The Henbury Meteor, would have weighed several tonnes and accelerating to over 40,000 km per hour, had disintegrated before impact, with the meteor fragments forming the craters that you can see today. Time has eroded the sharp outline of the craters.

The meteor fragments consisted mainly of iron (90%) and nickel (8%). Over 500 kilograms of the metals have been found on the site, with the largest being over 10 kilograms. Few specimens now exist in the area.
 

Access
Located about 145 km south west of Alice Springs, about 118 km along the Stuart Highway, take the right hand turn onto a gravel road known as the Ernest Giles Road. This road leads to Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) and is a 4WD only access road. You travel 8 km along the road and then take turn north for another 5 km to the Reserve's entrance. The section of road to the Henbury Meteorites craters are accessible by 2WD vehicles, although there may be times due to weather conditions when the road becomes impassable.

Activities and Facilities
Picnicking, bushwalking and camping. There is picnic facilities at the camping ground and a pit toilet. There is no drinking water, and visitors should ensure they bring enough water. Firewood should be collected before entering the Reserve.

There is a self-guided walking track around the craters. The craters vary in size, with the largest measuring up to 180 metres wide and 15 meters deep. The smallest is barely recognisable at 6 metres wide and only a few centimetres deep. There are 3 or 4 craters that can be seen very clearly and inspected at close range.

A Henbury fact sheet can be downloaded from the NT Parks and Wildlife site.

Source: Parks and Wildlife Service of the Northern Territory
- Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

For additional information contact the visitor centres at: