Tennant Creek
An authentic outback town with one main street and local stores. It's located between Alice Springs and Katherine and is known as the Golden Heart.
The area around Tennant Creek is also referred to as the Barkly Region.
You can learn more about local stories and culture at Nyinkka Nyunyu, a cultural centre in Tennant Creek. Mining is another large contributor to what makes this area unique. It all started in the 1930s when gold was discovered, setting off Australia’s last gold rush. The history of this area remains and you can at the Battery Hill Mining Centre. Plenty of gold is to be found, and mining remains a vital part of the region’s economy.
Check out the Barkly Regional Council website for more information on the area and services.
You can experience only two seasons when you live in the Barkly region.
From May through to October, you can experience sunshine and cool mornings. With temperatures ranging from 12 - 25°C.
From November until April, you can expect temperatures up to 40°C, plus humidity and frequent rainfall.
Tennant Creek is roughly 505 kilometres north along the Stuart Highway from Alice Springs and approximately 990 kilometres south of Darwin. Travelling from Alice Springs will take just over 4.5 hours while travelling from Darwin will take over 10 hours.
Those who like to travel by bus can catch a Greyhound Australia bus in Tennant Creek.
Tennant Creek has an airfield, and charter flights from Darwin or Alice Springs can be arranged. AirNorth has scheduled flights from Tennant Creek to Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.
There are many events throughout the year in the Barkly region. There's horse racing, rodeos, sports and live music.
Some key events include:
- Desert Harmony Festival
- Tennant Creek show
Barkly Regional Arts hosts various events, including trivia nights, art exhibitions and comedy shows. You can explore their event calendar on the Barkly Regional Arts website.
Barkly Regional Council run a variety of Sports and Recreation programs in Tennant Creek and surrounding communities. The Barkly Sports Hub offers a range of sporting activities, including swimming, basketball, tennis and yoga.
In Tennant Creek, you will find:
- Post office
- Police station
- Library
- Swimming pool
- Sporting grounds
- Playspaces
- Parks
For those who live further in the Barkly region, visit bushtel.nt.gov.au to understand what is available in the regional communities.
The Barkly region has 16 schools, and Tennant Creek has one primary school, one high school and one child care centre.
Several remote schools allow students to learn online.
Look over the list of schools in the Barkly region.
The Barkly region, specifically Tennant Creek, has a wide variety of family homes for rent and sale. There’s an opportunity to secure your own piece of land and build a house yourself.
Housing and rental average costs are kept up to date on the NT Economy website.
Depending on where you are moving from, prices to relocate to Tennant Creek can vary. It's best you shop around and receive multiple quotes from multiple removalist companies. You can find more information about things to prepare for by looking over our Moving page.
Whether you decide to rent or purchase, the Northern Territory Government offers a range of assistance to homeowners to enter the market or build homes. You can find out more information by looking at our Housing page.
Download Regional Guide
The following guide contain even more information around what its like to live and work in each region, with additional information about shopping, dining, attractions, Aboriginal language groups and more.
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Regional living guides
Alice Springs & Surrounds
Alice Springs (or Mparntwe in Arrernte language) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory, with a population of approximately 33,000 people.
Katherine & Surrounds
Katherine and surrounds, also known as the Big Rivers region extends from the Western Australian border to the Gulf of Carpentaria and along the Queensland border.
East Arnhem Land
The East Arnhem region is known for its beautiful beaches, rich cultural history and relaxed lifestyle.