Tennant Creek
Discover Tennant Creek
Tennant Creek is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It has a population of around 3,500. It is known as the Territory’s heart of gold mainly due to the people, but also in reference to the gold mining history. Tennant Creek in Central Australia sits on the Explorer’s Way, 500km north of Alice Springs and 1000km south of Darwin. The town is surrounded to the east by the Barkly Tablelands - a huge expanse of land that supports some of Australia’s premier outback cattle stations. Tennant Creek sits in the middle of the outback, but the country is beautiful and anything but barren. The town is situated in open mallee scrubland, surrounded by rocky ranges and brilliant blue skies that give way to millions of stars at night.
What to Experience in Tennant Creek
Taste of Tennant Creek...
There are several bars/pubs as well as a liquor store. In addition to Tennant Creek itself, lodging options are available in other relatively nearby settlements along the Stuart Highway, including Ti Tree and Barrow Creek. The emergency numbers for Australia are 000 (fixed-line or mobile phones) or 112 (mobile phones only). Tennant Creek's post office is on the main street in the centre of town, at 49 Paterson Street. Crime in Tennant Creek is high. It is one of Australia's most dangerous towns, with a murder/manslaughter rate 30 times higher than the national average of the United States. The most common types of crime include pick-pocketing, car vandalism, theft, break-ins – avoid bottle shops, as much of this is alcohol-fueled. Although there is a high police presence in the small town, take extra precautions and avoid public areas at night.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsTennant Creek has an airfield, and charter flights are easily arranged from either Darwin or Alice Springs. Tiwi Air has some scheduled services from Darwin. Cars can be hired at Alice Springs or Darwin. It is possible to hire at one and drop off at the other for a fee, but probably best to check with the company beforehand. Tennant Creek is 500km north along the Stuart Highway from Alice Springs and 1000km due south from Darwin. Car rental companies in the Northern Territory have daily distance allowances after which a surcharge is payable; however, if you book with the government wholesaler, Territory Discoveries, you can get unlimited rates. Greyhound services the highway between Adelaide and Darwin, with a stop in Alice Springs. Northbound the coach arrives in Tennant Creek at 2.10AM, and departs at 3.25AM. Southbound, it's a similar time, with the coach arriving at 2.30AM and departing at 3.45AM....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The town itself is relatively small and everything within the town can be reached on foot. A car is needed to reach attractions slightly further afield. There are several small shops including a supermarket in Tennant Creek mainly selling the essentials. There are several bars/pubs as well as a liquor store. In addition to Tennant Creek itself, lodging options are available in other relatively nearby settlements along the Stuart Highway, including Ti Tree and Barrow Creek. The emergency numbers for Australia are 000 (fixed-line or mobile phones) or 112 (mobile phones only). Tennant Creek's post office is on the main street in the centre of town, at 49 Paterson Street. Crime in Tennant Creek is high. It is one of Australia's most dangerous towns, with a murder/manslaughter rate 30 times higher than the national average of the United States. The most common types of crime include pick-pocketing, car vandalism, theft, break-ins – avoid bottle shops, as much of this is alcohol-fueled.
Where to Stay
In addition to Tennant Creek itself, lodging options are available in other relatively nearby settlements along the Stuart Highway, including Ti Tree and Barrow Creek. The emergency numbers for Australia are 000 (fixed-line or mobile phones) or 112 (mobile phones only). Tennant Creek's post office is on the main street in the centre of town, at 49 Paterson Street. Crime in Tennant Creek is high. It is one of Australia's most dangerous towns, with a murder/manslaughter rate 30 times higher than the national average of the United States. The most common types of crime include pick-pocketing, car vandalism, theft, break-ins – avoid bottle shops, as much of this is alcohol-fueled. Although there is a high police presence in the small town, take extra precautions and avoid public areas at night.
Money & Budget
There are several small shops including a supermarket in Tennant Creek mainly selling the essentials. There are several bars/pubs as well as a liquor store. In addition to Tennant Creek itself, lodging options are available in other relatively nearby settlements along the Stuart Highway, including Ti Tree and Barrow Creek. The emergency numbers for Australia are 000 (fixed-line or mobile phones) or 112 (mobile phones only). Tennant Creek's post office is on the main street in the centre of town, at 49 Paterson Street. Crime in Tennant Creek is high. It is one of Australia's most dangerous towns, with a murder/manslaughter rate 30 times higher than the national average of the United States.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Crime in Tennant Creek is high. It is one of Australia's most dangerous towns, with a murder/manslaughter rate 30 times higher than the national average of the United States. The most common types of crime include pick-pocketing, car vandalism, theft, break-ins – avoid bottle shops, as much of this is alcohol-fueled. Although there is a high police presence in the small town, take extra precautions and avoid public areas at night.