manager at DarkSky International, Amber Harrison, said the reasons behind the listing were self-evident.
“Its exceptionally dark skies, deep cultural connections, and iconic landscape make it a natural fit for International Dark Sky Sanctuary certification,” she said. “As the first certified site in the region, this creates an exciting opportunity to build broader awareness of dark sky conservation.”
The announcement comes as the NT Government seeks to build on the Territory’s astrotourism offering ahead of the 2028 Total Solar Eclipse, when parts of the Barkly will experience up to four minutes and 57 seconds with the Sun completely blocked by the Moon.
Check out the GNT night sky special here.
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