Tnorala/Gosse Bluff Conservation Reserve

The basics

The Western Arrernte people hold Tnorala deeply sacred: in their Dreaming stories, a celestial baby carrier fell to earth and transformed into the crater’s impressive fringing bluff. As at other sacred sites, access is strictly controlled: Follow the signs and stick to the trails to avoid inadvertently trespassing on holy ground. The marked trails offer excellent views, but the crater rim is off limits.

Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) isn’t a common stop on organized tours of the Red Centre, but you can visit independently either as a day trip from Alice Springs or while driving the Mereenie Loop on Red Centre Way.

Things to know before you go

• Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve is a must for photographers, space nerds, and landscape lovers. Photographers should note that drones are not allowed.

• Like the rest of the Red Centre, Tnorala can get hot, hot, hot. Bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and plenty of water; the site has long-drop bathrooms and a picnic area, but water isn’t guaranteed.

• Unless you’re a Northern Territory resident, you’ll need to buy a park pass to visit Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve. You’ll need a separate permit if you’re driving the Mereenie Loop.

How to get there

The reserve sits about 115 miles (185 kilometers) west of Alice Springs, off Larapinta Drive or Namatjira Drive. There’s no public transportation, so you’ll need to rent a 4WD or join a tour—the last few miles of track are not suitable for 2WD vehicles.

When to get there

Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve is open year-round, but rains, which are most common December through February, can make the site impossible to access. There’s little shade, so visiting during the cooler months of April to September makes a lot of sense. The site is never busy.

Australia’s most spectacular craters

Australia has no active volcanoes, but spectacular craters pockmark its vast open spaces. South of Alice Springs lies the Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve, with 12 small craters formed when a meteorite broke apart before landing. Western Australia’s Wolfe Creek Crater National Park houses Wolfe Creek Crater (Kandimalal), an eerie near-perfect circle that you can view from above on scenic flights. Queensland’s Crater Lakes National Park boasts two beautiful volcanic crater lakes, surrounded by lush rain forest.