Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve

Introducing Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve

This remnant of a huge crater was blasted out of the earth when a comet plunged into the ground around 140 million years ago. The power of such an impact is almost impossible to comprehend – the 5km-diameter crater you see today was originally 2km below the impact surface, and is just the core of the original 20km-diameter crater.

The crater was named by Ernest Giles in 1872 after Harry Gosse, a telegraphist at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Tnorala is the Western Arrernte name for the crater, and in the local mythology is a traditional wooden baby carrier that crashed down from the sky during the Dreaming. The area is a registered sacred site.

Tnorala can also be approached from the north via Namatjira Dr and Tylers Lookout, which provides a panoramic view of the crater. Access to Tnorala is 8km along a rough track, best tackled in a 4WD, which goes right into the crater. There’s a picnic ground with pit toilet, but camping is not permitted. A Mereenie Tour Pass is required.

Last updated: Apr 19, 2010